TEA COVID-19 Superintendent Call: TEA Key Updates and Reminders

Superintendents,

This is a follow-up to the cancellation communication we sent on Wednesday with a few key updates and reminders from TEA: 

Posted on tea.texas.gov/coronavirus:

• NEW: ESSER III FAQ 
• This is updated in real time so check back often.  Send any additional questions you would like to see by completing the 2020-2023 ARP ESSER III – FAQ Submission Form

• NEW: Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) information
• Texas has received approval from the US Department of Agriculture to administer a second round of federal Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) food benefits for families with children who have temporarily lost access to free and reduced price meals. Since TEA cannot send information directly to families, we request that districts use the communications tools we’ve posted to encourage eligible families to apply. The application will open June 2^nd and remain open through August 13^th.  

• NEW: District Toolkit: Assessing STAAR Scores for Families
• To better assist districts, the Texas Education Agency created the STAAR Communication Toolkit to help districts communicate with parents on how and when to access their child’s STAAR scores.

Announcements:

• Executive Order no. GA-36 requires TEA to revise its Public Health Guidance such that, effective 11:59 p.m. on June 4, 2021, no student, teacher, parent, or other staff member or visitor may be required to wear a face covering.  
• As a reminder, the Executive Order keeps TEA’s public health guidance regarding mask-wearing in place until 11:59 p.m. on June 4, 2021, which means that the TEA requirement for board action on mask-wearing changes remains in effect until that time.   

• ESSER III Q&A Sessions: Webinars Ongoing
• TEA will present question-and-answer sessions as a follow-up to the trainings, with more Q&A sessions anticipated as necessary:
• Register for Session 2: May 19, 2021, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Central Time
• Register for Session 3: May 24, 2021, 2:00-3:30 p.m., Central Time
• Register for Session 4: May 26, 2021, 10:30-12:00 p.m., Central Time

• High Impact Tutoring Webinar #2: Program Design:  Webinar May 26
• This webinar series will provide an overview of key elements of implementing high impact tutoring at your LEA, as well as an introduction to TEA-funded supports your LEA could benefit from to support your high impact tutoring program. 
• May 26 Registration

Reminders:

• ESSER III Resources Available
• The ARP ESSER III Grant Program page has a wealth of resources including program guidelines, training resources and past presentations.

• Notice of Public Comment: ESSER III State Plan
• Please submit any feedback via our Stakeholder Engagement Survey by 5:00 p.m. on May 21, 2021, to be reviewed for inclusion into the state’s ESSER III State Plan application.