June 2013 TAA Digest - esc13.net€¦ · through this TAA letter. “Please submit any waiver...

June 2013 To the Administrator Addressed Digest

= report or action due = Information $$$ = Funding related June 2013

Posted Description Information Route to Deadline

06/3/13 Tech planning and reporting $$$ Completed

Technology Planning and Reporting in Texas Schools Planning and measuring progress for implementing technology in schools continues to be vital as increasing opportunities for digital learning are made available to Texas schools, Continued planning and documentation are also necessary to implement the recommendations in the Texas Long-Range Plan for Technology (LRPT) and to qualify for E-Rate Priority 2, internal connection discounts. While funding for the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) Title II, Part D–Enhancing Education Through Technology program of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was discontinued, the law is still in effect. Therefore, ePlan, the Texas Campus and Teacher STaR Charts, and NCLB Technology Reporting continue to be required for school year 2012-2013. The NCLB reporting system is incorporated into the STaR Chart system. The district level component of the system will open on May 31, 2013 and will close on September 30, 2013 for the 2012-2013 school year reporting period. The ePlan system and Texas Teacher and Campus STaR Chart online resource tool remain open throughout the year. The Texas Education Code, Section 32.001, requires the SBOE to develop a long-range plan for technology and requires that biennial reports be completed and provided to the governor and Legislature on the progress toward implementation of this plan. For contact(s) and more detailed information on this topic, see TAA letter indicated below: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769805325

Texas schools must continue to complete the ePlan, Texas Campus and Teacher STaR Charts, and NCLB Technology Reporting to ensure that schools are positioned with strong planning efforts for educational technology, document progress in providing digital learning environments for students, and remain eligible for E-Rate Priority 2, internal connection discounts. The data gained from these tools is critical in making decisions at the state and local levels, recognizing trends, and determining future directions for technology use in schools. See the TAA letter for contacts to be used in addressing questions about the various educational technology resources:

Charter and District Admins Technology staff as appropriate Business office staff

Opens May 31 and closes Sept 30

06/04/13 Notice of waiver request and opportunity

Waiver Request to U. S. Department of Education Extension of Period of Availability of Fiscal Year 2009 Section 1003(g) Funds In the FY 2009 SIG Application, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) requested a waiver of section 421(b) of the General Education

TEA is providing notice of its intent to apply to USDE for this waiver by posting this letter to LEAs on the TEA web site and disseminating it through the

District and charter admins as appropriate Staff working

06/11/13




to comment $$$

Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. § 1225(b)) to extend the period of availability of FY 2009 SIG funds that were awarded for Cycle 1 SIG schools until September 30, 2013. This waiver enabled Cycle 1 schools to implement SIG intervention models over three full years. However, several LEAs have reported that it has been difficult for many Cycle 1 Tier I and Tier II schools to expend their entire FY 2009 award during the period of availability due to a confluence of factors, including the significant amount of funds available in that year under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and the delay in making some awards for implementation beginning in school year 2010–2011. Consequently, some Cycle 1 schools may need additional time to expend their FY 2009 funds. USDE has invited states to submit a waiver request to extend the period of availability of the FY 2009 funds to allow Tier I or Tier II schools with unexpended FY 2009 funds to use those funds to continue to implement a SIG intervention model during the 2013-2014 school year, if the schools satisfy criteria developed by TEA. TEA is, therefore, requesting a waiver to USDE to extend the period of availability of the funds until September 30, 2014. As required by USDE, if the waiver request is approved, TEA will evaluate each request for the extension, including proposed budgets and plans for continuing implementation to determine if the LEA can continue to fully and effectively implement one of the four SIG intervention models in its Tier I or Tier II Cycle 1 campuses for an additional year. Each LEA granted the extension will be provided with ongoing technical assistance, support and active monitoring of the SIG program through the 2013-2014 school year. See the TAA letter for contact information if you have questions regarding this waiver request. For contact(s) and more detailed information on this topic, see TAA letter indicated below: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769805327

