Shared Milestones (Planning and Implementation)
Executed Contract due May 16, 2025: Please support LEAs that you partner with to complete and upload their executed contracts into their Google folder by May 15. If an extension is needed, please submit an extension request.
Strong Foundations Planning Milestones
Roadmap Planning Tool due August 15, 2025: The first grant deliverable is due in August. Please reference the AP Playbook for additional information, support, and resources on this deliverable.
Cycle 2 Deliverables – All deliverables are past due. Please submit them asap as this cycle is officially closing out. Upload deliverables into the LEA’s Google Drive folder and submit the Deliverable Survey for Cycle 2.
Strong Foundations Implementation Milestones
Cycle 2 End-of-Year LEA Survey: This survey to teachers, coaches, and leaders will open May 5 and will close May 30. We will send out further information about accessing your LEAs’ completion information on the dashboard in May.
LEA Print Orders: Please support your Cycle 3 LEAs with ordering print in EMAT. Please note, EMAT will be closed from April 17 – May 15. LEAs should order early to ensure delivery to their LEA as soon as possible. Please review the EMAT information that was shared with LEAs in February:
Strong Foundations Shared Reminders:
(Optional) Office Hours: If you have questions about the Strong Foundations Planning or Implementation Grants, please join us for Office Hours! We host 30-minute sessions every two weeks as a space for Approved Providers to get their questions answered and to collaborate with one another. The next Office Hours session is April 14 at 9:00 a.m. Register for AP Office Hours
Strong Foundations Planning Reminders:
Additional RBIS Training: Due to increased demand, we have added two weeks of RBIS training in the fall. Please visit the Training Schedule to see the dates and register on the AP Registration Portal. Approved providers can also access TEA Learn for the asynchronous RBIS Non-Certification Pathway training for math and RLA.
Dashboard: Planning Dashboards should be up-to-date and accurate, including all new people who have registered via the AP Registration Portal. Please use the tools at the top of your organization’s dashboard to report mistakes or schedule time to meet about the dashboard.
Registration Portal: The registration portal has many automations, including calendar invites, materials, and confirmation emails, for things that you register for. Please read the confirmation page after any submission for instructions on what to do if you do not receive any automation in your inbox within 15 minutes of submission.
Cycle 3 AP Monthly Meetings (required) – April begins our official kick-off of Cycle 3 Approved Provider Monthly Meetings. This is a time for us to collaborate, share ideas, problem solve, delve deeper into SFP deliverables, and strengthen our work with our LEAs. They are required for all SF Managers & AP District Leads. Register with this link.
Strong Foundations Implementation Reminders:
If you missed the Strong Foundations Planning AP Kick-off, please watch the recording and view the slide deck found on the AP Interactive Calendar (1/10 & 1/15). Have questions? Come see us at AP Office Hours.
Additional IA and PA Training Opportunities: We have added additional instances of our required IA and PA training sessions to meet demand. You can register for the following training sessions at the AP Training Portal:
- IA Certification Training, Additional Dates: June 9-13; August 11 – 15
- IA Product Overview Training, Additional Dates: June 24, July 9
- PA Certification Training, Additional Dates: June 23- 27; July 21-25
- New PA Bluebonnet Learning Product Training, Additional Dates:
- K-5 RLA: July 9
- K-5 Math: July 10
- Secondary Math: July 11
Update, Program Guidelines Supplemental Curricula: We have updated the list of approved supplemental curricular materials in the SFI Program Guidelines. You can reference the list on page 15.
Update, SFI Quarterly Meetings: We have scheduled for the dates below. Be sure to check the interactive calendar for registration links soon!
-
May 23: 9:00- 10:00 - PA, 10:00 - 11:00 - IA
- July 18th: 9:00- 10:00 - PA, 10:00 - 11:00 - IA
- October 24: 9:00- 10:00 - PA, 10:00 - 11:00 - IA
- January 23: 9:00- 10:00 - PA , 10:00 - 11:00 - IA
Reminder: Upcoming potential funding sources: LASO selection notices were sent to selected LEAs on February 20, 2025. The selection list is available on the LASO webpage. There was significant demand for Strong Foundations. However, due to available funding and award prioritization criteria, some LEAs have not been awarded at this time. However, please read below for information on additional funding opportunities.
-
Potential Immediate Funding Opportunity: Title I, Part A and Federally Identified Campus Additional Funding: We have identified an additional funding source that is going to be available to continue funding down the grant applicant list, but it is limited to Title I LEAs with federally School Improvement-designated engaged campuses. Depending on LEA responses, we expect to be able to fund some additional LEAs, but likely not all.
-
Pending Funding: Supplemental Appropriations Opportunity: We have requested additional funds from the legislature, and if approved, we will issue more award notices in June 2025. To stay eligible for this funding, LEAs will need to consider taking key action steps in implementing Bluebonnet Learning to better position themselves for potential future funding this summer. TEA will share more information about these steps in upcoming communication.
- Based on their award status and Title I, Part A School Improvement-designated campus eligibility, LEAs were sent the appropriate combination of communications about these opportunities. If questions come up from LEAs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for support.
Reminder: Cycle 2 LEA Opportunity: Please Share this Interview Opportunity with the LEAs You Support in Cycle 2!
- The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is working to improve the support and professional learning provided through the Strong Foundations Implementation (SFI) grant during the 2024–25 school year. TEA’s external research partner, Safal Partners, is hosting short, 20-minute 1:1 virtual interviews with LEA teachers, coaches, school leaders, and district leaders to provide them with the opportunity to provide feedback about their experiences.
- We need your help sharing this opportunity with the LEA SFI participants you currently support. All active SFI teachers, coaches, and leaders are welcome to participate in this opportunity.
-
How LEA participants can sign up to participate in an interview:
- The interview interest form closes April 30, 2025—don’t miss this chance to make your voice heard! Please disseminate this information with your LEAs to help us build better programs—together!
|
