COUNSELOR CONNECTION
ESC Region15
DECEMBER 2020
QUICK ACCESS TO SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE
REGION 15 EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER PARTNERS WITH STOPit SOLUTIONS TO OFFER DISTRICTS ITS NATION-LEADING ANONYMOUS REPORTING SYSTEM AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS AT NO COST Programs help a create safer, more connected, and healthy learning culture for students
San Angelo, Texas – October 31 2020: Region 15 Education Service Center has partnered with STOPit Solutions, one of the nation’s leading experts in school safety, to bring its Anonymous Reporting System (ARS) and SEL & Compliance Training Center (SCTC) to 43 school districts across the state of Texas at NO COST.
The combined programs teach and empower students, staff, and administrators to recognize and anonymously report safety, misconduct, and compliance concerns BEFORE they escalate into a crisis while also providing curriculum to educate and help prevent such concerns from ever occurring. Funding is being provided through the Stop School Violence Act – a Department of Justice grant awarded to Region 15 Education Service Center in October.
ESC 15 is excited to partner with STOPit and provide a great resources to assist student reporting and providing social and emotional supports for students in our districts.
STOPit ARS will allow students, parents, and staff to submit anonymous reports directly from their mobile phone or web browser to district officials of individuals displaying inappropriate or unsafe behavior. Once district officials receive the incident, they assess and take action to intervene and get help for the identified individual – many times within minutes for any life-threatening situations. STOPit SCTC provides on-line comprehensive curriculum on key social and emotional learning (SEL) and safety topics, such as suicide prevention, vaping, bullying/cyberbullying, and harassment, to educate students and staff on how to recognize signs, take action, and/or prevent it from occurring.
“We are honored to be partnering with Region 15 Education Service Center to bring our life changing (and saving) programs to students, parents, and staff, stated Tim Makris, CEO of STOPit Solutions. Our proven programs will help create a safer, healthier school environment while also getting help for individuals who may need it most.” Region 15 Education Service Center and STOPit Solutions will be rolling out the programs beginning in November. Districts need only 3-6 weeks to fully setup, onboard school officials and train students.
Region 15 Education Service Center Mission
Education Service Center Region 15 is dedicated to excellence in education through leadership, partnership, and service. Education Service Center Region 15 looks to support all of the districts in the service area.
About STOPit Solutions:
STOPit Solutions empowers schools, universities, and workplaces with comprehensive safety technologies and training solutions that help create safe, connected, and healthy learning and working cultures. Over 6,000 organizations use STOPit programs to proactively maintain a safe, healthy climate by identifying getting at-risk individuals and through prevention curriculum. The result is tens of thousands of lives being helped each year - including lives being saved. Visit stopitsolutions.com to learn more.
HB 3 College Preparation Assessment Funding Verification
The Texas Education Agency has opened the TEAL application to request reimbursement related to HB 3 College Preparation Assessment funding. Districts are to review, identify and verify students for reimbursement within the application. To prepare, districts should designate a point person at the district level for this project and ensure they have Accountability-level access in TEAL. This application closes on December 18. Please view this TEA presentation for more information. For questions, please contact TEA at advancedacademics@tea.texas.gov or at 512-463-9762.
The following new Texas Education Agency Correspondence has been posted at the TEA website:
Date
2020-12-03
Title
SY 2020– 2021 COVID-19 Additional Crisis Code Reporting Guidance
Division
Information Technology
Program of Study Updates
Revised versions of the approved Statewide Programs of Study framework documents, the Regional Programs of Study at-a-glance document, and the Statewide Programs of Study at-a-glance files are posted to the TEA CTE webpage ((https://tea.texas.gov/academics/college-career-and-military-prep/career-and-technical-education/approved-cte-programs-of-study) The revisions were prompted by an evaluation of the auto-coding system for CTE programs to maintain consistency in reporting for all local education agencies.
Industry-Based Certification Submission Timeline
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) held a series of meetings with an Industry Based Certification (IBC) advisory committee made up of representation from TWC,THECB, CTE professional organizations, workforce boards, education service centers, and school districts. The purpose of the advisory committee was to assess options related to the next IBC evaluation process, given the impact of COVID-19, and to provide recommendations on next steps. The advisory committee recommended forgoing the 2020 update to the IBC list for accountability because of pandemic-based disruptions to the workforce boards and the TEA employer partnerships. In lieu of a 2020 update, the committee recommended using this year and next (2020 and 2021) to make improvements to the process with a new list to be released in 2022.
