ESSA/ESSER Newsletter

This month's newsletter brings many reminders and due dates, so be sure to take a close look! As the 23-24 school year winds down, take a moment to recognize all that you have accomplished in the last few months.

- Tami Knight, Mercedez Rassi, and Monica Diaz

On November 28, five districts from Region 15 were selected for Phase 2 Random Validations:

• USCO: May ISD
• USCO: Sonora ISD
• PNP Equitable Services: Brownwood ISD
• PNP Equitable Services: San Angelo ISD
• RLIS: San Felipe Del Rio ISD

If your district was selected, either Tami, Mercedez, or Rusty have reached out to you to offer technical assistance with completing this validation. Please note, documentation will be due to Smartsheet on December 12.

Tips for preparing for random validations:

• Visit and read through the information posted on TEAs Program Monitoring webpage. This webpage contains instructional documents and timelines that will help orient you during this process.
• Ensure you have access to the Smartsheet WorkApp if you're the person responsible for submitting documentation. Random Validation submission now goes through the FPC app in Smartsheet.

23-24 ESSA Final Amounts should be released in February. These amounts will include reallocation and carryover. Please keep a look out for notifications of when these amounts are released!

If you're part of our ESSA Support Contract, someone from our team will reach out to you to amend your application after final amounts are released. You may want to get plans ready for how you will spend those funds, especially if your carryover will be a significant amount. If you're not part of our contract, be aware that you will need to amend your 23-24 ESSA Consolidated Grant Application to include your final amounts when they are released.

Who's ready to tackle the Year Four USDE ESSER Report?? It's time!

The data collection tool for the USDE ESSER report is now live. You have between now and Friday, February 16 to complete your reports. We strongly encourage you to get started now and mark it off your to-do list, so you can relax and enjoy your holiday.

Getting Started:

• Make sure the right people have access to the USDE ESSER Reporting WorkApp .
• Reporting dates - include funds with the ER "request date" that falls between 9/1/22 - 8/31/23
• Year Four ESSER Reporting Planning Workbook - this tool was developed by TEA to assist you in preparing for data entry

NEW! Instructional Videos:

Our friends at Region 12 have given us permission to share their amazing USDE ESSER Reporting instructional videos. There are two highlight videos about the report that are 10 minutes in length for each. Click the links below for the overview videos of the USDE ESSER Year 4 Report:

• Click for Walk-Through Intro Video (10 minutes)
• ESSER I Walk-Through Video (6 minutes)
• ESSER II Walk-Through Video (10 minutes)
• ESSER III Walk Through Video (10 minutes)
• CROSSACT & Schools Walk Through (10 minutes)

Thank you to Region 12 for allowing us to share these awesome resources with our districts!

In order to help schools implement compliant programs, TEA has published frequently asked questions for various program areas. These FAQs have been recently updated, so take a look!

ESSA:

• Title I-A FAQ (06/23)
• Title II-A FAQ (06/23)
• Title IV-A FAQ (06/23)
• ESSA Private Nonprofit Equitable Services (07/23)

ESSER:

• ESSER FAQ
• ESSER Side-by-Side Comparison

Each year we work hard to provide you with resources that help make your job easier. The following resources have been updated for the new year. Check them out!

We have tentatively scheduled our 2023-24 Professional Development offerings! Keep in mind, our PD dates are always subject to change because of required trainings that we may be asked to attend.

Click the picture below to register, view dates/times, and training descriptions. Can't make a training? Handouts and voiced-over presentations from each training will be posted to the Statewide Training Series Page after each event.

Join us for our Federal Programs Coffee Chats! These are very informal Zoom meetings where participants log in, hear a few updates, and ask questions. All are invited! We hope to see you there! The flyer is below or linked here.

The PFE Summit has undergone a thoughtful rebranding to better align with its enhanced purpose. The transition from the PFE Summit to the Title I Academy marks a strategic evolution in the event's focus and format. The shift reflects a move away from a traditional summit-style gathering towards a dynamic workshop environment.

The Title I Academy is designed to foster active learning and collaboration, emphasizing practical applications that can be immediately integrated into participants' professional spheres. This transformation underscores the event's commitment to facilitating meaningful experiences where theoretical knowledge seamlessly translates into actionable takeaways, bridging the gap between theory and practice for attendees. The Title I Academy represents a forward-thinking approach, ensuring that participants leave not only with enhanced understanding of ways to improve parent and family engagement in schools, but also with tangible skills and strategies that can be applied in real-world contexts. Register now for this school-changing event

Click here to take you to the PFE Compliance Calendar. You will see the requirements that are referenced in statute. (Note: additional items are included in the calendar for your information and convenience and this calendar is not an all-inclusive listing for an effective PFE program.

Each year, the Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative accepts applications from districts and/or schools who are implementing practices that yield high parent and family engagement. These practices are rated on: the goal of the practice, evidence of increased student outcomes, and if all stakeholders are involved in the data collection, planning collaboration, and the evaluation processes.

Once the application window closes, all entries are reviewed by a committee, rated using a rubric, and then 3-4 of the top rated are selected to receive an award at the Annual PFE Statewide Conference held each year in October. In addition to receiving the award, selected schools/districts are invited to present their practice at the conference, as well as recognized on the PFE Statewide Initiative’s website and in our newsletter.

Click here to apply!

The Parent & Family Engagement Statewide Initiative is requesting feedback regarding parent/caretaker attendance at the Title I Part A Parent & Family Engagement Statewide Annual Conference. Please click on the following survey to provide feedback from your District/LEA perspective, regardless of whether you attended the conference this past October, any other conference in the past, or if you haven't been able to attend at all. Thank you!

Conference attendance survey - ESC & LEA version

Also, please send the following link to your parents in your district to gather their feedback as well.

Conference attendance survey - Parent/family version

Thank you very much for this valuable information as the PFE Statewide Initiative continues to seek new and better ways to serve the LEAs and Parents in Texas!

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