ESC Region 11 Federal Programs
January 2021 Newsletter
ESSER-CARES Act Updates
For LEAs who received ESSER funding in 2020, the Random Validation process will begin with notifications to LEAs on February 1st. If you are selected for ESSER Random Validation, I will be contacting you for training and support throughout the process.
Please remember that your ESSER Amendments are due by March 1st. Your amendment should update your budgeted amounts to include your final allotment and the updated application with PNP information if you have participating PNPs.
Please reach out to me with any questions.
Gretchen Kroos
817-740-7630
Parent and Family Engagement Updates
PFE Best Practices Expos
Two more VIRTUAL Best Practices Expos are approaching in February.
- February 3, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity by Klein ISD. Session # 801019
- February 24, 8:30 – 11:45 a.m., PFE Strategies by Northside ISD and Grand Prairie ISD. Session # 801040
There is no registration fee.
Register through Region 16 ESCWorks, https://www.escweb.net/tx_r16/catalog/search.aspx. Type the Session # in the box where it asks, “Already know the Workshop ID?”
Building the Capacity of ALL Families
The Title I Part A Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Initiative announces the training by Steve Constantino, Building the Capacity of ALL Families.
Dr. Steve Constantino will focus on how to create a truly inviting culture for successful community and family partnerships. Participants will build an awareness of the important role of family engagement in the academic lives of children and will be given tools to achieve authentic family engagement that is linked to learning.
- This is a VIRTUAL two-day training.
- It is offered two times (March 1-2 and March 10-11, 2021)
- The registration fee is $35.00 per person; make payment to IMP/International Meeting Planners.
- Register through IMP/International Meeting Planners, https://buildingallfamilies.com/.
- The Zoom link will be provided after registration (and possibly only a week or two before the event).
Highly Mobile & McKinney-Vento Updates
Region 11 Homeless / Unaccompanied Youth Needs
We have had a couple of districts share needs specific to homeless/unaccompanied youth that are not being met at the LEA level. We may be able to help provide some of these items or connect LEAs with contacts and resources that are able to assist. Please visit the Google sheet linked below to list any homeless/unaccompanied youth needs you have that cannot be met with other sources.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15pMu0gbLK0sSC7U59s3AHH2EtUs5Dt8qcpUYGseGWJE/edit?usp=sharing
Christie Miller
817-740-3694
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Upcoming Training & Deadlines
McKinney-Vento 201 Training Sessions
Announcing the availability a new McKinney-Vento 201 training! Three sessions will be held in February (all the same content - you only need to register for one).
Date: Thursday, February 11th, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, February 17th, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
https://esc13.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bwuZNGt8RuK86FbQTkGETw
Date: Thursday, February 25th, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
https://esc13.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_gDusloCSSD-TXe9hZI8zYw
Highly Mobile and At-Risk Webinar
See the attached flyer for an upcoming webinar by the TEA Highly Mobile and At-Risk Student Programs Division on Thursday, February 4. This webinar is recommended for LEA district- and school-level staff. It will also be recorded and available on TEA’s Highly Mobile & At-Risk Student Programs website at a later date.
Title I Updates
Please remember that any LEA who receives Title I, Part A funding must disseminate the state-, LEA-, and campus-level report cards to (1) all LEA campuses, (2) parents of all enrolled students, and (3) the general public in a widely-available public means. To meet this requirement at a minimum, the LEA must do the following things:
- Post direct links to the State, LEA, and campus report cards on its website;
- Notify parents of all students about the availability of the report cards and the options for obtaining them;
- Provide appropriate translation (either oral or written) upon request;
- Make hard copies available to parents upon request; and
- Make hard copies available for viewing in public locations.
The 2019-2020 Federal Report Cards as well as sample letters and other resources are available on the TEA Title I, Part A Federal Report Card Web Page.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions or concerns!
