Office of Federal Programs

The information in our Federal Programs newsletter is intended solely to provide general information and guidance on federal programs (ESSA & ESSER). It reflects Region 10's current understanding of the topics based on TEA guidance and is not intended as legal advice. The content is subject to change as a result of additional information and guidance is provided by state and federal agencies.

• January
• February
• March
• April
• May
• June

All LEAs

• The 2024-2025 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant Application is now available in eGrants. Allocations for eligible applicants are available and can be viewed on the Entitlements page.
  

• LEA 2024-25 ESSA Consolidated Federal Grant Application Due September 3, 2024

• LEA 2023-24 ESSA Consolidated Compliance Report Opens July 29 & Due September 30, 2024

SSA Only

• Please submit your reimbursements for all ESSA SSA grants. Reimbursements must be submitted monthly or at least quarterly.
• All Salary Support forms for 24-25 are due September 30, 2024, or by the time you submit your first reimbursement for 24-25.
• Signed job descriptions must be uploaded to your Google folder by the time you submit a reimbursement.
• Your new EDGAR manual for 24-25 must be updated and uploaded to your Google folder as well.
• The 24-25 ESSA NOGA will be uploaded to your Google Drive as soon as it is received.
• Don't forget to register to our EDGAR 101 Training by Cory Green, on August 13, 2024. Register here Session ID 2661764

In order to provide the most relevant training possible to our LEAs, please complete the survey below to let us know the topics of most interest to you for our Federal Grant Basics Series. Thank you for taking the time to give your input.

• 2024–2025 Indirect Cost Rates

• The Tax Information Survey (TIS) for the 2023-2024 school year will be open for data submission June 1, 2024, and will close at midnight on August 31, 2024.
  

• Federal Grant Notice to Local Education Agencies

• 2023-2024 Department of Grant Compliance and Administration - Annual Satisfaction Survey

• ESSER Waiver Request to USDE
  

• LEA Program Compliance Dashboard Overview and Feedback Session

• ESSER III Closeout, ARP Liquidation Extension, and Pre-Payment Flexibility

• 2024-2025 ESSA Consolidated Federal Grant Application Correction

The Federal Program Compliance Division is proposing an internal system for informing the Agency’s risk assessment process based on all the programmatic monitoring activities conducted by the Division. This virtual session will provide an overview of the proposed LEA Program Compliance Dashboard and is intended to solicit feedback from LEA and ESC staff administering the following federal programs.

Registration and Session Information

Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024

Time: 1:30 pm CST - 3:30 pm CST

Please register by accessing the following link: https://txr20.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=102273.

Contact Information:

For more information, please contact the Federal Program Compliance Division at ESSAsupport@TEA.Texas.gov.

9:00 - 11:00 AM

7/9/24 (Virtual)

Session ID 2662183

ESSER - Closing Out ESSER III

9:00 - 11:00 AM

7/30/2024 (Virtual)

Session ID 2661435

Homeless Technical Assistance Tuesday

July 16, 2024

9:00 - 11:00 AM

Zoom

Session ID: 2660113

Don't forget to register for the EDGAR 101 training here! (Session is August 13, 2024)

Session ID 2661764

The office of Federal Programs is here to help and support you. Please complete the Office of Federal Programs Technical Support Form if you would like to request support.

PFE Newsletter link - The 4th Quarter of "The Family Learning Connection" newsletter is now available on our website here, on our Smore page here

• Plan for Meaningful Consultation & Coordination of Professional Development
• Plan for Prioritization of Funds - Meeting as appropriate
• Work on the description on the DIP and their Alignment with the Challenging State Academic Standards

Title II, Part A Frequently Asked Questions

Title II, Part A Program Overview

Title II, Part A Program Guide

Title II, Part A Use of Funds One Pager

USDE Non-Regulatory Guidance on Title II, Part A

Federal

• 2023-24 LEA ESSA Compliance Report Window (July 29 to Sept. 30) Due September 30, 2024.
• Consult with required stakeholders and gather input/feedback on the TIVA program and activities being supported with funds (2023-24).
• Review and evaluate program objectives, intended outcomes, and evaluate for effectiveness data for the activities funded with TIVA (2023-24).
• Share final TIVA program objectives, intended outcomes, and evaluation for effectiveness tool with stakeholders for the current year (2023-24).
• Document stakeholder input and feedback.
• Set and prepare data collection/documentation for the TIVA program objectives, intended outcomes, and evaluation of effectiveness data for activities to be implemented in the upcoming year (2024-25).
• Implement TIVA program goals and objectives for activities to be implemented for the current year (2024-25).

