ESSA News - Federal Program Updates

• The ESSER II Application is now available in eGrants.
• Application Opened - June 3, 2021
• Application Due Date - September 2, 2021
• Fund Code - 281
• Grant period - March 13, 2020 - September 30, 2023 (carryover - September 30, 2023)
• LEAs are not responsible for Equitable Services to Private/NP Schools
• Please click on the button below for more information.

Log in to ASCENDER and populate the form ST2100. You will enter the range from the first day of school to the last day of school. Take the first column all the way across and you will use that data and enter it in the ADA HH 2021 tab on the template below.

If the Actual ADA is higher than the hold harmless ADA then the ESSER II grant is completely supplemental.

To find the ADA Hold Harmless it was released by TEA in July of last year and it is not negotiable. (See link below)

If ADA is not higher, click on ESSER II- FSF tab and it will indicate the correct numbers. Then follow the instructions in the last column (N).

Complete the Data SOF tab using the FSP for 2019-20.

Template for Estimating State Aid (ESC 13)

https://esc13.net/resources/state-aid-budget-template

Foundation School Program

https://tealprod.tea.state.tx.us/fsp/Reports/ReportSelection.aspx

• SY 20-21 ADA Hold Harmless Final (Excel) July 22 2020

Take a look at this ESSER I, II and III side by side document to see a clear comparison between the three ESSER Funding categories.

Complete the form below to document activities funded with ESSER grant funds. The form is maintained locally and provided to TEA only upon request.

ESC-17 specialists have scheduled a HB 4545 Zoom session for August 26th from 9:00-11:00. We will present the latest updates on HB 4545 requirements, introduce you to high-quality instructional materials for tutoring students, clarify requirements for special education students, and answer any questions you may have.

Today TEA released their list of Vetted Texas Tutor Corps providers. You may choose to stand up your own tutoring program or utilize one of the providers from the approved or subsidized list. If you are applying for the TCLAS grant (due August 20), you may use TCLAS funds to pay for TEA-SUBSIDIZED tutoring supports.

TEA also released their TCLAS State-Approved Vendor List today, a pre-vetted list of organizations that TEA has determined have the experience and expertise to support schools in planning for and executing the TCLAS learning acceleration strategies.

The TCLAS grant application is non-competitive and easy to complete. If you are interested in learning more about the TCLAS grant or just need to ask questions, contact Pamela Miner-- pminer@esc17.net

TEA has announced their upcoming training series.

Click here for registration info!

https://tea.texas.gov/finance-and-grants/grants/essa-program/statewide-training-series

Topics include:

• 2020-2021 ESSA Consolidated Compliance Report Training
• 2021-2022 ESSA Consolidated Application Training
• Collaborative Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CCNA) – Overview and Frequently Asked Questions
• Comparability, Indirect Cost Rates & General Updates
• How to Avoid Audit Findings
• Private School Equitable Services Program Overview
• Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs) – Program Overview; Use of Funds; and Within-LEA Allocations & 2021-2022 SC5000 Title I, Part A Campus Selection Schedule
• Title I, Part C (Education of Migratory Children) - Program Overview and Maximizing Service Coordination and Collaboration for Migratory Children
• Title I, Part D Subpart 2 (Prevention and Intervention for Delinquent, Neglected, and At-Risk Youth) - Program Overview
• Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction) - Program Overview and Hot Topics
• Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment) - Program Overview and Allowable Activities and Use of Funds
• Title V, Part B (Rural Education Initiative or REAP) - Program Overview

• Title IVA Funds, 2021-2022
• Currently, there are no approved Title IV, Part A waivers for next year.
• Therefore, LEAs should plan to meet all Title IVA content area minimums and needs assessment requirements (if the allocation is greater than $30K) and adhere to the 15% technology infrastructure limit in 2021-2022.
• See the TEA Title IVA Program Guide for more details.