The TEA will accept submissions of recommended industry based certifications for inclusion in the 2022 Industry Based Certifications List for Accountability from stakeholders December 1, 2020 through January 15, 2021. Use the following link to submit a recommendation:
Qualtrics link: https://tea.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6oslG2bp17p5nhP
Please note: The link will be live December 1, 2020 through January 15, 2021.
For additional details please refer to the timeline below:
December 2020 - January 2021
Application opens for stakeholders to submit IBCs to be considered in the evaluation process (IBCs on current list do not need to be submitted)
February-April 2021
Survey is distributed to a representative sample of employers from each industry sector to determine industry validation.
May-August 2021
Collect contextual data to supplement survey data, conduct workforce engagement public comment period, and final analysis to determine industry value
September-October 2021
Evaluate remaining criteria for IBCs that were determined to be industry valued
November 2021-January 2022
Public comment period and approval of version 3 of the IBC list used for public school accountability
August 2022
Implementation of new IBC list
ESC 15 Winter Break
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
TSIA
The Texas Success Initiative Assessment, Version 2.0 (TSIA2) is set to launch on January 11, 2021 and will replace the current version of the test (TSIA). The TSIA2 will provide a more stream-lined testing experience combining the current reading and writing sections into a new single section, English Language Art and Reading (ELAR).
Further, the diagnostic tests have been reduced to one per subject area. Students will have access to test feature tutorials and the ability to send their scores to institutions, free of charge.
Last, both students and educators will have access to free instructional and practice materials related to TSIA2 content with the launch of the TSIA2 Learning Resources library (January 2021).
Exploring Endorsements with Families
Webinar date and time: Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 10 a.m. CT
Short link to webinar registration page: https://txoc.link/ExpEndESCs
Subject: Learn how to explore endorsements with families
During this webinar, we’ll discuss the many resources available to support your work with parents and guardians on endorsement education.
You’ll have the opportunity to:
- Hear best practices from school districts on endorsement events and programs to help
educate and engage families
- Hear from expert Major Jones Jr., education outreach specialist at the Texas Workforce
Commission, Labor Market and Career Information
- Share ideas and collaborate with colleagues
Register to attend live or receive a recording afterward by visiting https://txoc.link/ExpEndESCs.
RESOURCES
New: COVID-19 and Mental Health Considerations Amid Reintegration to School Toolkit
The TxSSC has created a series of guidance documents to address how mental health has been impacted by COVID-19 and mental health considerations for how to best support students, staff, and parents in the transition back to school. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented change to schools and has significantly impacted children, their families, and school staff.
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With the return to school, whether in-person, or a mixture of remote and in-person instruction, what can be expected and planned for to assist schools and staff? Awareness of what students have been exposed to affords schools the ability to be proactive in providing behavioral health services and supports for them in the school environment. The sooner those who are showing signs of difficulties can be identified, the sooner they can be connected to support to help prevent further academic and emotional decline.
New: English & Spanish Tobacco Prevention Resources
The Say What! website offers numerous downloadable resources to assist the PTA, teachers, nurses, and other school personnel in their efforts to educate and increase awareness about the dangers of e-cigarette and tobacco use among youth. These downloadable resources discuss a variety of tobacco prevention topics such as tobacco and COVID-19, vaping marketing and advertising tactics, as well as the dangers of hookah, smokeless tobacco, and other tobacco products.
The Downloadable Resources page will connect you with:
- PowerPoint Presentations & Presenter Guides
- “Get the Facts on Tobacco” Infographics
- Guides & Activities
- Tobacco-Free School Signage
HIGHLY MOBILE & AT-RISK DIVISION WEBSITES
Child Abuse and Maltreatment Prevention: https://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Schools/Safe_and_Healthy_Schools/Child_Abuse_Prevention/Child_Abuse_Prevention_Overview/
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education: https://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Schools/Support_for_At-Risk_Schools_and_Students/Texas_Education_for_Homeless_ Children_and_Youth_(TEHCY)_Program/
Human Trafficking Prevention: https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Other_Services/Human_Trafficking_of_School-aged_Children/
Mental and Behavioral Health: https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Other_Services/Mental_He alth/Mental_Health_and_Behavioral_Health/
Pregnancy Related Services: https://tea.texas.gov/texas_schools/safe_and_healthy_schools/pregnancy_related_services/
Military Connected Students: https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Other_Services/Military_Family_Resources/
Hurricane Harvey Recovery Mental Health Resources for Schools: https://tea.texas.gov/Harvey_Recovery_MH/
Foster Care and Student Success: