Region 15 Education Service Center
Weekly Newsletter - February 8, 2021
Happy Monday,
As we begin another week several of our regional superintendents are dealing with COVID outbreaks. If you would like to share any activities or practices that you have found to be successful, please share and I will gather to share.
I wanted to share that I was asked to help judge the Ag Mech contest for the San Angelo Stockshow this past Friday, and I recognized many of the district names. You should be proud of all that your students are doing in competing. The manners and professionalism, as well as the skills they showed were outstanding.
Thank you,
Casey Callahan, Ed.D.
512-269-9372-cell
Superintendent Services
TEA released 2020 Annual Report and SY 2019‐20 Pocket Edition
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced that the 2020 Annual Report and the 2019-20 School Year (SY) Pocket Edition are now available online.
The 2020 Annual Report highlights areas of progress within the Texas public school systems and describes where investments must be maintained to ensure the ongoing success of student outcomes. The 2020 report chronicles TEA’s response to the pandemic, the recruitment and retainment of teachers and principals, reading and math learning models, college readiness, and the improvement of low performing schools.
The SY 2019-20 Pocket Edition provides an overview on the Texas student population, students by program, Special Education services, Kindergarten readiness, and a summary of public education spending for the 2019 fiscal year.
Board Training - Team of Eight
Each session will begin at 6:00 P.M. with a meal and a one hour training on Safe and Supportive School Programs for Board Responsibilities. Team of Eight training will then follow. Each participant will leave with 4 hours of board training. ($500 per board)
February 10 – Bangs ISD – Bangs Middle School Cafeteria (max 6 boards) – 6:00 P.M.
February 23 – Region 15 - Conference Center (max 6 boards) – 6:00 P.M.
February 24 – Junction ISD – Junction Middle School Library (max 4 boards) - 6:00 P.M.
March 3 – Region 15 – Conference Center (max 6 boards) - 6:00 P.M.
Please register your board for training with Sheri Durham sheri.durham@esc15.net
Teacher Incentive Allotment - District Contact for TEA
Districts who have not submitted contact information or an Letter of Intent, please complete the link to ensure communication of Teacher Incentive Alotment reports if you employ a designated teacher - https://tea.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6o0ZMXwWkfINiXb
Teacher Incentive Allotment Training Zoom sessions
March 3, 2021 – 1:00 to 4:400 Student Growth Update and Spending Plans (TRS and TASB Policy) Session 037854
April 7, 2021 – 1:00 to 4:00 Application Review and Data Collection Session 037856
Upcoming Zoom Changes
Last week, we heard from Zoom that the 40 minute time limit will be reinstated on all FREE BASIC ACCOUNTS on July 31, 2021. Zoom had temporarily removed this limit for school districts due to COVID-19. If you received your licensing through Region 15, you have an EDU license which does not have a time limit. If you are relying on these FREE BASIC ACCOUNTS, then you will need to take these changes into consideration for next year. You can contact Randon Lance (randon.lance@esc15.net) for more information.
February Monthly Reminders are located at the end of the newsletter.
Laura Strube
325-481-4065
Business and Finance
Curriculum and Instruction
STAAR Writing Ready for 4th and 7th
Gear up your students to be successful on their STAAR Reading 2021 assessment!
Grades 3-5 STAAR Reading Field Test Questions
TEKSCon is Coming!
July 27-29, 2021
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center
San Antonio, TX
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ESC Region 15 is offering a face-to-face PPR review/test prep session on February 25, 2021. Due to test security, this session cannot be offered virtually. To register, use this link: https://mis.esc15.net/CatWksp.asp?type=subject&Subject=All+Educators&Wksp_Num=022677
Registration closes on February 18, 2021. For more information, please contact Torrey Clay at 325-481-4045 or Brenda Moeller at 325-658-6571.
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FaBOOKalous Fridays
Live Author Visits Every Friday at 10:30 am
You, teachers, and students are invited to...
join us each Friday morning for the opportunity to experience authors from around the globe as they graciously lead a session for the students, teachers, and sometimes parents, in Region 15. While sharing their stories, they have been able to weave inspiring and instructional words leading all to pursue the art of reading and writing to deeper levels.
The ZOOM opens at 10:15 for classes and virtual students to begin joining for the 10:30 session, and we would LOVE to 'see' you there!
Find more information and schedules HERE.