• Required Title IVA Stakeholders
• During the design and development of the Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1 program, an LEA or consortium of LEAs must engage in consultation with stakeholders in the area served by the LEA. (ESEA section 4106(c)(1).
• Regardless of allocation amount, LEAs must document the inclusion of all Title IV, Part A required stakeholders in the planning process before making LEA program decisions for 2021-2022 on the ESSA Consolidated Application.
• See the TEA Title IVA Program Guide for more details.

ESSA Waiver Requests to USDE

1. Title I, Part A Carryover: To allow fiscal year (FY) 2021 Title I, Part A funds (i.e., the Title I, Part A funds that will become carryover funds on October 1, 2021) to exceed the 15% statutory limitation.
2. Period of Availability: To extend the period of availability of FY 2020 funds (i.e., the funds that would expire September 30, 2021) for 12 additional months for the programs included below:
   • a. Title I, Part A, including Section 1003 school improvement, Section 1003A direct student services, if applicable, and Title I, Part D, Subpart 2
   • b. Title I, Part B
   • c. Title I, Part C
   • d. Title I, Part D, Subpart 1
   • e. Title II, Part A
   • f. Title III, Part A
   • g. Title IV, Part A
   • h. Title IV, Part B
   • i. Title V, Part B, Subpart 2
3. Professional Development: To include virtual training in the definition of professional development allowable under ESSA programs for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years.

Note: The authority available to TEA to request these waivers exists only under the ESSA statute. There is no corresponding waiver authority for IDEA or Perkins CTE programs.

Please submit any comments on these proposed waivers electronically by 5:00 p.m., June 30, 2021, to be included in the state’s waiver application to USDE.

In order to help schools implement compliant programs, TEA has published frequently asked questions for various program areas. They plan to update these monthly. For your convenience, we have compiled them here.

Title I-A FAQ (2/26/21)

Title II-A FAQ (2/26/21)

Title IV-A FAQ (2/26/21)

ESSA Private NonProfit Equitable Services FAQ (2/26/21)

CARES Act Equitable Services FAQ (12/3/20)

Equitable Services TEA Webpage

Coronavirus Relief Fund FAQ for Prior Purchase Reimbursement Program (PPRP) (1/11/21)

• Federal Funding and Grants FAQ
• CARES Act Funding & Expense Reimbursement FAQ
• CARES Act Equitable Services FAQ
• CARES Act Funding Support for LEAs
• FY20 CARES Act Entitlements by ESC
• General State Funding FAQs

Mark your calendars for the 2021 PFE Conference!

The Parent and Family Engagement Connection newsletter is available! Topics in this volume of the newsletter include: “Count Down to School Success,” “5 Ways to Bully-Proof Your Kids” and many more!

PFE Newsletter Website:

https://www.esc16.net/page/title1swi.3_newsletter%20-%20Copy

You can link the newsletter on your website or share the link on your social media services.

• You can print the newsletter and distribute it to your families.
• You can add info for your own school or district, but due to copyright agreements you cannot remove individual articles for local use.

Don’t Forget about SMORE Feature!

Smore is an interactive online publishing platform that allows the following features:

• Allow persons with visual impairments to select an “Accessibility” mode to more easily read the newsletter.
• Non-English readers can select “Translate Newsletter” and then “Select Language” which will allow them to read the newsletter in their home language.

This Month’s Direct Smore Link:

https://www.smore.com/s40d6-the-parent-and-family-engagement

Enjoy the latest newsletter and new features.

Mark Your Calendars for the Parent & Family Engagement Cluster Meeting October 19th & 20th here at the Region 17 ESC! More info will be coming soon but feel free to go ahead and register by clicking on the box below.

Beginning April 15, 2021, eGrant users will need to access Google Chrome in order to have optimal functionality. Please do not access Internet Explorer for eGrants operations any longer as some functions are no longer available using this browser.

Please click on the links below to take you to our updated ACE page and other helpful resources.