ESSA Newsletter

Happy New Year! As we begin 2026, this January edition of our Federal Programs newsletter includes timely reminders, important announcements, and key updates to help you stay on track. We’re also sharing updated resources to support your work and simplify federal requirements.

As always, we’re here to help! Please reach out anytime with questions or for support.

~Tami, Mercedez and Monica

www.esc15.net/titlei

All school systems that applied for Title II, Part A program funds in 2024-2025 and did not redirect 100% of their Title II, Part A funds via funding transferability and/or the Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) are required to report the following data from the 2024-25 grant year:

• description of how LEA is using Title II funds and how the activities improve staff effectiveness
• description of how Title II funds are being used to provide equitable access to teachers for low-income and minority students (if applicable)

Survey opened November 3 and will close January 9, 2026.

Click here to read the To the Administrator Addressed letter.

School systems that redirected 100% of their Title II, Part A funds via Funding Transferability and/or Rural Education Achievement Program (REAP) will not be required to submit the requested data, as they did not operate a Title II, Part A program in the 2024-2025 grant year.

The 2024–25 Federal Report Cards for Texas public schools are now available through TEA’s online system. Districts that receive Title I, Part A funds are required to share the state, district, and campus report cards with campuses, parents, and the public within 90 days of the December 11, 2025 release (March 11, 2026).

At a minimum, the school system must—

• Post direct links to the State, district, and campus report cards on its website;
• Notify parents of all students about the availability of the report cards and the options for obtaining them;
• Provide appropriate translation (either oral or written) upon request;
• Make hard copies available to parents upon request; and
• Make hard copies available for viewing in public locations.

To help with parent communication, TEA has posted sample notification letters in English and Spanish, along with a helpful guide explaining the report card components - see TEA's Federal Report Card website FMI. While districts aren’t required to use the samples, families must be notified and given clear access to the information. Now is a good time to double-check that your dissemination steps are complete and documented.

Does your district use Indirect Cost Rate?

School districts (districts) must request an indirect cost rate each year by completing and submitting the Indirect Cost Rate Proposal (ICRP) Additional Costs Workbook (ACW). The submission deadline is January 16, 2026.

*Note: Charter school guidance will be provided in a separate communication next spring.

The submission of the ICRP ACW serves as the district’s request for an indirect cost rate. Rates will be calculated only for districts that submit a completed ICRP ACW in a timely manner. You can read more on the TAA letter linked here.

Need help? TEA staff will be hosting an office hour session to assist school districts and answer questions related to the completion of the ICRP ACW: January 6, 2026 – 9:00am to 10:00am: Register here.

In order to help schools implement compliant programs, TEA has published frequently asked questions for various program areas.

ESSA:

• Title I-A FAQ (08/25)
• Title I-D FAQ (11/22)
• Title II-A FAQ (09/25)
• Title IV-A FAQ (09/25)
• ESSA Private Nonprofit Equitable Services (09/25)

This planner was developed in a partnership between TEA and the Title I Statewide Initiative. It provides a monthly guide for ESSA programs.

Did you know TEA recently updated the ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports Program Compliance Self-Check Guide (Version 8.1)? To help you navigate these changes, we’ve revised our District and Campus Compliance Checklists to align with the updated requirements for the 2025–2026 grant year and beyond.

All updates in our checklists are easy to spot and marked with NEW in bold red text. We encourage Federal Programs staff to take a look, as these items will be reported in July 2026 with the submission of the 2025–2026 ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports.

*Reminder: these are not new requirements; they are simply new items on the compliance report.

As always, we’re here to help—reach out anytime with questions or for support!

District Title I Checklist ~~~ Campus Title I Checklist

This one-and-a-half-day conference is open to all LEA/Charter Directors, Administrators, Teachers and Staff implementing a Title I, Part A Schoolwide Program (SWP) or a Targeted Assistance Program (TAP).

• When: Feb. 19-20
• Where: Embassy Suites, Austin
• Registration Fee: $200 per person

Click here to register

Some of the sessions to be presented include:

• Building Success: An Overview of Title I, Part A Reservations
• Building a Strong Foundation for Title I Compliance
• Compliance Win: Transforming Parent and Family Engagement Docs from Sign-in Sheets to Program Assets
• Cross-Program Coordination for Increased Success Rates of Multi-Program Identified Students (Title I, Part C)
• Demystifying School System Title I Program Plan Requirements: A Practical Guide to Compliance Documentation
• ESSA Provisions, Assurances, and Guidelines - Is Your School System Ready?
• Parent and Family Engagement Policy Compliance Playbook: Assemble, Connect, Engage
• The School System Depot – How Doers (Districts and Charters) Get More Done
• Title I, Part A Schoolwide Program Elements Overview

Our 2025-2026 ESSA Workshops have also been tentatively scheduled. Please note that these dates are subject to change! We often receive notice of trainings we are required to attend after we create our PD schedule. We do our best to communicate changes promptly and we appreciate your understanding!

Title I schoolwide programs run best when principals know what’s expected — and feel equipped to handle it! In this session, federal program directors will receive a ready-to-use training toolkit designed to help principals understand the “why” and “how” behind schoolwide program requirements. From documentation do’s and don’ts to simple systems for staying organized, this session offers practical tools and resources you can use right away to make compliance a little less complicated — and a lot more doable.

Click here to register for access to this on-demand course!

ACET is offering two virtual academies to help district staff navigate federal and state compliance requirements.

The Winter Academy on January 27 features an updated session on Inventory Disposition & Management, covering TEA’s guidance for tracking, handling, and properly disposing of federally funded inventory.

The Spring Academy on February 24 will focus on Time and Effort: Requirements, Documentation & Compliance. TEA leadership will provide practical guidance on documenting staff schedules, certifications, and payroll charges to ensure accuracy, avoid audit findings, and align local processes with state expectations.

Both sessions are 100% virtual and can be attended individually or together for a more comprehensive training experience.

For details and registration, visit the ACET website. Flyers for both sessions are below.

Are you tired of hosting family nights where the same few faces show up? Do your traditional events feel more like a compliance checklist than a chance for genuine connection? This session will move beyond the traditional model of “filling seats” and “checking boxes.” We’ll explore how to transform family involvement from a one-time invitation into a true partnership. By focusing on building authentic relationships, we can shift the mindset of our school communities. You will leave with actionable strategies to create environments where parents feel valued as partners, not just one-time guests.

Is there anything we can do to help you with your ESSA programs? Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Our contact information is below.

Email: federalprograms@esc15.net
Website: www.esc15.net/titlei
Location: 612 South Irene Street, San Angelo, TX, USA
Phone: 325-658-6571
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Region15ESC
Twitter: @Region15ESC