Strong Foundations Newsletter - AP/ESC

Texas Education Agency sent this bulletin at 08/01/2024 08:00 AM CDT

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Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) Program

August 2024

Strong Foundations Newsletter
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Greetings,

Welcome to a new school year! We are excited to collaborate with you for another cycle of Strong Foundations and look forward to seeing the impact you have with every LEA you support.  

To help ensure clarity of communication and support systems from TEA to approved providers, we are holding a meeting series this Fall. These meetings are required for all SF Managers and optional but recommended for AP District Leads. The Strong Foundations Planning and Implementation teams will be present if your organization is supporting LEAs in both programs. 

The meeting's purpose is as follows:

  • Check the status of certifications
  • Review AP dashboards for accuracy and update as needed
  • Review LEA grant engagement 
  • Q&A time with SFP and SFI teams  

Please use this link for registration and reach out with any questions. Please also ensure that you have closely reviewed your organization's dashboard ahead of the meeting. If you need the link, please reach out to strongfoundations@tea.texas.gov.   

Check out the latest information and updates from Planning and Implementation below, and as always, feel free to reach out with any needed support. Here's to a successful year ahead filled with learning, growth, and positive outcomes for the students throughout Texas! 

Warm Regards, 

Strong Foundations Program Team 

Milestones

Strong Foundations Planning Milestones  

  • Roadmap Planning Tool: Milestone date is 8/16. If your LEA needs an extension, please fill out the deliverable survey with expected completion date. 
  • New: AP/TEA Grant Touchpoint meetings: Please use this link for registration and reach out with any questions. Please also ensure that you have closely reviewed your organization's dashboard ahead of the meeting. If you need the link, please reach out to strongfoundations@tea.texas.gov.   
  • Diagnostics Training | Academic Reviews: We have received finalized information on the pricing of Academic Reviews for SY 24-25. The Academic Review team recommends that to have a comprehensive view at the district level that 25% of campuses at each level (elementary, middle, high) in a district should be included in the review. 
    • Campus level reviews - $1500
    • District level reviews - $1000 per campus reviewed + $500 for the report

Strong Foundations Implementation Milestones

  • New: AP/TEA Grant Touchpoint meetings: Please use this link for registration and reach out with any questions. Please also ensure that you have closely reviewed your organization's dashboard ahead of the meeting. If you need the link, please reach out to strongfoundations@tea.texas.gov.   
  • Upcoming AP Training Opportunities: Approved Providers must ensure their teams have received the required trainings for their role before August 31, 2024.
    • Implementation Advisor Certification (register for the session):
      • IA Cohort 7: August 19–23 (new dates)
      • Note: These are the final dates for certification that will be offered for LASO Cycle 2. The next opportunity to receive training will not be until January 2025. 
    • Product Advisor (PA) Certification (register for the session):
      • PA Cohort 6: August 12–16 (new dates)
      • Note: These are the final dates for certification that will be offered for LASO Cycle 2. The next opportunity to receive training will not be until January 2025. 

SF Implementation Past Due Milestones: 

Reminders & Next Steps

Joint Strong Foundations Reminders

  • LASO Cycle 3 Strong Foundations Announcement Webinar: Join us on August 23 from 11:00AM-12:30PM for a meeting where we will announce the Strong Foundations award pathways and details for LASO Cycle 3. We look forward to sharing updates and timelines with Approved Providers that will inform your preparation for the next grant cycle. This webinar is highly recommended for Strong Foundation Managers. Additionally, we will record this webinar if you are unable to attend live.

Strong Foundations Planning Reminders:

  • NEW: AP Pulse-Check survey launched Monday, July 29. Check your email inbox for a unique link to your survey. The survey window will close Monday, August 19.
  • Encourage your LEA to join us for a Meet and Greet with TEA and other district leaders participating in the Strong Foundations Planning program. Get any questions they have answered and connect and collaborate to help us build a dynamic networking environment during the grant cycle: SFP LEA Meet & Greets.
  • Research Based Instructional Strategies (RBIS) reminders:
    • If you were previously certified to redeliver the RBIS and have not completed the refresher course and survey you will show as non-certified until it is complete. If you need help getting access to the refresher course, reach out to strongfoundations@tea.texas.gov.
    • Please fill out the RBIS redelivery schedule form at least 2 weeks prior to the redelivery.
    • If you have team members who need to be trained and certified, please encourage them to attend the final in-person training session in Dallas on July 30 – August 1. 
    • We are offering one final virtual training session ONLY for participants not yet registered for Dallas. It will happen August 6-8.
    • To register for both sessions, please sign up with this link - Summer 2024 RBIS. 
  • New: AP Coaching Sessions (optional): Receive feedback on your LEA’s Instructional Framework during the creation phase. Sessions will be offered this Fall (September – November); sign-up form coming soon. Based on last cycle's feedback, we are also encouraging APs to extend the invitation to LEA leaders.
  • (Required) AP Monthly Meeting: Next meeting is August 30 @ 9:00 a.m. All SF Managers and AP District Leads are required to attend monthly meetings. Registration for all AP Meetings.
  • Miss an AP Monthly Meeting? Watch the recording, review the slide deck, and fill out this Missed AP Meeting form to remain in compliance with attendance.
  • Instructional Framework Sessions: Do you have District Leads that are new to SFP? We are offering another round of framework training (the first step to get certified). Note: These will be the last framework sessions until winter 2024.
  • Are you new AP District Lead in Strong Foundations Planning? Come to the New to SFP Onboarding Session!

Strong Foundations Implementation Reminders:

  • NEW: AP Pulse-Check survey launched Monday, July 29.  Check your email inbox for a unique link to your survey. The survey window will close Monday, August 19. 
    • The survey will be asking questions like those in May Monthly Meeting Exit Ticket. We collect feedback on AP perception of the program and TEA support for future improvement.  
  • Attend August Monthly Meeting on August 30 at 8:00 a.m. Register through the SF Interactive Calendar.
  • Miss an AP Monthly Meeting? Watch the recording, review the slide deck, and complete the exit ticket on the anchor document. You can find the resources in the SF Interactive Calendar. 

Resources

Interested in learning more about the release of OER Edition 1 materials and the IMRA timeline? Check out these links: 
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 Mark Your Calendar!

You can find the following trainings on our Interactive calendar.