TEA “To the Administrator Addressed” electronic mail list serv. TEA sent the following information through this TAA letter. “Please submit any comments regarding the waiver request to [email protected] by Tuesday, June 11, 2013.” TEA will aggregate the comments received from LEAs and submit them as part of the state’s application for the waiver to USDE. Please note that TEA will not respond to any comments or questions received regarding this waiver request but will instead take comments into consideration when finalizing the state’s waiver request to USDE. In the near future, TEA will also provide public notice and information regarding this waiver request through a posting in the Texas Register.

with Cycle I SIG schools, Tier I and Tier II




Completed 06/07/13 2013 List of Approved tests for LEP students $$$ Materials

2013 List of Approved Tests for Assessment of Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students TEA has completed the annual review of approved tests for use during the 2013–2014 school year in the identification of students of limited English proficiency as well as entry/exit from bilingual education and special language programs, in accordance with 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §89.1225(d) relating to Testing and Classification of Students: (d) The grade levels and the scores on each test which shall identify a student as limited English proficient shall be established by TEA. The commissioner of education shall review the approved list of tests, grade levels, and scores annually and update the list. The 2013–2014 List of Approved Tests for Assessment of LEP Students can be accessed from the TEA webpage at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=4098. The document includes a list of the Test publishers and contact information. The testing instruments are grouped in the following categories:

Oral Language Proficiency Tests in English: shall be used for identification of LEP students in PreK - grade 12 and for exit in grades 1–12

Oral Language Proficiency Tests in Spanish: shall be used for identification of LEP students in grades where bilingual education is offered

Reading Proficiency Tests in English: may be used for placement or to show progress in English reading

Writing Proficiency Tests in English: may be used for grades in which a STAAR or TAKS writing score is not available.

Reading and Writing Proficiency Tests in Spanish: may be used for placement or to show progress in Spanish reading and writing

Norm-Referenced Standardized Achievement Tests in English: shall be used for identification of LEP students in grades 2–12 only for those students for which the test is a

Campus and charter admins as appropriate Staff responsible for ordering assessment materials LEP staff as appropriate: Pre-K-12 Staff responsible for assessment in English and Spanish in the following areas:

English, bilingual, reading, writing, G/T staff




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valid measure [19 TAC §89.1225(b)(f) and 19 TAC §89.1225(2)(C)] and for exit in grades 1–2

Norm-Referenced Standardized Achievement Tests in Spanish: shall be used for identification of LEP students in grades where bilingual education is offered

Ability Tests for Gifted/Talented (G/T): may be used for identification of LEP students who are identified as G/T (Districts may find that these are the most appropriate assessments for identifying students for both LEP and G/T services.)

For contact(s) and more detailed information on this topic, see TAA letter indicated below: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769805425

06/13/13 Ledger Balances $$$ Completed

Ledger Balances The Texas Education Agency (TEA) State Funding Division will soon begin the process of rolling ledger balances from prior years to the current year. We anticipate that the process of rolling ledger balances will be complete by September 2013. See the TAA letter for guidance on accessing your district's prior year payment ledgers. For contact(s) and more detailed information on this topic, see TAA letter indicated below: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769805482

Because this process could impact your school district's current year allocation, we recommend that you review your district's ledger balances for prior years. Please review the balances for your district's Foundation, Chapter 41, EDA, and IFA payment ledgers. If the remaining balance column has an amount other than zero for the last entry for the relevant school year, the amount shown is a credit or debt that will be transferred to the current school year.

Charter and district admins as appropriate Business office staff Board members as appropriate

06/11/13

Change in federal cost principles and federal regulations applicable to all open-enrollment charter schools

Applicable Cost Principles

Charter schools




Charter change in fed cost principles and regulations Relating to State, Local, and Indian Tribal Government $$$

On May 13, 2013, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) received clarifying guidance from the US Department of Education (USDE) regarding the federal cost principles applicable to open-enrollment charter schools. In that guidance, USDE clarified that to the extent that an open-enrollment charter school operated by a nonprofit organization (NPO) or an institution of higher education (IHE) was receiving funds as a local educational agency (LEA), those open-enrollment charter schools were to be governed by the same cost principles and federal regulations applicable to other LEAs, rather than the cost principles and federal regulations applicable to NPOs and IHEs. Since Texas state law considers all charter schools to be LEAs, the federal cost principles for LEAs apply. Open-enrollment charter schools operated by an NPO or IHE will be required to make the changes described in this letter beginning in the 2013–2014 school year and extending into future school years. TEA will be updating grant reference material and supporting documents on an ongoing basis to reflect USDE’s clarifying guidance. For Further Information In the near future, TEA’s Division of Federal Fiscal Monitoring will post a more detailed letter on the TEA Correspondence page directed to open-enrollment charter schools detailing how this change affects open-enrollment charter schools operated by an NPO or IHE. With any questions, please call the Division of Grants Administration at (512) 463-8525 or email [email protected].

