LASO Cycle 2

Milestones

• Past Due: Executed Contract
  • Ensure that you have submitted the Executed Contract to your LEA Google Folder. If you do not have access to your LEA Google Folder, please email StrongFoundations@TEA.texas.gov.
• Roadmap Planning Tool
  • The Milestone date is 8/16. If you need an extension, please talk to your AP about submitting an extension.

Reminders & Next Steps

LEA Community of Practice

Required LEA CoPs begin in August. They provide a space where you will connect with other district leaders in shared learning, collaboration, problem solving, and innovating. You have two options to attend based on student enrollment. Of course, you are welcome to choose either one based on your availability!

• Thursday, August, 22 at 11:00 a.m. – noon—student enrollment 800 or less
• Friday, August 23, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.—student enrollment greater than 800 

Action Items

• PAST DUE: Executed Contract
  • Ensure that you have submitted the Executed Contract to your LEA Google Folder. If you do not have access to your LEA Google Folder, please email StrongFoundations@TEA.texas.gov.
• DEADLINE JULY 31: SFI Contact Form
  • Complete the SFI Contact Form to create a roster for all participants at your LEA.
• Strong Start Transition Plan
  • Complete the district Strong Start Transition Plan (template provided in Strong Start Implementation Leader Training session). Be sure to share this plan with your approved provider at the initial meeting.
• Summer Professional Learning
  • Plan with your approved provider for the delivery of summer professional learning for district and school leaders, coaches, and teachers. 
• Pre-launch and Planning for Implementation
  • Collaborate with your approved provider to receive support for pre-launch best practices, implementation goal setting, and planning for progress monitoring.
  • Submit completed HQIM Implementation Goals and Progress Monitoring Plans to your approved provider by the date agreed upon. 

Reminders and Next Steps 

NEW! Upcoming Leader Community of Practice (CoP) Opportunities:

• The SFI Implementation Team is excited to announce the opportunity to join a community of practice for leaders to collaborate, reflect, and share experiences. Share this flyer with your team if they would like to know more! Use this form to register for Leader CoP sessions.
• The SFI Executive Leader CoP sessions provide collaborative learning for district executive leaders implementing HQIM. It is a platform for leaders to engage in short bouts of new learning from a featured keynote speaker, while also experiencing focused small-group discussions. Learn more about available Executive Leader COP Sessions in the July newsletter. 
• The SFI School Leader CoP sessions allow school and program leaders to continuously improve HQIM practices on campus while building their capacity as instructional leaders. Leaders who attend these sessions will foster resiliency in their schools as they are equipped to support the strong continued use of HQIM for students. Each session will be delivered twice to provide flexibility in the leaders’ attendance. Learn more about available School Leader COP Sessions in the July newsletter. 

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

Total Funding Available: ​$25 Million​                           

Range of Award: ​In-Kind Supports Only​

Total Grantees​: 200+ LEAs ​

Timeline​: Ready to Launch for ​Spring of 23-24; Must start by Fall of 24-25               

Next Steps

• Required: Submit Sample Schedules 
  • Due no later than 30 days after start date. See allocation email for link to submit.
• Required: Data Monitoring Plan 
  • Due no later than 30 days after start date. See allocation email for link to submit.
• Work with providers to train staff and roster students.
• Begin utilizing licenses and monitoring student usage.

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

SAF Cycle 7 (LASO) Continuation Grant  

To receive SAF Cycle 7 (LASO) Continuation funding, eligible applicants must complete the application for either the 2024-2026 School Action Fund Continuation grant (original Planning grant recipients) or the 2024-2025 School Action Fund Implementation Continuation grant (original Implementation grant awardees).  

1) On the TEA Grant Opportunities website, search for the applicable School Action Fund grant (see above) in the Application Name field. Complete parts 1 (PDF) and part 2 (Excel) of the application.   

2) E-mail completed, signed applications to grantapplications@tea.texas.gov by 5:00 p.m. CT, May 28, 2024.  

Both Application Part 1 (PDF) and Application Part 2 (Excel) are required when submitting. The application may be signed with a digital ID, or it may be signed by hand and scanned. Then submit via email. 

Training Opportunities

Upcoming TEA Kindergarten–12 STEM Professional Development Dates

Leadership Training

This immersive professional development prepares campus administrators STEM leaders to shape, support, and sustain STEM initiatives within their district or campus. Participants will learn by doing, engaging directly in the instructional approaches most critical to the STEM endeavor: project-based learning, design-based challenges, and computational thinking. Working backward from a model vision for STEM education, the session culminates with leaders collaboratively planning for real-life implementation of STEM programming.  

• Region 13: May 30–31, 2024 Registration
• Region 10: June 11–12, 2024 Registration
• Region 15: June 17, 2024 Registration

Teacher Training 

This professional development prepares teachers for successful implementation of STEM instruction in their classrooms by immersing teachers directly in the role of STEM learner, engaging first-hand in high-impact STEM practices such as project-based learning, design-based challenges, and computational thinking. To better understand the role STEM plays in education, educators will make connections between the Texas STEM framework, STEM fluency skills, and contemporary workforce demands. Most importantly, educators will begin embedding these STEM strategies into what matters most—their daily work with students. 

• Region 17: June 13–14, 2024 Registration
• Region 13: June 12–14, 2024 Registration