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Office of Federal Programs

August Newsletter

Office of Federal Programs August Newsletter

Office of Federal Programs

Students - Service - Solutions

Legal Disclaimer

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.

Office of Federal Programs Team

Federal Programs Contact Information Form
The information provided will be used to provide federal programs updates to your district/charter contacts. Please submit this form any time your LEA staff changes.

Links to Prior Federal Programs Newsletters

August Action Items

All LEAs


SSA Only

  • 23-24 ESSA SSA Compliance Reports are due September 3, 2024.
  • 24-25 ESSA NOGA is in your 24-25 folder.
  • Last day to submit ESSA and ESSER 23-24 reimbursements is October 4, 2024.
  • 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

TEA Communications

ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports

TEA is announcing the availability of the 2023-2024 ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports, authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).


These reports are available on eGrants under the Compliance Reports tab.


Reports are due via eGrants by September 30, 2024. Reports submitted after the due date or not submitted may result in points added to the LEA's risk assessment.


Resources:


TEA ESSA Consolidated Compliance Report Contacts:

PR1000 – Title I, Part A

Vivian Smyrl

essasupport@tea.texas.gov


PR1200 – Title I, Part C

Idalia Ibañez

migrant.ed@tea.texas.gov

PR2000 – Title I, Part D

Gerardo Ramirez

essasupport@tea.texas.gov


PR3000 – Title II, Part A

Gerardo Ramirez

essasupport@tea.texas.gov

PR3002 – Title III, Part A—ELA

Rickey Santellana

rickey.santellana@tea.texas.gov

PR3114 – Title III, Part A—Immigrant

Rickey Santellana

rickey.santellana@tea.texas.gov

PR3107 – Title IV, Part A

LaNetra Guess

essasupport@tea.texas.gov


PR3099 – Private Nonprofit Equitable Services

LaNetra Guess

essasupport@tea.texas.gov

PR6200 – Title VIII-Unsafe School Choice Option

Idalia Ibañez

essasupport@tea.texas.gov


PR6400 – Homeless Students

Highly mobile and At-Risk Student Programs (HMAR)

HomelessEducation@tea.texas.gov

Save the Date!

LEA Program Compliance Dashboard Overview and Feedback Session

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.

Check out the Professional Learning Opportunities for August

Homeless - Technical Assistance

9:00 - 11:00 AM

8/6/2024 (Virtual)

8/27/2024 (Virtual)

Session # 2660113


McKinney Vento & Foster Care Quarterly Meeting

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

8/14/2024 (In-Person)

Location: Abrams - Pecan Room

Session # 2662036


EDGAR 101 Training - Federal Grants Basics Series

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

8/13/2024 (In-Person)

Location: Spring Valley - Austin/Bowie/Crockett Combined Rooms

Session # 2661764


ESSA Compliance Reports Training

9:00 - 10:30 AM

8/15/2024 (Virtual)

Session # 2662110


PNP PS 3099 Completion for LEAs

10:30 - 11:30 AM

8/15/2024 (Virtual)

Session # 2662733


Compensatory Education - SCE Overview by Dahlinda Alaniz

9:00 - 11:00 AM

8/20/2024 (Virtual)

Session # 2662745


Federal Friday

9:00 - 10:30 AM

8/23/2024 (Virtual)

Session # 2662188

Resources for New Federal Program Directors

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.

Title I, Part A

To be in compliance with Title I, Part A requirements and to be ready for program monitoring validations (previously Random Validations), all LEAs that accept funding are responsible for maintaining documentation locally of the following required events/processes:


  • 2024-2025 Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)
  • 2024-2025 LEA Program Plan/District Improvement Plan (DIP)
  • 2024-2025 Schoolwide Program Plan/Campus Improvement Plan (CIP)
  • 2024-2025 LEA PFE Policy
  • 2024-2025 Campus PFE Policy
  • 2024-2025 Parent Consultation for LEA PFE Reservations
  • 2024-2025 Solicit Public Comment
  • 2024-2025 PNP Consultation
  • 2024-2025 Ed-Flex Waiver Considerations and Processes
  • 2024-2025 Title I, Part A Supplement, Not Supplant Methodology or Statement of Exemption


Title I, Part A Resources

Title I, Part A FAQs

Title I, Part A Use of Funds Document

Title I, Part A Program Guide

Collaborative Comprehensive Needs Assessment Toolkit

Title I, Part A Paraprofessional Requirements

Title I, Part A Parent & Family Engagement

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

Title II, Part A

Monthly Reminder

  • 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 III - ELA & Immigrant

Multilingual Support EB/EL Listserv

Click to join the Multilingual Listserv

Title IV, Part A

  • 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 and 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).

School Safety & Security

Texas School Safety Center Emblem

Emergency Operations Plans

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:

  • 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.

Training and Exercise Toolkit

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.

Title IX Regulations + Texas Response: Sex-Based Discrimination in Schools Receiving Federal Funding

Safety & Security Roundtable Series (Virtual)

The Safety & Security Roundtable Series are developed to bring District Leadership, School Safety & Security Professionals, School Based Law Enforcement and school district stakeholders together to keep our LEAs informed of training requirements, legislative updates and trends affecting school safety. The goals of the roundtables are to:

· Explore critical safety issues facing schools

· Identify potential threats, risks or trends

· Examine potential solutions

· Information Sharing

· Collaborate with local, county & state partnerships

· Improve the climate of school safety

August 20, 2024 - Sentinel Dashboard Overview REGISTER HERE!

September 17, 2024 - FBI Threat Assessment Team Briefing REGISTER HERE!

Safety & Security - R10 Contacts

John Lawton

Program Coordinator

john.lawton@region10.org


Michelle Hall

Consultant

michelle.hall@region10.org

ESSA Padlets & Resources

ESSER Updates

Click here to access important information regarding ESSER III Closeout, ARP Liquidation Extension, and Pre-Payment Flexibility.


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).

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. 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.

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

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

Upcoming Professional Development

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