Beginning in the 2013-2014 School year, and extending into future school years, the cost principles applicable to all LEAs, including all open-enrollment charter schools will be file://localhost/OMB Circular A-87/ Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments (Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations %5B2 CFR%5D Part 225). Applicable Part of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations (34 CFR) Also beginning in the 2013–2014 school year, and extending into future school years, the federal regulations applicable to all LEAs, including all open-enrollment charter schools, will be 34 CFR Part 80. For Grants Spanning Multiple School Years For grants that span multiple school years, such as Texas Title I Priority Schools, Cycle 2, for school years 2011–2012, 2012–2013, and 2013–2014, file://localhost/OMB Circular A-87/ Cost

admins as appropriate Charter business office staff Staff involved with cost and regulations in the following areas: State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments




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Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments (2 CFR Part 225) and 34 CFR Part 80will become applicable beginning in the 2013–2014 school year.

06/22/13 Graduation requirements Assessment and Accelerated Inst

Initial Assessment and Accelerated Instruction Requirements under HB 5 Under House Bill 5 (HB 5), passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature and signed by the governor, high school students are now required to pass five State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) end-of-course exams to meet the new graduation requirements. The five assessments under HB 5 include Algebra I, English I (combined reading/writing), English II (combined reading/writing), biology, and U.S. history. The Texas Education Agency will be advising school districts and charters that students must pass all five of these end-of-course assessments to be eligible to graduate from a Texas public high school. As a result, students who have taken a required assessment - but have not yet passed - will still need to demonstrate satisfactory performance on that exam to meet the state's graduation requirements. Reading and writing are currently assessed separately in English I and English II. However, HB 5 requires reading and writing to be combined and given in a single day. High school students who have to date passed English I or English II reading but not English I or English II writing (or vice versa) will still need to successfully complete the second test to meet graduation

As a result, the July 2013 STAAR administration will not include assessments for these courses. End-of-course assessments will continue to be offered in Algebra I, English I, English II, biology, and U.S. history.beginning in spring 2014. High school students who have not successfully completed a separate reading or writing assessment by that time will take the new combined English I or English II test. Accelerated instruction is required for students who did not perform satisfactorily on end-of-course exams required for graduation under HB 5 (Algebra I, English I (reading/writing), English II (reading/writing), biology, and U.S. history). Since the end-of-course

District and charter admins Instructional staff as appropriate Public information staff Board Site-based groups




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requirements. Existing state law does not allow the commissioner to waive a testing requirement. The English I and English II tests will continue to have separate reading and writing tests for the July 2013 test administration and the December 2013 test administration. English I and English II assessments that combine reading and writing will be available Assessments in Algebra II, geometry, English III, chemistry, physics, world geography, and world history have been eliminated from the testing requirements. HB 5 also eliminates the 15 percent grading requirement. Under the rule previously connected to the STAAR end-of-course examinations, a student's score on the STAAR end-of-course exams would have counted 15 percent of the student's final grade in each tested subject area. The STAAR end-of-course cumulative score component has also been eliminated. For contact(s) and more detailed information on this topic, see TAA letter indicated below: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769805503

exams for chemistry, physics, Algebra II, geometry, world history, world geography and English III are no longer required for high school graduation under HB 5, accelerated instruction is not required for those courses.

06/13/13 Dept of Ed guidance on use of fed funds for conferences and meetings $$$

US Department of Education Guidance on Use of Federal Funds for Conferences and Meetings, Including Related Food Costs On May 15, 2013, the US Department of Education (USDE) issued clarifying guidance on how federal grant funds may be used to pay for conferences and meetings. The guidance, in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQ), also includes information on food and travel costs. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will be updating its cost guidelines to align with the clarified USDE guidance beginning with all grants for the 2013-2014 school year.

