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To: Superintendents, Principals, Charter School Leaders, School Improvement, Federal Directors, Education partners, K12 PIOs, Business Managers, All SSA Advisories and EL Advisory, SB13: Tribal History / Shared History, Title VI Directors, TAPP Directors
From: Tim Boyd, ODE Director of District and School Effectiveness
Date: October 23, 2023
Re: Technical Changes to Identifying CSI and TSI Schools & Updates to Federal School Improvement Funds
This message aims to offer updates regarding the identification of Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) schools as well as updates pertaining to Federal School Improvement funds and subsequent plan development and reporting.
ESSA Plan Amendment Update
In April of this year, the Oregon Department of Education submitted an amendment to its plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The amendment made permanent changes to the accountability model as well as minor technical changes to Oregon’s plan. This memo offers additional information.
At this time, the US Department of Education (D.O.E.) has not formally approved Oregon’s proposed amendment. The US D.O.E. has provided feedback to the proposed amendment and has concluded that the methodology used to identify CSI and TSI schools was inconsistent with the requirements of the federal law. Oregon previously applied unique cut scores to particular student groups and data indicators. To rectify this and to bring Oregon into compliance, level cut scores and cut score methodologies used for focal students must be universally applied. For 2022-23 accountability reports we are applying the same level cut scores to all student groups within each indicator.
This change will not be made retroactively, but will be applied this fall in the annual identification of TSI schools, resulting in far more TSI schools being identified as in need of additional support.
The increase in the total number of schools also impacts previous changes to focus funding. Last fall, additional school improvement funds were distributed to school districts serving three or more CSI or TSI schools or to districts where fifty percent or more of the total schools in the district were identified. (Review this memo for additional information about last year’s shift.) This resulted in 35 districts receiving funds to support 134 total schools, averaging approximately $75,000 per school. Allocations were formula-based, and factored the nature of identification as well as the number of students enrolled in the school.
Federal School Improvement Funds
Moving forward, allocations will be revised to offer stability to districts who received Federal School Improvement funds last fall and to offer funding to school districts serving high numbers or percentages of newly identified schools. Grant in aid funds will again be allocated at the school district level with earmarked portions for individual schools. These funds will be planned for in accordance with the Integrated Guidance and Integrated Plan and Budget Template. Technical assistance to make necessary plan changes to reflect school-level needs will be supported through EII regional point people, district grant managers and ESD Liaisons.
Plan Development and Reporting
Before September 30, 2024, all schools designated for CSI or TSI support must develop and submit a school level improvement plan to ODE in alignment with processes and structures in place for the Integrated Guidance and Plans. Reporting for CSI and TSI schools will also align with Integrated Plan reporting. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.
Please reach out to your EII point person or Tim Boyd (tim.boyd@ode.oregon.gov) with any immediate questions.
Thank you for your continued service to the students and communities in Oregon.
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