The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has issued several updates, including correspondence regarding the Commissioner’s adjustment to the average daily attendance (ADA), transportation for students, classroom connectivity and performance-based monitoring. A highlight of each correspondence is below along with a link to read the complete detail:
Commissioner’s adjustment to average daily attendance (ADA) for school districts and charter schools experiencing declines in enrollment because of Hurricane Harvey for the 2017–2018 school year.
10/09/2017
To mitigate against these changes in FSP funding for the 2017–2018 school year, the commissioner of education is exercising his authority to adjust ADA for affected districts during the 2017–2018 school year. The commissioner will hold affected districts and charters harmless to a projected ADA number calculated using a three-year average trend from the 2014–2015 through 2016–2017 school years, unless this projection is both 15% higher and 100 ADA higher than the 2017-2018 LPE projections. In the latter case, 2017-2018 LPE will be used.
Transportation for Students in Hazardous Traffic and High Risk of Violence Areas
10/09/2017
To be eligible for funding under this provision, districts must adopt a board policy that identifies specific hazardous or high-risk (of violence) areas for which the allocation is requested. In determining these areas, districts should consult with local law enforcement agencies and must obtain law enforcement records that document a high incidence of violent crimes.
Transportation for Students Displaced Due to Hurricane Harvey
10/09/2017
For the 2017–2018 school year, any district or charter school affected by hurricane Harvey may submit any mileage transporting students who live within two miles of their school as hazardous mileage, eligible for funding if the street conditions were made hazardous due to the hurricane. Official board action will not be required to expand the hazardous service area and eligibility for receiving transportation funding will begin immediately on provision of the service. The existing limit of 10 percent of the district’s regular transportation allotment will continue to apply. More details on homeless students, non-homeless students and special education students are provided at the link above.
Classroom Connectivity Initiative Update – State Match
10/10/2017
The TEA and EducationSuperHighway are available to help LEAs take advantage of the state matching program and find viable options to upgrade school networks this year. TEA’s partners at EducationSuperHighway can assist with research on potential network upgrade options, contact service providers, and provide RFP/ Form 470 guideline assistance for E-rate and state match applications. All assistance through the Classroom Connectivity Initiative is provided free of charge.
2017-2018 Performance-Based Monitoring Intervention Staging
10/10/2017
A document entitled Guidance for Local Education Agencies Participating in Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System Interventions describes in detail required monitoring and intervention activities, which have been designed to be data-driven and performance-based and to take place within the continuous improvement process of the Texas Accountability Intervention System (TAIS). Determinations regarding monitoring and interventions are the result of a performance-based evaluation process implemented through the PBMAS, the results of which were provided to districts in August 15, 2017, in the form of a PBMAS summary report.