A message will be issued via the Grants Administration and Federal Program Compliance (GAFPC) listserv when those updates are complete. In the meantime, grantees can refer directly to the USDE guidance, which is posted in the Allowable Cost Guidance section of the Grant Management Resources page of the TEA website. With any questions related

District and charter admins Business office staff Program planners Fed grants staff




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to allowable costs, email the Division of Grants Administration at [email protected].

06/14/13 Charter FIRST reminder about ratings

Reminder to Request Access to Charter FIRST Application in TEAL This letter is a reminder that you must have access to the online Charter FIRST application in the Texas Education Agency Login (TEAL) to view your charter school's preliminary 2013 Charter FIRST rating (rating based on 2011-2012 fiscal year information). Preliminary 2013 Charter FIRST ratings will be released this month. Requesting Access to Charter FIRST Application To request access to the Charter FIRST application, first log in to the TEAL. You can access the TEAL either by visiting the TEA home page at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ and clicking the TEASE & TEAL Secure Applications button on the right side or by going directly to the TEAL login page at https://pryor.tea.state.tx.us/. Appealing a Charter FIRST Rating If your charter school wants to appeal its preliminary rating, it must submit an appeal to the TEA within 30 days of the agency's release of the rating. If we do not receive an appeal of the preliminary rating, the preliminary rating automatically becomes a final rating on the 31st day after its issuance. A final rating may not be appealed. See 19 Texas Administrative Code §109.1002(i) for more information on the appeals process. Contact Information If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Accountability Division in the Office of School Finance at (512) 463-9238 or [email protected]. For contact(s) and more detailed information on this topic, see TAA letter indicated below:

Requesting Access to Charter FIRST Application To request access to the Charter FIRST application, first log in to the TEAL. You can access the TEAL either by visiting the TEA home page at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ and clicking the TEASE & TEAL Secure Applications button on the right side or by going directly to the TEAL login page at https://pryor.tea.state.tx.us/. Refer to TAA letter for further instructions.

Charter admins Governing board as appropriate




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http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769805530

06/24/13 Accreditation Information for charter schools $$$ Financial analysis

Official Notification of 2013 Preliminary Charter FIRST Rating Your charter school’s preliminary 2013 Charter Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating is now available in the online Charter FIRST system, which can be accessed through the Texas Education Agency Login (TEAL) at https://pryor.tea.state.tx.us/. Basis for Charter FIRST Rating Your charter school's rating is based on an analysis of the school's financial data for fiscal year 2012 (the fiscal period ended June 30, 2012, or August 31, 2012, depending on the ending date of your charter school’s fiscal year). We determined your charter school's rating using the financial indicators specified in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §109.1002(g). Please carefully review your charter school’s preliminary Charter FIRST rating and the data associated with each of the 19 indicators. Opportunity for Appeal If your charter school believes that its rating was based on a data error solely attributable to our review of the data for any of the 19 indicators, your charter school may submit a written appeal with supporting evidence to the Financial Accountability Division. For the appeal to be considered, we must receive it by July 25, 2013. Send any appeal to the following address:

Texas Education Agency Financial Accountability Division 1701 N. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701

Errors made by your charter school in recording data or submitting data through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) do not constitute a valid basis for appeal.

Final Charter FIRST Rating and Required Reporting Final ratings to charter schools will be released after any submitted appeals have been reviewed The anticipated release date for final 2013 Charter FIRST ratings is September 9, 2013. Within two months of the release of its final Charter FIRST rating, your charter school must announce and hold a public meeting to distribute a financial management report that explains the school’s rating and its performance under each of the 19 indicators for the current and prior fiscal years. The report also must provide the financial information described in 19 TAC §109.1005(b)(2). Your charter school is encouraged to include in the report additional information that will be beneficial to the public, especially information explaining any special circumstances that may

Charter admins Governing board Public information staff Site-based groups

Appeal must be in by 07/25/13




Please see 19 TAC §109.1002(i) for the rules regarding the filing of an appeal. Per that section, only an appeal that would result in a change to your charter school’s rating will be considered.