Christie Miller
817-740-3694
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Upcoming Training & Deadlines
Title I for Campus Administrators Training:
2/17/2021 9:00 a.m. - Noon -- Comprehensive Needs Assessment
2/24/2021 9:00 a.m. - Noon -- Campus Improvement Plan
3/03/2021 9:00 a.m. - Noon -- Parent & Family Engagement
Title II Updates
We have heard from numerous districts in our region that are struggling to find quality professional development offerings due to COVID-19, or cannot secure substitutes in order to send staff to PD. I, along with several of my colleagues in other regions, have raised these concerns to the state level. At this time, there are not any COVID-related waivers to assist in this area; however, keep in mind the following:
- Be sure to spend your 19-20 Title II funds first. These funds will expire altogether in 2021. If you still have 19-20 funds, this should be your primary focus at this time!
- Title II does not have the 15% carryover limitation that Title I has. You could carry over 100% of your Title II funds into 21-22 without penalty or extra paperwork.
- Even if your district is not eligible for REAP, you may use Transferability to move all or part of your Title II funds to a different program (Title I, Title IV). This can be done mid-year, but that would come with a lot of cautions! It would be much cleaner to allow your 20-21 funds to carry over, and then use Transferability in your ESSA Application for 21-22. TEA is working to put together some guidance regarding the potential unintended consequences of transferring funds. As soon as that is available, I will share it. For now, just be aware that the option is available...and focus on spending your 19-20 funds.
Feel free to contact me if you have a significant amount of money left on your 19-20 grant, or if you have identified great Title II expenditures that are working during COVID that I could share with other LEAs (other than personnel costs).
Christie Miller
817-740-3694
Title III Updates
Melanie Yocom
817-740-7563
Title III 2020-2021 Random Validation
- 20-21 validation process is a pilot year to transition to the current year
- Random LEA selection using 19-20 ESSA Consolidated submissions for TIII
- LEA TIII POC will be notified in February
- PR3002 TIII, Part A-ELA:
- 2 LEAs per Region (independent, no SSAs)
- Part 6: Program Implementation-Questions 2-4 (Parent, Family, Community Engagement)
- PR3114 TIII, Part A-Immigrant
- 10 LEAs across the state
- Part 3: Program Implementation-Questions 1 (PNPs) and 2 (Enhanced Instructional Opportunities)
Plan Title III Parent, Community, Family Engagement Activities for 2020-2021
- Must go above and beyond activities already funded through other sources
- Must be supplemental to other services available
- Must have documentation to support the implementation of the activity (may include presentations, agendas, sign-in sheets, flyers, newsletters, emails)
- Title III Engagement
- ESC Region 11 EL Parent Google Site
- ESL Region 11 English Learner Parent Support Newsletters
Save the Date!
- Title III Symposium (Virtual) July 22-23, 2021
Migrant Education Program Updates
The ESC Region 11 Migrant Education Program team will soon be collecting student data to enter into the Texas Migrant Database (known as NGS). Please encourage the Migrant contacts in your LEA to keep an eye out for the data request and instructions. It will come via email.
See the attached PDF invitations (in English and Spanish) for the upcoming ESC Region 11 Migrant Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting on February 6. Please promote the PAC meeting to your migratory families.
Also attached is the flyer for the Texas Migrant Interstate Program (TMIP) Conference on February 22-23. This will be held virtually and is free to attend. Online registration will open by February 1. Anyone who works with special populations, ELs, or migratory students is encouraged to attend.
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Keilah Villarreal
kvillarreal@esc11.net
817-740-7598
Michelle Perez
mperez@esc11.net
817-740-7541
Title IV Updates
Again this year, TEA is applying for waivers related to COVID-19 for Title IV, Part A. These waivers have not yet been approved by USDE. TEA will send official notification upon approval. The major impact of the waivers would be to remove the content-area spending requirements (among the three Title IV areas) and to remove the 15 percent spending limitation for technology infrastructure.
Please remember, these waivers are not yet approved by USDE, but I thought the information might be helpful for planning purposes.
Christie Miller
817-740-3694
Education Service Center Region 11
Email: centralregistration@esc11.net
Website: www.esc11.net
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Phone: (817) 740-3600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ESCRegion11/
Twitter: @ESCRegion11