LASO Cycle 2

Program Updates

Strong Foundations March Milestones

• LEAs have received their supplemental award letters for Strong Foundations with details about their specific award pathways and award amounts.
• LEAs will attend their grant kickoff on March 7^th to learn about their grant awards. Please plan to join us for this kick off, and for the Approved Provider Meet and Greet immediately following. We will create a breakout room for each Approved Provider to host. LEAs will have an opportunity to bounce between rooms to get to know their prospective APs. Register on the Interactive Calendar which is on the Strong Foundations website.

Reminders & Next Steps

• All Strong Foundations Managers and AP District Leads supporting Strong Foundations Planning should attend the next Monthly Meeting on 3/22/24, 9:00am - 10:30am. Register to attend here.  
• If you were unable to attend AP Kickoff on February 16^th, please watch the recording and complete the exit ticket which can be found on the Interactive Calendar.
• Fill out the new Approved Provider Contact Update Form by March 1^st – ALL AP staff must do this!
• Register for the AP “meet and greet” on March 7^th, 10:00am – 11:00am (directly after the LEA Grant Kickoff)
• Register for summer RBIS ToT training! All facilitators must attend all 3 days of training for each content area in which they want certification in order to begin the 3-step process to full certification.

Program Updates

Strong Foundations March Milestones

• LEAs have received their supplemental award letters for Strong Foundations with details about their specific award pathways and award amounts.
• LEAs will attend their grant kickoff on March 7^th to learn about their grant awards. Please plan to join us for this kick off, and for the Approved Provider Meet and Greet immediately following. We will create a breakout room for each Approved Provider to host. LEAs will have an opportunity to bounce between rooms to get to know their prospective APs. Register on the Interactive Calendar which is on the Strong Foundations website.

Reminders & Next Steps

• All APs should plan to attend the SFI Monthly Meeting on March 22nd at 8am.  During this session we will review the Strong Start Transition Plan to support LEAs and dig into support related to instructional minutes and calendars. The Zoom link for this meeting can be found on the Interactive Calendar which is on the Strong Foundations website. 
• LEAs who are receiving Option A award had a Print Webinar to learn more about the process for materials shipment and delivery and inventory process. TEA will be responsible for placing orders and materials and manipulatives will be delivered between April and July. We recommend reviewing the recording and slide deck to stay informed about the process. 
  • Print Materials Hub 
  • Webinar materials (recording, slides, FAQs) 
  • APs can learn more about specific supports and sessions for LEAs that are coming up by visiting the Strong Foundations Implementation LEA Calendar. 
• If you were unable to attend AP Kickoff on February 16th, please watch the recording and complete the exit ticket which can be found on the Interactive Calendar.
• Fill out the new Approved Provider Contact Update Form by March 1st – ALL AP staff must do this!  
• Register for the AP “meet and greet” on March 7th, 10:00am – 11:00am(directly after the LEA Grant Kickoff)

Program Updates

The TLG awards have been extended until June 30 (previously April 30) to give LEAs more time to use their funds. This means there are two more months in the grant cycle to purchase devices or internet access. The extension benefits the students by providing them with more time to access digital content for the rest of the school year.

Engagement Opportunities

We value our partners in the field and want to stay connected! Whether it’s through site visits, review opportunities, or focus groups, we offer various ways for you to connect with TEA and contribute to the field of education. If you are interested in participating in engagement opportunities, fill out our interest form!

Program Updates

Program Updates

Register to attend the Provider Fair

We will be hosting an optional provider fair on February 22nd from 10:00am - 11:15 am CST. Register to attend the provider fair.

Participate in TEA's MSC Office Hours 

Our team will be hosting optional office hours on February 29^th from 1:00-2:00 P.M.CST. If you have any questions that we can assist you with join us!

Next Steps

• Complete the Survey using the custom link sent to Superintendents (required): This survey will allow you to accept or decline the grant and select your providers. A custom link will be sent directly to superintendents to complete the survey. The survey is due March 29^th | 5:00 P.M. CST.​
• Submit Sample Schedules (details to come)
  • Due no later than 30 days after start date. (required)​
• Data Monitoring Plan (details to come)
  • Due no later than 30 days after start date. (required)

Program Updates

TEA's first APCSP Grantee Quarterly Convening

This first convening is scheduled for March 28, 1PM CST. Convening attendance is required for at least one person from each grant-awarded district. The meeting will be to support specific assurances including the naming of a program management Point Person for the grant, the completion of the eGrants process, the submission of a budget, the APCSP course description, and identifying strategies that worked and those that did not. We will discuss district goals, where we are now, and strategies to attain our goals. Convenings will always include the sharing of challenges, their solutions, and celebrations. Register for convening here!

Next Steps

AP CSP Course Description

Write a District Course Catalog description for 2024-2025.

Create a College Board Account

The AP CSP course was developed by the College Board to help meet an imminent need for a computer science prepared workforce.

To offer the AP CSP course, a school must have staff to manage the AP program for the school or district, at least one administrator and one teacher.