have affected the charter school’s performance under one or more of the indicators. The first of two required newspaper notices to inform the public of the meeting must be published no more than 30 days and no fewer than 14 days before the public meeting. Your charter school may combine the meeting with a scheduled regular meeting of the governing board. For full requirements related to the report and meeting, see 19 TAC §109.1005. For a template that your charter school can use in developing its financial management report, see the TEA FIRST web page at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3864. Accreditation and Special Education Determination Statuses Please note that the TEA considers a charter school’s Charter FIRST rating when assigning an accreditation status, per the accreditation status rules in 19 TAC




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§97.1055. Additionally, your charter school’s final Charter FIRST rating may impact its special education determination status as issued by the TEA under the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, §300.608(a). Contact for Further Information If you have questions about your charter school’s Charter FIRST rating, please contact by telephone at (512) 475-3451 or by email at [email protected]

06/21/13 Accreditation Information for schools $$$ Financial analysis

Official Notification of 2013 Preliminary School FIRST Rating Your school district’s preliminary 2013 School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating is now available in the online School FIRST system, which can be accessed through the Texas Education Agency Secure Environment (TEASE) at https://seguin.tea.state.tx.us/apps/logon.asp.

Basis for School FIRST Rating

Final School FIRST Rating and Required Reporting We will issue final ratings to school districts after we have reviewed any submitted appeals. The anticipated release date for final 2013 School FIRST ratings is September 9,




$$$

Your district's rating is based on an analysis of the district's financial data for fiscal year 2012 (the fiscal period ended June 30, 2012, or August 31, 2012, depending on the ending date of your district’s fiscal year). We determined your district's rating using the financial indicators specified in 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §109.1002(f). Please carefully review your district’s preliminary School FIRST rating and the data associated with each of the 20 indicators.

Opportunity for Appeal If your district believes that its rating was based on a data error solely attributable to our review of the data for any of the 20 indicators, your district may submit a written appeal with supporting evidence to the Financial Accountability Division. For the appeal to be considered, we must receive it by July 25, 2013. Send any appeal to the following address:

Texas Education Agency Financial Accountability Division 1701 N. Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701

Errors made by your district in recording data or submitting data through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) do not constitute a valid basis for appeal. Please see 19 TAC §109.1002(i) for the rules regarding the filing of an appeal. Per that section, we will consider only an appeal that would result in a change to your district’s rating.

2013. Within two months of the release of its final School FIRST rating, your school district must announce and hold a public meeting to distribute a financial management report that explains the district’s rating and its performance under each of the 20 indicators for the current and prior fiscal years. The report also must provide the financial information described in 19 TAC §109.1005(b)(2).We encourage your district to include in the report additional information that will be beneficial to taxpayers, especially information explaining any special circumstances that may have affected the district’s performance under one or more of the indicators. The first of two required newspaper notices to inform taxpayers of the meeting must be published no more than 30 days and no fewer than 14 days before the public meeting. Your district may combine the meeting with a scheduled regular meeting of the board of




trustees. For full requirements related to the report and meeting, see 19 TAC §109.1005.For a template that your district can use in developing its financial management report, see the TEA FIRST web page at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=3864. Accreditation and Special Education Determination Statuses Please note that the TEA considers a school district’s School FIRST rating when assigning an accreditation status, per the accreditation status rules in 19 TAC §97.1055. Additionally, your district’s final School FIRST rating may impact its special education determination status as issued by the TEA under the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, §300.608(a). Contact for Further Information If you have questions about




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your district’s School FIRST rating, please contact Belinda Dyer by telephone at (512) 475-3451 or by email at [email protected].

06/24/13 Preliminary Summary of Finances $$$

2013–2014 Preliminary Summary of Finances A preliminary Summary of Finances (SOF) report for the 2013–2014 school year is available at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) School District State Aid Reports web page. This letter explains the changes to funding formulas authorized with the passage of Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1025, 83rd Texas Legislature, 2013, and provides information on the data we used in this SOF. Formula elements that have been revised include:

an increased basic allotment (from $4,765 in 2012–2013 to $4,950 in 2013–2014),

an increased equalized wealth level in Tier I (from $476,500 in 2012–2013 to $495,000 in 2013–2014),

an increased regular program adjustment factor (from 0.98 in 2012–2013 to 1.0 in 2013–2014), and

an increased target revenue reduction factor (from 0.9235 in 2012–2013 to 0.9263 in 2013–2014).

