From the SGS Team

SGS Summit 2021: We are grateful to everyone who attended our 2021 Summit! Do you have a colleague that missed a session? Do you want a copy of a presentation you enjoyed? We recently published the Summit videos and resources online, here! Highlights include:

• Keynote with TEA Commissioner Morath: In his 2021 remarks, the Commissioner showed how the SGS Strategy is meeting student needs in Network districts, with spotlights on Lubbock, Fort Worth, Victoria, Aldine, and San Antonio.
• Calendars that Meet Student Needs: This spotlight features Spring ISD and the Additional Days School Year program. Two weeks ago, SISD launched their first extended school year at two schools to accelerate learning.
• Innovative Staffing & Talent Models: This spotlight features Ector County ISD's collaboration with Public Impact on Opportunity Culture. ECISD continues to build out its talent pipeline and recently received SBEC approval to certify teachers through its Pathway to Teaching program.
• Supporting Families in School Choice: Through this workshop, EAs Gaby Fighetti and Brian Eschbacher were joined by Colleen Dippel, CEO of Families Empowered, to discuss how to successfully support families in choosing the best school for their child.

Please check out the Events page for more great content!

Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports (TCLAS): This grant opportunity helps LEAs leverage 15 TEA initiatives to accelerate student learning in the wake of COVID-19. SGS Network members may be interested in Decision 1 strategic planning and Decision 10 school action planning. There are 4 possible school actions available for schools rated B - F on the fall 2019 state ratings. The application is available here. (printable version) For more info., see the TCLAS page.

Email TCLAS@tea.texas.gov with any questions. Applications due Aug. 20.

Updates & Opportunities

For Texas Partnership Benefits that begin in the 2022 - 23 school year, several deadlines are approaching:

• Aug. 6 & 13: Proposed or potential operating partner (OP) training
• Aug. 20 & 27: Performance contract training for district and OP leaders
• Oct. 1 and 8: District leadership training
• Oct. 15: Mandatory Letter of Intent, Charter Authorizing Policy, Campus Charter Application, and Scoring Rubric are due.

Additional trainings and deadlines after October are listed on the Texas Partnerships website and the April 8 TAA.

NACSA's Unchartered Waters series has two opportunities in August: Aug. 12: community conversation on serving sp. ed. students through Covid-19, Aug. 19: expert roundtable on compensatory services in the age of Covid-19. NACSA is also hosting their annual conference on Oct. 14, 18, 20, and 22.

Grants & Resources

The following grant opportunities may help districts provide the schools that students and families want and need. For grant details, see the TEA Grant Opportunities Page.

Community & University Partnerships: This grant supports LEA work to create community partnerships to increase family and community support. Funding up to $200,000 in year 1 and year 2 continuation grants up to $400,000. ISDs eligible if (1) student population is >85% eco. dis., and (2) more than 1 school is IR or locally-rated low-performing. LOI due Aug 10. (Email Harold Wright); applications due Aug. 24. See the Community Partnerships Overview and Webpage for more.

ESSER Supplemental: This grant provides additional resources to pay for unreimbursed costs due to the pandemic and for intensive educational supports. Possible funding differs by LEA; see amounts. Applications due Aug. 31.

2020-23 ESSER III: For more info., see the ESSER webpage. Applications due Sept. 1. (deadline moved)

2020-22 ESSER II: For more info., see the ESSER webpage. Applications due Sept. 2.

2021-2022 ESSA Consolidated Federal Grant Application: Possible funding differs by LEA and Title; see amounts. Applications due Sept. 3.

Carl D. Perkins Strengthening CTE Grant: This grant helps LEAs develop the technical and employability skills of high school students in CTE programs. Possible funding differs by LEA; see amounts. LEAs are eligible if they have CTE programs that meet size, scope and quality requirements; see eligibility summary. Applications due Sept. 3.

Principal Residency Cycle 5: This grant program helps LEAs build sustainable leadership pipelines and grow quality principal residency programs. Applications due Oct. 4.

Network News

Spring ISD is launching a PK-8 International Studies school and received a Nita Lowey grant to support academic enrichment after school.

Lubbock ISD Supt. Rollo discussed STAAR scores with local media, and explained that the data is helping LISD reestablish a baseline and target individual skills that students need.

Midland ISD's partnership with IDEA at Travis ES is showing significant turnaround based on STAAR scores.

Ft. Worth ISD's PK teachers are receiving PD to implement THL 3.0's digital curriculum.

San Antonio ISD partnered with UTSA to launch three Dual Language Community Lab Schools this fall.