Title IV, Part A Frequently Asked Questions

Title IV, Part A Program Guide

Title IV, Part A Use of Funds One Pager

Title IV, Part A ESC School Safety State Initiative

Title IV, Part A Program Webinar

TEA Mental Health and Behavioral Health

TEA Project Restore

TEA Safe, Supportive, and Positive School Climate

TEA Safe and Supportive Schools

TEA School Safety Resources

Texas Department of Public Safety iWatch Texas School Safety

Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC)

TxSSC will request Multi-Hazard EOP Basic Plan and Cybersecurity Annex documents from all ISDs and open-enrollment charter schools on Monday, September 23, 2024 and the deadline to submit is October 23.

Section 1.0 of both the Basic Plan Toolkit and the Cybersecurity Toolkit includes plan templates, completion guides, and evaluation criteria (checklists) to help districts complete and update plans. Connect with your TxSSC Regional EOP Specialist for more information.

Other resources:

• Fall 2024 EOP Basic Plan (K-12) Checklist

• Cybersecurity Annex (K-12) Checklist

• EOP Training and Exercise Annex Toolkit

• TAA - Guidelines for Multihazard Emergency Operations for Individuals with Disabilities or Impairments

• District Audit Reports (DAR) | check status on the completion of the 3 year audit. The 3 Year Safety Audit Cycle began September 1, 2023, and ends August 31, 2026.
• TxSSC analyzed the results from the 2020-2023 DAR reports and created a list of recommendations to further help school districts pursue enhancing their safety and security posture. Download the Report.

The Texas School Safety Center developed the Training and Exercise Toolkit to help school districts and open-enrollment charter schools plan for emergencies. The toolkit includes information from multiple organizations and agencies, such as annex and appendix documents, trainings, resources, and tabletop exercises. The Toolkit will be updated with new resources as more research is done.

The REMS TA Center’s Emergency “Go-Kits” for K-12 Schools fact sheet

🚧Safety Standards Compliance Assessment Open in IDA Dashboard

Proposed changes to the School Safety Standards

TEA announced last week proposed changes to the School Safety Standards. It is in a comment period now. See below for details and to get your comments in.

The following Texas Administrative Code (TAC) rule actions were filed with the Texas Register for publication in the May 24, 2024 issue.

Proposed Amendment to 19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter CC, Commissioner's Rules Concerning School Facilities, §61.1031, School Safety Requirements
Summary: The proposed amendment would implement Senate Bill 838 and House Bill 3, 88th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, and clarify requirements for school safety to ensure a safe and secure environment in Texas public schools.
Resumen en Español: La modificación propuesta implementaría la Ley 838 del Senado y la Ley 3 de la Cámara de Representantes, 88.° Legislatura de Texas, sesión ordinaria, 2023, y aclararía los requisitos de seguridad escolar para garantizar un entorno seguro y protegido en las escuelas públicas de Texas.
Publication in the Texas Register: May 24, 2024
Public Comment Period: May 24, 2024-June 24, 2024. A form for submitting public comments is available on the proposed Commissioner of education rules web page.
Proposed Effective Date: September 1, 2024

Please see the TEA website to view the proposed commissioner of education rules.

Inclusive Emergency Planning Strategies and Resources for K-12 Schools

SchoolSafety.gov’s new issue brief highlights elements of effective K-12 emergency planning, including the value of practicing emergency scenarios and planning for individuals with access and functional needs. The brief also includes a listing of resources, trainings, and guides to support schools in creating comprehensive and inclusive emergency operations plans. Download and share this new brief with K-12 school leaders and personnel to help inform emergency planning efforts that may take place over the summer break or during the upcoming school year.

K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency School Safety Security Taskforce partnered with the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center to develop the K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit. This toolkit is designed to help students and community members report safety and wellness concerns in schools. It provides strategies and guidance for K -12 schools and districts to improve safety reporting programs and encourage bystanders to report any issues they witness.

Enhancing School Safety Using Behavioral Threat Assessment (July 11, September 12, November 20) – These virtual training events, hosted by NTAC, will highlight key findings and implications of NTAC’s research on school violence prevention. Attendees will learn about the background, thinking, and behavior of school attackers and how some schools discovered and stopped plots before violence occurred. This training will also provide guidance on how schools may develop or improve existing violence prevention programs utilizing a behavioral threat assessment model.

Emergency Planning Resources

• Bomb Threat Checklist
  
• Fentanyl and Opioids: Preventing Overdoses and Related Emergencies at K-12 and Higher Education Campuses
  
• School EOPs In-Depth: Planning for Large Events
  
• Preventing and Responding to Bias and Hate Incidents in K-12 Educational Settings: A Toolkit for School and Community Leaders

• FACT SHEET: U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 Title IX Final Rule Overview
  
• TASB: Final Title IX Regulations Released, April 26, 2024

John Lawton

Program Coordinator

john.lawton@region10.org

Michelle Hall

Consultant

michelle.hall@region10.org

Safety & Security Newsletter

TEA has released important information regarding ESSER III Closeout, ARP Liquidation Extension, and Pre-Payment Flexibility. Click here to access the information posted on TEA’s website.