The following list describes the various areas covered in this TAA letter. They are about the data that was used in the 2013–2014 SOF report, including planned updates. Refer to the TAA letter for a great deal of information on all of these topics. *LPE vs. DPE *Student Counts Charter Schools *2012 State-Certified Property Value *Estimated M&O Tax

Collections *Instructional Facilities

Allotment (IFA) and Estimated M&O Tax Collections

*Estimated I&S Tax Collections

Charter and district admins Business office staff Site-based groups as appropriate Public information staff




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*EDA and IFA *New Instructional Facility

Allotment (NIFA) *Transportation Allotment *Per Capita Rate *2013–2014 State Aid

Template School Districts Charter Schools

06/28/13 Teacher shortage areas

IMMEDIATE ACTION: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION TO ALL PRINCIPALS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ALL TEACHERS 2013-2014 Teacher Shortage Areas TEA) has received approval from the US Department of Education (USDE) for the 2013-2014 teacher shortage areas. Please note the shortage areas have changed from previous years. The approved shortage areas for the 2013-2014 school year are:

1. Bilingual/English as a Second Language 2. Computer Science 3. Languages Other Than English (Foreign Language) 4. Mathematics 5. Science 6. Special Education

The approved shortage areas allow the administrator the ability to recruit and retain qualified teachers and to help reward teachers for their hard work using the loan forgiveness opportunities. School principals can act on behalf of the Commissioner of Education to certify that a teacher has met the minimum qualifications required for certain loan forgiveness programs.

Please see the TEA website (below) for all requirements of the Federal, State and Public Service loan forgiveness programs available to teachers. All school personnel can take advantage of the Public Service program. We appreciate your help to inform current and future staff about the loan forgiveness opportunities. More information about eligibility for each of the programs and application forms can be found on the TEA website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/loan.aspx.Thank you for directing teachers to this information and helping them complete the application for loan forgiveness.

Charter and district admns Supers Principals Teachers Community as appropriate




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For contact(s) and more detailed information on this topic, see TAA letter indicated below:

For additional information, please contact Danielle Warren in the Division of Educator Standards at [email protected].

Special Information and Professional Development Offerings Offered by ESC 13 and Other Entities TEA NEWS

and UPDATES

For Administrators

Texas Education Agency Administrator News http://www5.esc13.net/thescoop/cc/timeforstaar/tea-administrator-news/ 2013-2014 Teacher Shortage Areas The Texas Education Agency has announced teacher shortage areas for next year. Loan forgiveness programs are open to those who teach in these areas. Deadline extended for principals to respond to mandatory survey The deadline has been extended for principals to respond to a survey designed to measure the performance of beginning teachers and educator preparation programs’ effectiveness in preparing those teachers to succeed in the classroom. A 2009 law makes it mandatory for principals to respond to this survey. School Finance Presentations Three new school finance presentations have been posted that provide updates to funding changes that will occur because of recent legislative action. Statement of Commissioner Michael L. Williams regarding the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Voting Rights Act “Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling eliminates a major hurdle to providing much-needed help for students in ineffective school districts across our state. Under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, the Texas Education Agency has been forced to seek federal approval before taking substantive and critical action, such as installing a board of managers or shutting down a chronically failing district... Dozens of new laws to impact Texas public schools Dozens of new laws will impact Texas public schools. A list details those education bills that became law and those that were vetoed.




Commissioner Williams meets with Education Secretary to discuss Texas” NCLB waiver request Commissioner of Education Michael L. Williams today met with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in Washington D.C. as part of an ongoing dialogue with the U.S. Department of Education regarding Texas’ waiver request from specific provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), commonly known as the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. TEA announces initial assessment requirements under HB 5 Under House Bill 5 (HB 5), passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature and signed by the governor, high school students are now required to pass five State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) end-of-course exams to meet the new graduation requirements.