Questions from the Chat Box: Lit and Lunch with Vivian Kirkfield--From Here to There
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Remote & Hybrid Instructional Best Practices Statewide Series
Webinar series in a “See It, Name It, Do It” format with relevant, actionable best practices that can be implemented in any grade and content area. These are turnkey trainings designed for LEAs to turn around and deliver at the district or campus level.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please reach out to Theresa Spewak at Theresa.spewak@tea.texas.gov.
Audience:
- LEA Curriculum & Instruction Leadership
- Campus Leaders
- Instructional Coaches
- Teacher Leaders
- Teachers
Session 6: Giving High Quality Feedback to Students - Feb. 10th 1:30-3:00
Strategies for giving high-quality feedback on lessons, assignments and assessments in a remote or hybrid setting
For your curriculum and instruction needs, please contact
David Bedford
325-481-4023
Data Services
For your data service needs, please contact
Melissa Anthony
Data Service Coordinator
325-481-4093
Administrative Services
The following workshops are now scheduled for the spring.
February
16th—CNA/CIP (Register here)
17th—Certification Fundamentals (Register here)
25th—Proclamation 2021 for Pre-K (Register here)
March
1st-3rd—AEL (Register here)
3rd—TIA Cohort D: Spending Plans (Register here)
24th-25th—Staffing and Master Schedule (Register here)
April
7th—TIA Cohort D: Application Review and Data Collection (Register here)
19th-21st—T-TESS (Register here)
For Administrative Services assistance, please contact
Robin Graves
325-481-4026
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Federal Programs
In place of the face to face textbook showcase (previously scheduled 2/25) we have coordinated with publishers to offer a 1-hour preview of PreK instructional materials. The calendar is linked on the ESC 15 Instructional Materials home page. Sessions begin January 26. Visit the Updated PreK Calendar of Events to register.
Please check with your elementary principal and see if they submitted the PreK Contact - Proclamation 2021 form some of the publishers would like to send materials to districts prior to their zoom session.
Also, the ESC Region 15 Proclamation 2021 Preview Sign Up form is available for anyone who would like to schedule a time to preview materials. PreK materials will be displayed in the conference center Feb. 24-26. No publishers will be present.
If you would like to be added to the ESC 15 textbook listserv, monthly Instructional materials newsletter or have questions related to proclamations, please contact traci.terrill@esc15.net or 325-481-4074.
For Federal Programs assistance, please contact
Robin Graves
325-481-4026
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Special Education
If you have Special Education-specific questions, please contact:
Jam Page
Special Education Director
325-481-4054
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FEBRUARY MONTHLY REMINDERS
Accountability and Assessment –
Ensure Federal Report Card and School Report Card have been released and distributed
TELPAS window opens
Administration and Leadership –
Develop district goals
Develop school calendar 2021-2022
Review Valedictorian & Salutatorian selection
Update Ask TED
Charter Specific –
Charter Amendments close April 1st
Expansion amendments open (TAC§100.1033(b)(9)&(10))
Update Ask TED with TEA Charter Division
Federal and State Programs –
Review/implement district/campus improvement plans in accordance with district planning process (TEC§11.251)
Finance –
Begin bid for depository contract (due June 15th)
Calculate State Aid using end of fourth six weeks’ student data
Establish scope and details of financial audit
Calculate enrollment projections
Review student attendance figures as compared to prior year and budget projections
Review preliminary 20120 CPTD Values
Appeal preliminary 2020 CPTD Values, if necessary
Begin budget calendar and budget process for 2021-2022
Food and Nutrition –
Food Service Management Company Request for Proposal deadline is February 15th
Verification Report deadline is February 1st
School Board –
*Call Trustee election for May
Review Superintendent evaluation instrument & procedures, including training for new Trustees
*Administrator contracts
Review schedule for Texas Public Schools Week
*Approve school calendar
Schedule Board candidate workshop
*Approve waivers as needed
Special Education –
Begin budget process for 2021-2022
Final TEAL TSDS Core (SPPI-14) submission due February 18th for 2020-2021 student data
Monitor special education expenditures from the general fund to ensure on track for MOE (Maintenance of Effort) compliance
Texas Student Data System/PEIMS –
Crisis Codes 1A, 1B, and 1C submission due to TSDS on February 5th
PEIMS Mid-Year resubmission due to TEA on February 11th
PEIMS Fall data available to customers on February 11th
ECDS Kindergarten data available to customers on February 11th
TSDS State Performance Plan Indicator 14 (SPPI-14) submission due by February 18th
TSDS Classroom Roster winter snapshot date February 26th
*Requires Board action/approval