Reclassifying Allowable Costs to ESSER III Grants

To prevent lapsing of ESSER III formula funds, LEAs that are not going to expend their full award within the grant period are strongly encouraged to reclassify expenditures from other allowable federal and state sources. To be eligible for reclassification, the original expense must:

1. Have occurred between March 13, 2020, and September 30, 2024;

2. Be reasonable and necessary as per federal guidelines;

3. Be an allowable ESSER expenditure; and

4. Meet the intent of the ESSER statute (must be directly tied to the pandemic).

The following funds may be considered for reclassification to spend down the LEA’s ESSER III grant allocation:

• Previously coded state and/or local funds expenditures may be classified to ESSER III funds for allowable activities, such as teacher salaries, to free up local maintenance and operations funds that can be used after ESSER III funds are no longer available.
• Previously coded other federal grant funds may be classified to ESSER III funds which will free up federal funds in the original source. Since any allowable activity under ESSA, IDEA, McKinney-Vento, or Perkins is also allowable under ESSER, any such activity may be considered for reclassification if it was pandemic related.

Note the possible impact on federal maintenance of effort requirements if pursuing any of these options.

ESSER III Standard Liquidation Period

Liquidation is the draw-down and expenditure of funds by the sub-grantee (the LEA) for obligations legally incurred during the grant’s obligation period (March 13, 2020, through September 30, 2024). Timely liquidation occurs during the grant period and the first 90 days after its end.

This means all costs under ESSER III must be fully obligated (in accordance with 34 CFR 76.707) for allowable grant uses by Monday, September 30, 2024. Goods and services obligated by the deadline may continue to be received and paid during the normal 90-day liquidation period (October 1, 2024, through December 29, 2024). TEA then has 30 days to liquidate and closeout all funds for the state.

ARP Liquidation Extension

USDE has offered a 14-month extension in addition to the standard 120-day liquidation period. LEAs may request a liquidation extension for certain obligated contracted services costs. Approval would allow the contracted service to continue to be received and paid during the liquidation period extension. Please note that the liquidation extension does not cover all types of costs (e.g., indirect costs, staff salary, or travel) due to the federal rules defining when an obligation was made.

TEA will request the extension for 14 additional months after the standard liquidation period (until February 28, 2026) on behalf of LEAs that need it. TEA will then have one additional month to liquidate and closeout all LEA grant funds. The LEA may request a liquidation extension of the following programs for allowable contracted services:

• ARP ESSER III Formula Grant

•ARP Homeless

•TCLAS Federally funded Projects

•Other ESSER III funded projects

Who Should Request the Liquidation Extension

Any LEA that legally obligates ESSER III funds by September 30, 2024, and has a portion of those funds for distinct types of contracted services that will not be fully liquidated (services not received and costs not paid) by December 29, 2024 (the grant’s standard liquidation period) may request the extension. The LEA must be able to describe the contracted service and provide an acceptable justification for needing the extension. Note that needing additional time to expend the funds is not an allowable justification. Allowable justifications include supply chain delays, delays in receiving services, or procurement delays.

How to Access and Submit the ESSER III Liquidation Extension Data Collection Tool

An LEA that wishes to request an ESSER III Liquidation Extension from USDE must complete and submit a liquidation extension request form to TEA by November 30, 2024, through the ESSER Compliance WorkApp. NOTE: the LEA cannot submit the request before November 2024 due to the data required in the submission.

LEAs will see pre-populated data (LEA Name, Grant Award, etc.) and fields that require data to be entered by the LEA. LEAs are required to submit all required information in the data collection tool for the request to be approved by TEA and forwarded to USDE for final review and acceptance. LEAs submitting a request must be available to consult with TEA staff during December 2024.

ESSER III Due Dates

ESSER III Grant: All funds legally obligated by September 30, 2024

• Final ER Report due 12/29/2024 (SSA Members: due 10/04/24)

The ESSER III NOGA is located in your ESSER folder.

Upcoming ESSER session:

ESSER - Closing Out ESSER III

7/30/2024 (Virtual)

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Session ID 2661435

Part 1, lines 3 & 4, require data regarding the students served during the 23-24 school year.

• Expenditures: Services to eligible PNP school students and administration fees, if any.
• Based on TEA's guidance our recommendation is not to exceed 7% for admin costs.

Provide the following data for private nonprofit (PNP) schools:

• The number of students served by
• Grade level (or by age 3-17)
• Gender
• Ethnicity

Click here to join our Federal Programs Listserv.

Follow us on X @R10Revenue