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LASO Cycle 2

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In October 2023, TEA is continuing to offer streamlined, consolidated grant applications, focused on a few grant programs that are bundled and that help accelerate academic gains.

The Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) is the next iteration of a universal consolidated application cycle that strategically batches grant funding opportunities that are supporting with continued learning acceleration and innovation opportunities.

LASO Cycle 2 program grants are focused on three of the five learning acceleration strategies: Instructional Materials, More Time and Innovative School Models. Use the links on this page to browse all the grants and read up on each grant's latest news, access to newsletters, program guidelines, contact information, and resources.

For general follow up questions, email LASO@tea.texas.gov. For program specific questions, please email the contact for each grant found in their corresponding section below.

LASO Cycle 2 Highlights by the Numbers

Overall Awards

  • 393 total LEAs awarded in LASO Cycle 2 up from 212 awarded in LASO Cycle 1
  • ~$187 million awarded in LASO Cycle 2 through direct grants or in-kind awards

Rural Awards

  • 173 rural LEAs awarded in LASO Cycle 2 up from 77 awarded in LASO Cycle 1
  • Rural LEAs more than doubled in their award totals - over $51 Million, up from $21M in last year's cycle

By Region

  • All but 2 ESC regions saw an increase in the number of awarded LEAs and no ESC region saw a decrease in the number of districts receiving an award.

Grant Portfolio

Strong Foundations Planning (SFP)

Strong Foundations Planning grant program provides support to LEAs to develop a strong instructional framework in math or literacy, provides optional adoption supports in selecting a new HQIM if LEAs choose to make a material switch; and trainings and support to support creating systems to effectively manage instruction at the district level. Refer to the Program Guidelines for additional information on required use of funds.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Hannah Cox, Director of HQIM Adoption Supports
Alleigh Nicholls, Program Manager
strongfoundations@tea.texas.gov
 

Strong Foundations Implementation (SFI)

Strong Foundations Implementation provides grant funds to LEAs for technical assistance to support high-fidelity implementation of the instructional materials, as well as high-quality professional learning for teachers, coaches, and administrators.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Gloria Matthews, Program Lead for Strong Foundation Implementation
strongfoundations@tea.texas.gov
(512) 463-7942

Kristi Michaels, Director HQIM Implementation Supports
strongfoundations@tea.texas.gov
(512) 470-9235

Technology Lending Grant (TLG)

The Technology Lending Grant program awards grant funds to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide students the equipment necessary to access and use digital instructional materials at school and at home.

The equipment purchased through this grant for a local technology lending program becomes the property of the LEA. Applicants selected for funding are required to account for the technology equipment purchased with grant funds in accordance with the district policy, including ensuring the equipment where insurance is typically provided for such technology equipment. Insurance of the technology lending equipment is an allowable cost of the grant. LEAs may not charge parents/students for insurance of devices. The grant may not be used to replace lost, stolen, or damaged equipment.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Lisa Walker, Digital Content Manager
techlending@tea.texas.gov
512-463-9601
 

Blended Learning Grant (BLG)

The Blended Learning Grant opportunity has two distinct cohorts and associated purposes that applicants will select from, as described below.

The Blended Learning Planning cohort will support school districts and open-enrollment charter schools through a planning stage to design and subsequently implement a high-quality blended learning model in math (through Math Innovation Zones - MIZ) and reading language arts (RLA) aligned with a High-Quality Instructional Material curriculum (HQIM).

The Blended Learning Strategic Operations cohort will support school districts and openenrollment charter schools in leveraging a blended learning model to make a strategic operational shift to scheduling, staffing and/or budgets. This shift will seek to make robust operational changes in order to optimize campus staffing models for teachers while maximizing academic impact for students.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Michael Strange, Blended Learning Program Manager
BlendedLearning@tea.texas.gov
(512) 463-9616

Math Supplemental Curriculum Licenses (MSC)

The math supplemental curriculum (MSC) grant provides licenses to qualified LEAs to provide high quality supplemental materials for accelerated instruction activities like high impact tutoring for students PK-12. LEAs will agree to a set of requirements for access for two years of licenses to online curricula, with prioritization of licenses for year two of the grant contingent upon high-fidelity usage.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Colby Self, Director of Texas Tutoring Supports
accelerated.instruction@tea.texas.gov
512-463-7271

Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles (APCSP)

