|
Hank Weikert: Director of Student Supports Implementation
Carroll Sadler: Community Partnerships Specialist
Sarah McCaslin: Stronger Connections Grant Specialist
Community Partnerships
Cohort 3 is nearing the end of its grant period. Over the last couple of years, each LEA has embraced the purpose of the Community Partnerships Grant and implemented programs to support students and the community. Highlights from Cohort 3 over the past few months include:
Premont ISD – Baby U (childcare for 1–3-year-olds) is still going strong. It is again at capacity, and this year there is a waitlist. The district reestablished its Community Advisory Council (CAC) and took members to a parent engagement conference in Houston. The CAC meets regularly to discuss district needs, plan events, and support students and staff.
Hearne ISD – One of the district’s focuses with this grant has been on their EB population. Students whose first language is not English made great strides on TELPAS this past year. The school community has embraced the Spanish culture with various district-sponsored events. This year, students initiated Spanish Heritage Day, developing the agenda for the district-wide event and securing donations from local businesses to support the celebration.
Chapel Hill ISD – A major focus for the district this year is Tier 1 instruction. The district used grant funds to provide highly qualified instructional coaches to support first-year and struggling teachers. Test scores from district assessments are already showing the positive results from providing this support. The district also partnered with Family Circle of Care to open a health clinic in a district building and provide a resource center for families.
Marlin ISD – The childcare program started with grant funds continues to thrive. It was expanded to include three-year olds this year. The district established the Bulldog Bodega in partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank. The food pantry for students and families supplies fresh produce and other essential groceries.
Safe and Supportive School Program
Each public school district and open enrollment charter school is required to ensure that each campus is served by a Safe and Supportive School Program (SSSP) team and that the team develops and implements a SSSP. This month we are spotlighting Behavioral Threat Assessments (BTAs). To promote the safety and well-being of the members of the school community, the SSSP team is tasked with reviewing threat reports, conducting threat assessments, and developing interventions to support individuals who pose threats and the targets of such threats. The threat assessment process is designed to preserve a safe school environment that promotes the physical and psychological safety of all members of the school community. The TEA has coordinated with the Texas School Safety Center to develop guidance and resources to establish a comprehensive threat assessment model. Additional information and resources are available on the Safe and Supportive Schools webpage, on the Texas School Safety Center webpage, and in Sentinel. Questions regarding the Safe and Supportive School Program can be addressed to safeandsupportiveschoolprogram@tea.texas.gov.
Stronger Connections
Quarter two of the 24-25 SY is wrapping up! Upon SCG districts’ return to school in January, districts will be completing their Fidelity of Implementation evaluation and the corresponding ESC SCG Lead check-ins. Districts will also be field testing the new Student Supports Referral data reporting. We are eager to begin collecting this data and providing campuses insights related to the Student Support Framework and corresponding interventions and supports. The spring semester will be full of Student Support Framework, Student Support Teams, and Parent Family Engagement training as well as the launch of additional supports related to the nonacademic needs of students across the state.
For more information about Stronger Connections workstreams, please visit the TEA webpage and the Texas Center for Student Supports webpage. Questions can be sent to sarah.mccaslin@tea.texas.gov.
|