• School administrators must have an account to verify and approve teachers, access the course approval process through the AP Audit, and order AP exams.
• Teachers must have an account with the College Board to access the course approval process through the AP Audit, submit a syllabus, and gain access to course resources including daily videos, ppt presentations, content reviews, practice exams, and question banks.
• Students must have an account to access AP Classroom and AP CSP resources, take practice exams and complete teacher assignments. The College Board student account also provides access to scholarship information and additional college and career planning tools and resources.

Program Updates

Attend the Make-up Grant Kick-Off Call  

Date: March 20, 2024, at 1:00 PM CT

If a representative from your LEA was unable to make the grant kick-off call on March 11th, please register for the make-up call scheduled for March 20th at 1:00 PM.

Visit and bookmark the ADSY SLA Hub 

On the ADSY SLA hub, you’ll find all things related to grant requirements, program design resources, and your LEA’s ADSY SLA folder with a copy of your Strategic Plan for completion by the May 15th deadline.

Complete the ADSY SLA Contact Survey 

Complete the ADSY SLA contact survey to update information for the point of contact serving as the ADSY Summer Learning Accelerator Project Manager for the district and include any additional personnel that will be involved in the work. 

Optional: Attend Office Hours

Attending office hours is a great way to receive additional support while planning for your LEAs first ADSY SLA summer program!

Available Dates:

• Friday, April 5 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
• Friday, April 19 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
• Thursday, May 2 11:00 AM- 12:00 PM

Optional: Grant Supports | Design and Implementation Partner/ Technical Assistance

• Recording and Slides from the Vendor Fair of ADSY-Approved Vendors 
• If your LEA is interested in partnering with a technical assistance provider to assist in planning your summer program, we suggest contacting your chosen TA Provider from the list promptly.
• For the recording- you can begin the Vendor Presentation at 5:16.

Take note:

The Design and Implementation Partner selected will support LEAs in creating the ADSY SLA summer program Strategic Plan to meet goals and ensure high-quality summer programming at the designated PK-5 campuses. As your LEA deliberates on selecting a Design and Implementation Partner, we urge the district summer planning team to contemplate the specific areas of the Summer Learning Framework where they require support and to determine which D&I Partner will assist in achieving your summer program goals.   

Program Updates

Register for the CCRSM Leadership Summit

CCRSM Leadership Summit: This exciting annual event will convene the statewide CCRSM network. Join ECHS and P-TECH districts, campuses and their partners to collaborate with peers on innovative ideas as we elevate best practices across the CCRSM Network. We hope to see you this coming June 12th -14th, 2024 in Corpus Christi! Register Today!

Timely Topics

Outcomes-Based Measures for the 24 – 25 Program Application Cycle 

The refreshed ECHS Blueprint and P-TECH Blueprint were released in June 2023 and introduced the revised path to designation and updated CCRSM outcomes-based measures (OBM). To receive the designated status, programs with more than five years of operation must meet the revised OBMs.

Program Updates

Register for the CCRSM Leadership Summit

CCRSM Leadership Summit: This exciting annual event will convene the statewide CCRSM network. Join ECHS and P-TECH districts, campuses and their partners to collaborate with peers on innovative ideas as we elevate best practices across the CCRSM Network. We hope to see you this coming June 12th -14th, 2024 in Corpus Christi! Register Today!

Timely Topics

Outcomes-Based Measures for the 24 – 25 Program Application Cycle 

The refreshed ECHS Blueprint and P-TECH Blueprint were released in June 2023 and introduced the revised path to designation and updated CCRSM outcomes-based measures (OBM). To receive the designated status, programs with more than five years of operation must meet the revised OBMs.

Early College High School and Senate Bill 1887

During the 88th Legislative Session, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 8, which aims to improve the transferability and applicability of college credits across institutions. SB 8 amends the definition of Early College High School (ECHS) programs in Texas Education Code (TEC) §29.908 and creates the Texas Direct Degree.

Previous statute required ECHS programs to allow students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and either an associate degree or at least 60 hours towards a baccalaureate degree. SB 1887 requires that ECHS students have the opportunity to earn either an applied or an academic associate degree. Existing ECHS programs are not required to change to their course offerings or pathway, if the ECHS is complying with the requirements that students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree.

Separately, SB 1887 creates the Texas Direct Associate Degree, which is awarded to students who complete the Texas Core Curriculum and one of the seven identified THECB fields of study. The Texas Direct degree allows students to transfer their courses as a block directly to their selected major. ECHS programs are not required to offer the Texas Direct Degree.

Program Updates

Codified Model Playbooks can be found on the Center For School Actions website.  

School Model Playbooks offer a variety of codified school models that have a track record of success in Texas. Support to plan and implement several evidence-based ESF models in the playbook series is available through the School Action Fund based on TEA priorities. 

Program Highlight

The School Action Fund has granted more than $210 million in direct-district grants and in-kind support reaching 90 LEAs across all 20 ESCs with 295 School Actions Planned/Implemented and over 132,000 students impacted.