December 2024 - LEA Newsletter

As we wrap up another year, we want to express our sincere gratitude for your continued dedication to student success. Your hard work and commitment are instrumental in improving outcomes for students across the state. We hope this holiday season brings you joy, peace, and relaxation.

Federal Reports Due

• December 13, 2024
• Title IV, Part A Description of Programs and Activities LEAs Selected to Participate: Title IV, Part A Description of Programs and Activities - The relevant pages of official auditable documentation (District Improvement Plan) for the 2023-2024 school year providing detailed descriptions on programs and activities funded by Title IV, Part A, to support the program objectives and intended outcomes related to one (1) content area. Documentation should be in one PDF file and is due by 5:00 PM CST on or before December 13, 2024.
• Title V, Part A Evaluation of Program Effectiveness LEAs Selected to Participate: Evaluation of Program Effectiveness - Description of the process used to evaluate effectiveness of Title IV, Part A, funded activities aligned to program objectives(s) and Intended outcome(s). Documentation should be in one PDF file and is due by 5:00 PM CST on or before December 13, 2024.

• Unsafe School Choice Option (USCO) Handbook - The Federal Program Compliance Division has posted a revision to the USCO Handbook regarding PEIMS Action Reason Code 36.
• ESSA Title IV, Part A LEA Special Data Collection for Public Reporting Federal Fiscal Year 2023 (07/01/2023 - 09/30/2025) - This Handbook is intended to assist LEAs in completing the TIVA LEA Special Data Collection process as part of TEA’s federal requirement to collect and publicly report data. All data submitted will be publicly reported; therefore, the LEA should not include any confidential or Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protected information. This Handbook is available on the Federal Program Compliance Division’s web page under “Title IV, Part A Resources.”

We’re excited to share "The 12 Gifts of Title IV", a fun and practical resource to help LEAs make the most of their Title IV funding!

This collection is packed with tools, tips, and creative ideas to help schools support students and stay on top of compliance. It’s perfect for sparking new ideas and making Title IV funding work harder for their needs.

This seasonal resource features a collection of valuable tools, strategies, and best practices to help schools maximize Title IV, Part A funding. Each "gift" is tailored to inspire innovative programming, foster student success, or ensure compliance with federal guidelines.

• Thomas Edison Pitch Contest - Students create their own STEM inventions to solve real-world problems. Registration opens December 1, 2024 with the even taking place on May 14, 2025.
• ACET Scholarship - High school seniors and paraprofessionals looking to continue their education should apply. More information can be found at the link provided. Due February 28, 2025.
• Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship - For students who are interested in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or other computer science-related fields. The Amazon Future Engineer scholarship will award 400 students up to $40,000 each toward college expenses and opportunities to be a paid intern at Amazon. Due December 19, 2024.

• 2025-2026 FAFSA Update - The online 25-26 FAFSA form is available to all students as part of an expanded beta testing period. If the form is completed during this period, it will not have to be completed again following its official release on December 1, 2024.
• Books Beginning at Birth - Books Beginning at Birth is a literacy program in Texas that provides children and families access to books and other resources. Families will have access to a library of digital books and FREE print books delivered to their homes until age 5. Apply online at the link provided.
• Youth Garden Grant - Any organization in the United States or US Territories planning a new or improving an existing garden program that serves at least 15 youth between the ages of 0 and 18 is eligible to apply. Organizations must support, work with, or serve communities with a majority of under-resourced individuals, have fifteen or more youth participate in the program, and have received less than $10,000 in grants for the garden program during 2023 and 2024 combined. The deadline for application submission is Friday, December 13, 2024, at 11:59 PM PT.

• Subscribe to the TEA newsletters to receive timely updates in all content areas and programs.

• PEIMS Fall Submission Deadline Extended (November 21, 2024) - School districts will be allowed to update their students’ Economically Disadvantaged indicator until the PEIMS Fall Resubmission closes on January 30, 2025. This means that districts can continue to try to obtain income eligibility verification forms (or other means of verifying eligibility, including the use of locally developed income verification surveys or other categorical sources of eligibility) for students past the PEIMS Fall snapshot date; however, the student must be determined to be eligible on or before October 25, 2024. PEIMS Fall First Submission Due January 16, 2025. Fall Resubmission Due January 30, 2025.

Proposed New 19 TAC Chapter 103, Health and Safety, Subchapter CC, Commissioner's Rules Concerning Safe Schools, §103.1213, Required Reporting through Sentinel | The proposed new rule would require school safety and security-related reporting through Sentinel in accordance with Texas Education Code, §37.1083. Sentinel is a comprehensive system designed to enhance the safety and security of students, faculty, and staff in school buildings across Texas.

• Proposed Effective Date: December 15, 2024

• Intermediate School Behavior Threat Assessment Training - This full-day session is geared towards district staff responsible for ensuring the operationalizing of SBTA programming within their district. Participants will review the newly created Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) model SBTA Manual. Participants will only be eligible to attend this training after completion of the 7-hour SBTA training offered through the TxSSC, which introduces necessary key concepts and is a non-negotiable prerequisite for the intermediate training.
• Restorative Practices for Educators - TEA Restorative Discipline Practices has two new videos available on their website: 1) Restorative Practices Made Simple, 2) Restorative Practices Made Simple: Families as Partners.
• TEA Student Discipline - Chapter 37 Training - TEALearn now offers the TEA 2024-2025 Student Discipline – Chapter 37 Training as a self-paced online course. This course provides the participant the current laws and regulations regarding student discipline in the Texas public school system. Student Code of Conduct requirements, regulations on all school suspensions, DAEP placements, and Expulsions is covered as well. Depending on local policy, this course may fulfill the required discipline training under TEC, 37.0181, for administrators in charge of student discipline.

• 2024-25 Mental and Behavioral Health Webinar Series | Register | Virtual - TEA's Supportive Schools Division will be hosting a series of monthly webinars to highlight resources and best practice strategies on timely and relevant safe and supportive school topics. The webinar sessions will be held on the 2nd Thursday of every month from January to June from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM CST via Zoom webinar. Topics will include school mental health, substance abuse prevention, school discipline, early mental health interventions, approaches to whole child student support, and building community partnerships to increase capacity.

• McKinney-Vento 201 Webinar - Learn strategies to mitigate challenges or barriers to school enrollment, identify students experiencing homelessness, and review the McKinney-Vento dispute resolution process and more.
• NIDA & SHAPE Lesson Plans - The National Institute on Drug Abuse and Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) America created a lesson plan called “Understanding an Overdose and How to Respond to One” for students in Grades 9-12. This lesson plan helps students learn the signs of an overdose and how to respond effectively, including the use of opioid overdose reversal medications.

• Texas STEM Education Toolkit - TEA provides resources that support local educational agencies (LEAs) in developing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs that align with Texas’ high-quality STEM standards. The tools are designed to support LEA planning and implementation of prekindergarten–grade 12 STEM programs aligned to the Texas STEM Framework.

• • February 1-5, 2025 | TCEA Convention & Exposition | Register | Austin
    
  • June 29-July 2, 2025 | ISTE Live 25 | San Antonio - Registration should open in December.

• TEA Technology Applications Newsletter
• TEKS Guide for Technology Applications - COMING SOON!

ESSASupport@tea.texas.gov | PNPOmbudsman@tea.texas.gov

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Monthly newsletters are posted on the Title IV, Part A State Initiative website under District/LEA Resources.