T4PA School Safety State Initiative
Updates for LEAs—September 14, 2020
LEA-Friendly Newsletter
Spotlight - Abby Rodriguez
Abby Rodriguez is the State Coordinator for Military-Connected and At-Risk Students in the Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Division at the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Abby joined the TEA in 2017, with a primary focus on building capacity within the agency and Texas public schools to address the unique needs of military-connected students transitioning in and out of public schools as one or both parents serve our country. Abby also leads the state work with pregnant and parenting students, juvenile justice, drop out prevention and intervention, as well as human trafficking. Abby has been working with highly mobile and at-risk students and their families in Texas public schools for over 15 years and is dedicated to finding solutions to ensure education equity for all children. Abby is also the proud daughter of a Marine Veteran.
Upcoming Deadlines
- Districts' DAR report due to TxSSC on November 15
- Districts' SSSP Team Qualtric Survey Report due to TEA on November 13
- Current audit cycle: September 1, 2017 - October 21, 2020
- Next audit cycle: November 1, 2020 - August 31, 2023
Districts are supposed to have turned in EOPs to TxSSC. TXSSC will contact ESCs on districts that have not yet submitted.
Thursday, September 24—Highly Mobile and At-Risk Division Webinar
When? Thursday, September 24 from 1-3 PM
Please join the TEA Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Division for a Zoom Webinar on Thursday, September 24 from 1:00-3:00 pm. Educators, School Staff, and ESC personnel are encouraged to attend. Zoom is limited to 500 participants. Any participants beyond 500 may watch via YouTube. This meeting will also be recorded and available for viewing on TEA’s Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Division website.
Register for the webinar here. For more details, view the flyer here.
October 7-9—2020 National Summit on School Safety
To register and learn more, visit the Safe and Sound Schools website.
October 27-29—ACET 2020 Virtual Fall Conference
Registration is now available for the upcoming ACET 2020 Fall Conference—a Virtual Conference!
If you find unanswered questions concerning your registration or the conference, please contact: Eileen Lytle, ACET Administrative Assistant at 254-292-2757 or by email at admin@acetx.org
Region 13 Free Webinar Offerings
(Click the photo for more details)
New Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Resources
Project Restore
As a result of school closures and remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students have been at higher risk of exposure due to adverse childhood experiences and first-hand exposure to the effects of COVID-19. Additionally, many educators have themselves experienced a prolonged state of stress over the course of the pandemic and share many of the concerns regarding loss of safety, health, and predictability as students upon the return to school.
That’s why TEA has launched Project Restore and this trauma-informed training video series, which is designed to address these extraordinary and unprecedented needs and connect you to relevant science and strategies that can help you address your own emotional needs as well the needs of your students and colleagues. This series will help educators create an environment that jump-starts teaching and learning and drives student achievement.
Here is a list of the videos in the series:
- Introduction to Project Restore
- Understanding Trauma and its Impact
- Understanding Your Experience and Building Resilience
- Understanding Your Students’ Experience
- Building Secure Relationships
- Developing a Positive Classroom Culture
- Building Strong Partnerships with Students’ Families
Participants who watch these videos can receive certificates. These videos will count toward trauma/grief informed training requirements (TEC 38.036, TEC 11.252, and TEC 21.054) for school staff.
Click Here: Texas Project Restore
TAA Letter Expected in September to Address School Safety Issues
TEA plans to release a TAA letter that will provide updated information and guidance concerning:
- SSSP data collection requirements due November 2020
- Drill guidance and COVID drill recommendations from TEA and TxSSC
- Stop the Bleed COVID training guidance
Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect
Texas Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) offers guidance on Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect of a Child: A Guide for Professionals to help guide professional reporters through online/hotline reporting and how to identify abuse or neglect. Videos and other resources are provided to assist professionals in navigating the DFPS system.
For further training needs or questions, please contact the CPS Community Engagement Specialist in your area.
TxSSC's COVID-19 FAQs Addresses Changes in Audit Cycle
Update 05/19/20: TxSSC has requested and received a waiver/suspension from the Office of the Governor to extend the audit deadline from August 31, 2020, to October 31, 2020. This suspension is in effect until terminated by the Office of the Governor or until the March 13, 2020 disaster declaration is lifted or expires. The disaster declaration is renewed monthly as required by law. This does not change future audit cycle deadlines, it simply shortens the next audit cycle. Instead of being September 1, 2020, through August 31, 2023, the next audit cycle will be November 1, 2020, through August 31, 2023. As indicated in Update 04/14/20 for this question, the reporting deadline for this audit cycle was already extended to November 15, 2020, and this has not changed as a result of this waiver/suspension.
Child Abuse, Neglect, and Human Trafficking Updated Posting Requirement
Federal Program Compliance Division Updates
CARES PNP FAQ Document Posted
TEA’s COVID-19 Support: District Waivers, Finance & Grants page has the most up-to-date CARES Act Equitable Services FAQ document.
CARES Act Funding and COVID Expense Reimbursement FAQ Document Update Posted
TEA’s COVID-19 Support: District Waivers, Finance & Grants page has the most up-to-date CARES Act Funding and COVID Expense Reimbursement FAQ document.
Resources LEAs and ESCs May Find Helpful
School Safety and Mental Health
- Suicide Prevention
- Early Mental Health Intervention
- Mental Health Promotion
- Substance Abuse Prevention
- Substance Abuse Intervention
- Trauma-Informed & Grief Informed Practices
- Social/Emotional Skills
- Positive Behavior Interventions
- Child Abuse Prevention
- Human Trafficking
- School Safety
- Mental Health and Behavioral Health
- Safe and Supportive School Climate
- Counseling and Mental Health Services of the Coordinated School Health Model
- Health, Safety, & Discipline
Training
COVID-19
Visit Our Websites
TEA TIV, Part A: School Safety State Initiative
TEA Title IV, Part A: Student Support & Academic Enrichment
Contacts
Nancy Galle, Title IV Part A School Safety Consultant
Taylor Marshall, Intern
Email: rpruitt@esc14.net
Website: https://www.esc14.net/page/t4si
Location: 1850 State Highway 351, Abilene, TX, USA
Phone: 325-675-8600
Copyright © 2020. Texas Education Agency. All Rights Reserved.