The SCOOP As always ---- be sure and check the SCOOP frequently for up-to-the-minute information http://www5.esc13.net/thescoop/cc/

Archive info for

June 2013 From

The SCOOP

The June offerings from the SCOOP included information on the topics listed below. More information on each can be found on The SCOOP. http://www5.esc13.net/thescoop/cc/ ESTAR Academy II Workshop – Fee Waived ESTAR II Academy is being offered for FREE with summer. Sign up today for July 15th and 18th or August 14th and 15th training dates. This training is the follow up to ESTAR I. Accommodations Strategies and Resources We hope you all are having fun, safe, refreshing summers so far. As we talk with teachers around the Region, there is a lot of discussion about graphic organizers as mnemonic accommodations for students with learning disabilities. Chemistry Teachers: Save the Date – July 10th! Chemistry Teachers! Brian Anderson, former UT chemistry professor, children’s book author, and piñata maker is coming to Region 13 to lead a workshop on Gas Laws and Thermochemistry! Teach with Your Iphone: Apps to use in the Classroom The information below was retrieved from edutopia.org. For the original article click here. You don’t need a class set of netbooks or iPads to integrate technology into your daily instruction. Success Attributes for Students with Leaning Disabilities We hope your summer is off to a great start! It’s so important to take this time to relax, refresh, and “refill” the tank. It’s also a great time to think about the big picture.




Physics Teachers: Save the Date for July 30-31 “How can a summer PHYSICS workshop be this much fun?” Join us on July 30-31 for the 2-day FREE workshop where you get to fly paper airplanes (and so much more!)! Article: Why Formative Assessment Matters The information on this post was retrieved from http://blog.web20classroom.org/2013/02/why-formative-assessments-matter.html Why Formative Assessments Matter: This is a follow-up/prequel to my post on the tools you can use to formatively assess students New Math Standards Crosswalk Jerri LaMirand of Eanes ISD has worked with fellow math teachers across Central Texas to compile a Crosswalk to support teachers in the transition to the new math TEKS. They have been gracious enough to share it with schools throughout Texas. Online Learning Through Project Share Are you sitting at home bored to death? Ok probably not but if you have some spare time this summer you might want to check out the online courses offered through Project Share. Biology EOC Results TEA has released the statewide summary report for the Spring 2013 Biology EOC. Statewide, 85% of all students made Level II: Satisfactory which is great news. However, there is still work to be done.

Special Education offerings July – Dec.

Our Special Education department at Region 13 has been very busy this month. Between the Inclusion Institute, Hill Country Institute, and Beat the Heat we have seen approximately 1,000 of you in person and another 500 or more virtually! As you make plans for professional development, keep the following options in mind:

SU1323766 Power of Inclusion- 2 Day 7/23/2013

FA1327099 Accommodation Central – Primary 10/9/2013

SP1427164 Accommodation Central – Primary 1/13/2014

SP1427100 Accommodation Central – Secondary 1/13/2014

FA1327163 Accommodation Central – 10/7/2013




Secondary

FA1326973 Math for All- AGC grades 3-12 11/12/2013

FA1327107 Accessing the General Curriculum in ELAR 9/23/2013

FA1326408 Accessing the General Curriculum in Science 12/3/2013

The SCOOP Blogs

The SCOOP also provides links to blogs in the following areas: Welcome! Region 13 is excited to provide a variety of blogs filled with helpful information. Simply click on the link of the blog you would like to visit and read away! http://www5.esc13.net/thescoop/cc/ Assessment & Accountability Assistive Technology A Glimpse into the World of Deaf Education Autism and Developmental Disabilities The Business Management Cooperative Campus Leadership Curriculum Council Distance Learning Elementary Generalist Federal Program Leaders In-Sight. A Newsletter for Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Instructional Technology Instructional Materials & Textbooks Library Media Services Math Science Secondary School Summit and HSTW/MMGW State Conference Something to talk about: Speech Language Pathology in the School Special Education Leaders Transformation 2013 Visual Impairment Blog What’s So Special?

