Strong Foundations Newsletter - AP/ESC

Texas Education Agency sent this bulletin at 09/04/2024 08:30 AM CDT

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Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) Program

September 2024

Strong Foundations Newsletter
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Greetings,

Greetings Approved Providers! We hope you have had a smooth start in your work with your LEAs for Strong Foundations! We have a few reminders to serve as a guide as you continue to work with LEAs this September. 

It is important to sign up for a AP/TEA Grant Touchpoint meeting by September 13. These meetings are required for all SF Managers. 

The purpose of these individualized meetings is to:

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

Please ensure that you have closely reviewed your organization's dashboard ahead of the meeting. If you do not have the link to your organization’s Strong Foundations dashboard, please reach out to strongfoundations@tea.texas.gov.    

We look forward to connecting with you all through these touchpoints, Office Hours, Monthly Meetings, and trainings. Thank you for your commitment to excellence in education!  

Warm Regards,  

Strong Foundations Team 

Milestones

Joint Strong Foundations Milestones

  • LASO Cycle 3 Announced: Please view the recording and materials from the August 23 webinar to learn more about the upcoming grant cycle. All materials for this session can be found on the interactive calendar.
  • Sign up for an AP/TEA Grant Touchpoint meeting: You will select a time for your team to meet with the SF TEA teams. These individualized meetings are required for all SF Managers, but you may bring anyone from your team that you would like to attend.  

Strong Foundations Planning Milestones

  • Past due: Roadmap Planning Tool: Milestone date was 8/16. If your LEA needs an extension, please fill out the deliverable survey with expected completion date. 

Strong Foundations Implementation Milestones

Implementation Advisors: 

  • NEW - Due September 30: Please complete this short campus survey for each of your LEAs so we have an accurate list of which campuses are implementing HQIM through Strong Foundations Implementation Cycle 2.  
  • Due September 30: Action Plan 2: Leading Internalization and PLCs
  • Due September 30: September Monthly Status Report 

All Approved Providers:  

  • September 19 1:00–2:00 p.m.: Strong Foundations Implementation 101 - AP Grant Overview
    • New to Strong Foundations? Join us to get an overview of the grant and learn more about your role in the process! Registration link 

Reminders & Next Steps

Strong Foundations Planning Reminders:

  • Reminder: RBIS Pre- and Post- Survey 
    • Ensure that people fill out the pre- and post- survey VERY carefully. They need to list YOU as the Approved Provider, or their data will not populate onto your dashboard. Helpful hint: put your AP name on the survey slide, or write it on the board, so that they know exactly who to list!  
  • Reminder: HQIM Learning Labs
    • Sign up to visit one an Innovator Learning Lab! Learning Labs provide you an opportunity to visit an Innovator district to see students engaged with rigorous, grade level content in real time and learn what planning happens in the background to implement HQIM effectively. HQIM Learning Labs will be hosted in fall 2024 and spring 2025. The Innovator Website has instructions with how to request a visit! 
  • AP Coaching Sessions (optional)
    • Receive feedback on your LEA’s Instructional Framework during the creation phase. Sessions will be offered this Fall (September – November). Based on last cycle's feedback, we are also encouraging APs to extend the invitation to LEA leaders. Sign-up here! 
  • (Required) AP Monthly Meeting

Strong Foundations Implementation Reminders:

Implementation Advisors:  

  • Reminder: LEA Pre-Implementation Surveys: 
    • All rostered LEA participants received a pre-implementation survey to gather information about their initial perceptions of the instructional materials they will be working with, and the professional learning they have received so far. 
    • There are many people who did NOT receive the survey because they are not yet rostered. Implementation Advisors, please send the following links to the LEA leaders you’re working with and ask them to distribute them to their teams. 
    • Reminder: the goal is for 75% of LEA participants to complete each quarterly survey. You will be able to see the stats for your LEAs on your SFI dashboard by the end of the month. 
  • All: Reminder: HQIM Learning Labs 
    • Sign up to visit one an Innovator Learning Lab! Learning Labs provide you an opportunity to visit an Innovator district to see students engaged with rigorous, grade level content in real time and learn what planning happens in the background to implement HQIM effectively. HQIM Learning Labs will be hosted in fall 2024 and spring 2025. The Innovator Website has instructions with how to request a visit.
  • All: (Required) AP Monthly Meeting 
    • Next meeting is September 27 @ 8:00 a.m. There are separate meetings for Implementation Advisors and Product Advisors. Find the links to join on the 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.