The AP CSP grant is offered to increase Advanced Placement course offerings on high school campuses within districts across the state, increase the number of students meeting College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) outcomes, increase participation and performance of students taking and passing the AP CSP exam, increase the number of CTE completers taking an AP course, increase the number of special population and non-traditional students enrolled in an AP CSP course, and prepare students to succeed in computer science related professions. This grant opportunity allows an LEA to achieve this by providing funds for staffing, training, supplies, materials, contracts, travel, technology and equipment to plan, implement and sustain an AP CSP course.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Kay Humes, Statewide Advanced Academics Coordinator
Kay.Humes@tea.texas.gov
advancedacademics@tea.texas.gov
512-463-8823

ADSY Summer Learning Accelerator (ADSY)

High-quality, evidence-based summer learning programs help to prevent summer slide, i.e., learning loss created by the lack of student engagement in rigorous content between academic school years. Prekindergarten through 5th grade campuses that meet Additional Days School Year (ADSY) eligibility requirements in the 2023-2024 school year are eligible for this grant. This grant program guides LEAs through a 3- month accelerated support planning process to design a summer learning program aligned with research-based best practices in academics, operations, and enrichment activities. Following the 3-month planning period, implementation of the summer learning program will occur in the summer of 2024. Participation in this grant program is not required to access ADSY funding itself, but rather is intended to strengthen ADSY summer program implementation through evidence-based planning and implementation practices.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Ruchamah Belizor, Summer Learning Models Manager
adsy@tea.texas.gov
512-936-6066

Pathways in Technology Early College High School (PTECH)

The P-TECH grant offers campuses an opportunity to plan to build a Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) within their district. P-TECH Academies offer opportunities for students to earn a high school diploma while simultaneously earning industry certifications, and/or an associate degree on or before the sixth anniversary of a student's first day of high school and at no cost to the student.

The P-TECH grant requires a campus to maintain a partnership with an institution of higher education (IHE) that will serve to provide dual credit opportunities to the PTECH academy and with a business/industry partner to provide work-based support.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Darin Ford, CCRSM Coordinator
ccrsm@tea.texas.gov
512-463-9371

Early College High School (ECHS)

The ECHS grant offers campuses an opportunity to plan to build an Early College High School within their district. Early College High Schools (ECHS) offer opportunities for campuses to provide targeted supports for historically underserved students through rigorous instruction and accelerated postsecondary courses to provide academic and wrap around strategies that help students succeed in college level coursework at no cost to the students.

The ECHS grant requires a campus to maintain a partnership with an institution of higher education (IHE) that will serve to provide dual credit opportunities to the ECHS.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Darin Ford, CCRSM Coordinator
ccrsm@tea.texas.gov
512-463-9371

School Action Fund (SAF)

The SAF grant provides technical assistance, resources, and grant funds to support school actions for, and at, individual campuses. School districts receive support in adopting a broader continuous improvement strategy to improve schools and provide communities with the schools and programs they want, need, and deserve.

Resources

Newsletters

Contact Information

Laura Hyatt, School Action Fund Manager
Laura.Hyatt@tea.Texas.gov

Estimated Funding

Grant Name Estimated Funding Grant Type Estimated Range of Award Estimated Awards 
Strong Foundations Planning (SFP) $20.8 Million Direct Grant $140K to $400K 70-110 LEAs
Strong Foundations Implementation (SFI) $111.2 Million Direct Grant $100K to $5M+ 75-150 LEAs
Technology Lending Grant (TLG)  $5 Million Direct Grant Up to $225K 50-100 LEAs
Blended Learning Grant (BLG) $5.49 Million Direct Grant

Planning —
$110K-$400K

Strategic Operations —
$190K-$500K

10 to 12 LEAs for each
Math Supplemental Curriculum (MSC) $25 Million In-Kind Supports No Direct Funding
(In-Kind only)		 250+ LEAs
Early College High School (ECHS) $1 Million Direct Grant Up to $100K 10 LEAs
Pathways in Technology ECHS (P-Tech) $1 Million Direct Grant Up to $100K 10 LEAs
School Action Fund (SAF)
*Including SAF ADSY Full Year		 $10.6 Million Direct Grant
In-Kind Supports		 $185K-$500K
(per Campus)		 36 Campuses
Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science Principles (CSP) $1.2 Million Direct Grant Up to $100K Up to 30 LEAs
ADSY Summer Learning Accelerator $9 Million Direct Grant Up to $25K-$400K 25-35 LEAs

Additional Resources & Information

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