January 2024 Monthly Reminders

Accountability & Assessment

• Notification to parents of eligibility for Public Education Grants by February 1 (TEC§29.204(b))
• School Report Card released (send home within six weeks) 
• Federal Report Card released (distribute to campuses, parents, and the public) 
• Hold Public Hearing of district's annual report (TAPR) within 90 calendar days of receiving the PDF TAPR on December 15

Administration and Leadership

• Review TEA Superintendent Resources & Guidelines
• Review calendar development process
• Review Staff Non-renewals
• Ensure School Report Card is included with first semester report card (TEC§39.305)
• *Hire staff in accordance with district policy & procedure (as needed)
• Update AskTED

Federal and State Programs

• Review/implement district/campus improvement plans in accordance with district planning process (TEC§11.251) (ESSA§1112, 1114)
• Ensure most current version of the ESSER Use of Funds and RIPICS plans are posted on district website through September 30
• Ongoing consultations with PNPs participating in federal program equitable services (ISDs only)

Finance

• Annual Audit Report due to TEA no later than January 28 – September 1st FY
• Review student attendance figures as compared to prior year and budget projections
• W2’s, 1095-C & 1099 distributed
• Match previous year's audit report to PEIMS Mid-Year submission
• Impact Aid Application deadline January 31 (if applicable)
• For Chapter 49 districts - The Agreement for the Purchase of Attendance Credit contract, if not netting, verify date—specific board meeting minutes language required. Submit online in the TEAL-FSP System. CAD Cost, District Partner Data, Tuition & Payment Options must be submitted (check date) in the TEAL - FSP system online. Review the Options and Procedures for Local Revenue in Excess of Entitlement (manual)

Food and Nutrition

• Child Nutrition Texas Summer Mandate deadline is January 31
• USDA Foods Contract packet deadline is January 31
• National School Breakfast Week takes place March 4-8, 2024. TDA is aligning with the School Nutrition Association (SNA) theme "Surf's Up with School Breakfast." TDA also offers laminated posters for School Lunch Hero Day celebrations, which takes place on May 3, 2024! Items are available for a limited time - order these materials at no cost here. 
• The Request for Applications for the Center for School and Community Partnerships at Boise State University and the Chef Ann Foundation (CAF), two of USDA's Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative School Food System Transformation Challenge Sub-Grants, is now OPEN. Grant awards will be up to $150,000. Project SCALES will work with SFA directors over two years to build partnerships for innovative solutions to increase local procurement in school meal programs. The application period begins November 27, 2023, and will close January 26, 2024.  
• Congratulations Local Food for Schools Recipients. Last month, Commissioner Sid Miller officially awarded 331 school districts between $30,000 and $250,000 in Local Food for Schools (LFS) grant funds to purchase local Texas foods. In total, more than $22.3 million was allocated across the state. The aim is to strengthen connections to farmers and ranchers, develop a Farm Fresh generation of Texans, and support Texas agriculture. Participating schools can visit www.squaremeals.org/LFS to learn more about purchase requirements, the reimbursement process, answers to frequently asked questions, and resources regarding the LFS opportunity. Funds may be used starting November 3, 2023. CEs are encouraged to submit invoices as soon as possible after making their purchases. All reimbursement requests must be submitted to TDA via the Reimbursement Request form no later than March 31, 2025.
• FY2025 Reaching for Excellence (RFE) Grant Opportunity. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) invites school districts, charters, and campuses to apply for the RFE in Texas School Health Grant. The RFE grant aims to fund projects that inspire students to live healthier lives. Awardees can receive up to $10,000 in funds. Applications are due January 22, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. CT. For more information, please view the DSHS Grants and Awards Program webpage. 

School Board

• Review Board Member Training Requirements (see number 4 within the link):
  
  • Schedule Trainings for New Board Members: OMA, PIA, Introduction to the Education Code, Local Orientation, School Safety, Cyber Security, and Human Trafficking.  
  • Schedule Team Building (Team of 8) training with your Field Service Agent. The bi-annual EISO training can be paired with your team-building training if needed. 
  • Schedule required Legislative Update with your Field Service Agent. 
• *Superintendent's evaluation and/or contract
• Board Self-Evaluation (recommended within 45 days of the superintendent's evaluation)
• *Approve Annual Independent Audit Report for September 1st FY
• *Board approved Annual Independent Audit Report (AFR) due to TEA no later than January 28 for LEAs with September 1st FY
• *Approve Auditor for next FY (TEC§11.170)
• *Approve waivers as needed
• Complete the board member information form after each board election and update board member information in AskTED. Click here to complete the board member information form.

Special Education

• 2023-2024 Special Education Consolidated Grant Application (Federal): Review Final Entitlements & Carryover (if applicable) & adjust local records
  
  • Determine if amendment to grant application is needed
  • Determine eligibility for 2023-2024 MOE (Maintenance of Effort) Voluntary Reduction, submit amendment if eligibility changed
  • Review revised 2023-2024 proportionate share amount to be spent on parentally placed private school children with disabilities (N/A to any charter school; N/A to ISDs with no private school/home schools within their geographical boundaries)
• 2022-2023 Special Education Consolidated Grant Federal (IDEA-B Formula, IDEA-B Preschool, IDEA-B Discretionary Deaf, IDEA-B ARP Formula, IDEA-B ARP Preschool) Final and Revised Final Expenditures report due January 2
• Monitor special education expenditures from the general fund to ensure on track for MOE (Maintenance of Effort) compliance

Texas Student Data System (TSDS) / PEIMS

• Request to retire Unique IDs due at TEA for PEIMS Fall resubmission on January 12
• PEIMS Fall resubmission due Region 7  on January 11
• PEIMS Fall resubmission due to TEA on January 18
• ECDS Kindergarten submission due to Region 7 on January 18
• ECDS Kindergarten submission due to TEA on January 25
• PEIMS Mid-Year first submission due to Region 7 on January 18
• PEIMS Mid-Year first submission due to TEA on January 25
• Class Roster Winter ready for users to promote data on January 29