News from Div of Fed and State

News from the Division of Federal and State Education Policy – ESEA Unit 2012-2013 NCLB Consolidated Compliance Reports and Gun Free Schools Reports Clarifications




Ed Policy For questions contact your ESC for technical assistance. The list of ESC contacts is available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=25769805000&libID=25769805000. We have received numerous questions regarding the PR6400 (Homeless Students Enrolled) and the Gun Free Schools Reports (PR6000 and PR6100). The following are some clarifications to better understand the reporting. Homeless Students Enrolled Report PR6400 The main purpose of the PR6400 Homeless Students Enrolled Compliance Report is to collect information about children not in PEIMS who have received services from a McKinney-Vento subgrant (TEXSHEP). An LEA participating in a McKinney-Vento subgrant (TEXSHEP) should have records that show who has received services from the subgrant and should be able to provide the requested information on this report. Part 2 – Counts and primary Nighttime Residency This part of the report is required if the LEA participated in a McKinney-Vento subgrant (TEXSHEP) and provided services to ages 0-5. For each age category, the LEA should enter the number of students that received services from a McKinney-Vento subgrant (TEXSHEP). Ages 3-5 should be the students receiving the services that are not currently enrolled in school and therefore not being reported in PEIMS. The remainder of the report is grayed out for grades 2- 12 now that this information is being reported in PEIMS 461. Gun Free Schools (GFS) District and Campus Reports PR6000 and PR6100 The campus report is available under the eGrant Progress/Compliance/Evaluation Reports section of eGrants under the 2012-2013 NCLB Consolidated Federal Grant Application. If the LEA answers “Yes” to question #2 on the district report (PR6000) saying that the LEA had students that brought a firearm to school, the campus report (PR6100) will be available after the district report (PR6000) has been submitted. If LEA answers “No” the campus report will not appear on eGrants. News from the Division of Grants Administration 2013-2014 NCLB Consolidated Federal Grant Application For program information, please contact your ESC NCLB Contact for technical assistance. For funding information, please contact the Division of Grants Administration at (512) 463-8525, or visit the TEA Grant Opportunities page. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) opened the 2013-2014 NCLB Consolidated Federal Grant application in eGrants on June 6, 2013, for public school districts, Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), and Windham School District. Preliminary planning amounts for public school districts, TJJD, and Windham School District are available and can be viewed on




the Division of Grants Administration’s Federal Entitlements Page http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=5040&menu_id=2147483678. Planning amounts for special local educational agencies (LEAs), including open-enrollment charter schools, South Texas ISD, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Texas School for the Deaf are not available at this time. Eligibility and planning amounts for these entities must be determined on the submission of the 2013-2014 SC5010-NCLB Data Request Form for Federal Funding and “final” US Department of Education (USDE) allocation data. Eligible applicants must apply through the eGrants system by 5:00 p.m. Central Time, September 4, 2013. Please refer to the Federal Entitlements page for further information, including how to apply for the grant. 2013-2014 Private Non-Profit Affirmation Forms and Equitable Services Worksheets For questions contact your ESC for technical assistance. The 2013-2014 PNP Affirmation Form and Equitable Services Worksheets are now available through the NCLB Reports application via TEAL. · LEAs with PNPs that participate in Title I, Part A are required to submit a completed PNP Affirmation form. PNP Affirmation forms for Title I, Part C; Title II, Part A and Title III, Part A (LEP and/or Immigrant) are no longer required to be submitted. The LEA is still required to complete the requirements for PNP consultation for these other programs and retain the documentation locally. · LEAs with PNPs that participate in Title I, Part A; Title I, Part C; Title II, Part A and Title III, Part A (LEP and/or Immigrant) need complete the Equitable Services Worksheets for the applicable programs. These completed forms are due to be uploaded through NCLB Reports no later than October 1, 2013. News from the Division of Educator Standards 2012-2013 End of Year PR1100 Highly Qualified Teacher Report For questions contact Scott Lewis at [email protected] or (512) 463-9213. LEAs must ensure that all campus PR1100 Highly Qualified Teacher reports reflect the end of school year Highly Qualified status for all teachers and paraprofessionals by June 15, 2013. Reports only need to be opened and amended when changes are required. If reports are already accurate for the end of year status, there is no need to open or amend the reports. The PR1100 Highly Qualified Teacher reports can be located in eGrants as a Special Collection of the 2012-2013 NCLB Consolidated Federal Grant Application page.

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June 2013 TAA Digest - esc13.net€¦ · through this TAA letter. “Please submit any waiver...

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