Webinar Series for ESCs and LEAs
TEA in collaboration with the Office of the Governor, Title IV School Safety Initiative (ESC 14), ESC Region 12, and other stakeholders hosted a monthly webinar series on human trafficking prevention and related topics. This series is designed to support ESCs and LEAs in increasing their awareness in the fight against human trafficking. Throughout the year, the series featured leading national and state leaders on a variety of topics. All of the presentations are archived and available (see links below). LEAs are encouraged to view and integrate topics in upcoming training and planning. Please save the date for our final training of the 20-21 school year, where we will be sharing resources and highlights to support summer planning.
Upcoming webinar
Year in Review | Preparing for Summer
Friday, June 4th from 10:30-11:30 am CST
Register Here
For more information, please email: PreventingHumanTrafficking@tea.texas.gov
In case you missed a webinar, you can find the presentation and video on the Highly Mobile and At-Risk Webinar page or watch the videos from the TEA YouTube playlist: Highly Mobile and At-Risk Students Program Webinars.
Mandatory Reporting Requirements
All educators are mandatory reporters who are required to report suspicions of child abuse and neglect, including trafficking of a child, within 48 hours. TEA hosts a myriad of resources that equip educators to recognize the signs of child abuse, neglect, and human trafficking. These resources include guidance for reporting, a toolkit for educators, and a free training module. You can find these resources and more here: Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Requirements and Mandatory Reporting Reminders.
LEAs throughout Texas offer Pregnancy Related Services (PRS), including Compensatory Education Home Instruction (CEHI), supports for eligible students during the pregnancy and postpartum periods. These programs are designed to help students stay in school and adjust academically, mentally, and physically.
Ensure that your PRS students are linked to resources to support them over the summer. FindHelp.org is a useful search engine that returns local free and reduced cost social programs, all you need to do is enter your zip code. The website includes organizations that provide baby supplies, maternity care and postnatal care, childcare, and financial assistance for a variety of needs.
The updated Pregnancy Related Services COVID-19 FAQ (January 2021) answers common questions related to providing and documenting PRS and CEHI services for students learning remotely. See the PRS webpage for additional guidance on testing during remote learning.
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The end of the school year may bring change in placements for children in foster care. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires LEAs to collaborate with the Department of Family and Protective Services and to maintain school stability for students in foster care. Identifying these students during enrollment is necessary and will ensure that LEA staff can immediately implement mandated enrollment supports and nutrition assistance. See TASB and TEA's Educational Stability Training Video for an overview of Texas regulations for transition assistance.
For more updates, see the Foster Care and Student Success Newsletter from April 2021. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated!
As schools are planning for summer programs to address learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health and education experts have teamed-up to offer a few collaboration tips when planning for summer school.
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Make summer feel a little different, and special for everyone. Incorporate activities to nurture the social and emotional well-being of educators, program staff, students, and families. Include counselors to teach lessons on topics such as emotional wellness, building resiliency, and goal setting. Have counselors and service providers offer office hours whenever possible.
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Identify partners. Partners are in schools, community organizations, and even camps. Local education agencies can develop cooperative, engaging, and wholistic summer learning opportunities that meet shared missions this summer. The whole community has a stake in tutoring, mentoring, learning new skills, and nurturing the well-being of its citizens.
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Build a long-term strategy. If a collaborative learning program that leverages multiple funding sources, providers and volunteers can begin in the summer, imagine the meaningful benefits and relationships can accrue for strong and supportive learning environments into the fall!
For more updates, see the Mental and Behavioral Health Newsletter from May 2021. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated!
Project Restore Training
This trauma-informed training video series is designed to address educators' extraordinary and unprecedented needs resulting from COVID-19. These videos will connect you to relevant science and strategies that can help you address your own emotional needs as well as the needs of your students and colleagues. This series will help educators create an environment that jumpstarts teaching and learning and drives student achievement.
Each video has been created with a COVID-19 lens and includes support for both in-person and remote instruction. Educators will be able to implement trauma-informed strategies immediately after watching the videos and reflect on their practices to support long term changes. LEAs can have educators watch the videos on their own or bring school staff together in a facilitated professional development session. Each video has a facilitation guide for a school leader, instructional coach, or mental health professional to lead their respective team on the content of the video. There are additional mental health and emotional well-being resources on the Project Restore website.
www.TexasProjectRestore.org
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Summer accounts for the height of military family moves, known as “PCS Season.” Schools should be prepared to enroll military-connected students and provide flexibility when assessing course credits, accepting education records and previous exam scores, and placing students in education programs. Review the Military Interstate Compact requirements for LEAs to support military-connected student transfers. Consider designating a Military Liaison in your school or LEA who can assist military families with school transfers and offer professional development opportunities for staff members on issues related to military-connected students.
For more updates, see the Military-Connected Students Newsletter from April 2021. Subscribe our newsletter to stay updated!
Does your school provide services for military-connected students that go above and beyond the call of duty? Apply to become a Purple Star Campus for the 2021-2022 school year! Join the 116 Purple Star Campuses recognized last year. We are now accepting applications through Tuesday, June 1. To apply, visit: TEA’s Purple Star Campus Designation.
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Save the Date!
We are excited to announce the 2021 Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program Summit, scheduled for Tuesday, August 3rd, and Thursday, August 5th, 2021.
Registration is Free! The summit will once again take place virtually and in collaboration with TEA's event partner, Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS).
Led by the summit theme, The Road to Impact, education professionals will explore how they can support students experiencing homelessness. The event will encourage attendees to draw on their perspectives and expertise as they build skills, forge partnerships, and learn strategies to make a difference in the lives of students experiencing homelessness.
Learn more about the summit and register here.
For more updates, see the Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) Newsletter from May 2021. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated!
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