Texas High School Completion and Success Grant, Cycle 3

1
Texas High School Completion and Success Grant,
Cycle 3

• Authorized By
• General Appropriations Bill (SB 1), Article III,
• Rider 59 Texas High School Initiative
• 79th Texas Legislature, Regular Session 2005

2
Topics

• Grant overview
• Progress/activity reports
• Expenditure reports
• Making amendments to the grant
• Filing for reimbursement
• Award enhancement

3
Grant Management

• ESC XIII has been contracted by TEA to manage
  Cycle 3 of the grant.

4
The intent of THSCS, Cycle 3
To implement programs that target at- risk
students in grades 9 through 12 in order to
increase graduation rates, college examination
test rates, and TAKS passing rates.
5
Targeted Students

• Students in grades 9-12 on eligible campuses who
  are
• At-risk (state criteria), including students in
  danger of not graduating in 4 yrs after entering
  9th-grade and students in 11th grade who have not
  passed Exit-level TAKS
• Limited English Proficient
• Economically Disadvantaged
• Unlikely to take a college entrance exam.

6
Targeted Students

• All funds expended through this grant
• must have as a primary aim, the support of the
  needs of the target population.
• Programs, activities, equipment, staff
  development, and so on financed by Cycle 3 of
  the THSCS Grant must be used to directly serve
  the target population.
• Other student populations may subsequently
  benefit from this funding.

7
THSCS, Cycle 3 Goals

• Increase student achievement
• Increase the number of students who graduate in
  four years after entering the 9th grade
• Increase the number of students who graduate
  college ready
• Increase the number of students who take college
  entrance exams and,
• Increase the number of students who graduate.

8
Requirements

• Grants are subject to termination if strict
  adherence to all requirements is not maintained.
• Please review the grant requirements to ensure
  that each is promoted throughout the duration of
  the grant (listed on pp. 22-23 of the RFA and pp.
  100-102 of your application).
• All progress reports and evaluation criteria
  evaluate grant progress in these areas.

9
Requirements

• Funds be expended on programs that show the most
  potential to improve high school completion and
  success. LEAs and campuses that receive funding
  under this grant must employ comprehensive,
  research-based high school completion and success
  initiatives...(see application for additional
  information).

10
Requirements
2. Funds be expended on programs that encourage
students toward postsecondary education and
training. Applicants must describe the
strategies that will be used to improve the
number of students enrolling in college
preparation programs with the intent for
postsecondary education. Such strategies may
include, but are not limited to,
11
Requirements
2. coordination with other programs,
coordination with community organizations and
local businesses, or coordination with
universities and colleges. Applicants may also
use these grant funds for the creation of a pilot
financial assistance program for economically
disadvantage students taking college entrance
exams.
12
Requirements
3. Schools receiving funds under this grant
program ensure that all students on each
participating campus have an individualized
graduation plan (IGP). The IGP should address
the students academic strengths and weaknesses,
based upon available student-level performance
data, including, but not limited to, TAKS scores,
coursework, and credit accrual. (cont.)
13
Requirements
3. Graduation plans must also ensure that
students at risk of not graduating from high
school are afforded instruction from highly
qualified teachers, have access to online
diagnostic and assessment instruments, and are
provided with accelerated instruction in areas of
academic weakness identified in the plan.
Parents must take an active role in the creation
of the students IGP.
14
Requirements
4. Schools receiving funds under this grant
program must utilize diagnostic assessments to
determine instructional needs and to plan
intervention support for students. Applicants
must identify the diagnostic assessments that
will be used, describe how diagnostic data will
help guide instruction and intervention support,
and provide an annual assessment schedule in the
4 foundation content areas.
15
Requirements
5. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to
substantial parental and community involvement in
strategies and activities designed to encourage
high school completion and success.
16
Requirements
6. Applicants must describe how the instructional
leader will ensure the curriculum used in
acceleration programs outside of the regular
school day is aligned with TEKS and that
technology is integrated as an instructional tool
to meet individual student needs.
17
Requirements
7. Applicants must show that teachers selected to
participate in programs supported by this grant
are highly qualified and have demonstrated the
ability to work with students at-risk of not
graduating from high school.
18
Requirements
8. Funds for this program must be used to
supplement (increase the level of services) not
supplant (replace) funds from federal, state, and
local sources designated to support similar
activities. Any program required by state law,
State Board of Education rules, or local board
policy may not be paid with these funds. (cont.)
19
Requirements
8. State or local funds may not be decreased or
diverted for other uses merely because of the
availability of these funds. Grantees must
maintain documentation which clearly demonstrates
the supplementary nature of these funds.
20
Guiding Principles

• Use of data-driven decision making
• Acceleration and credit recovery
• Use of rigorous and engaging curriculum
• Increased use of research-based intervention
  models, including Dual Enrollment, AP and/or IB
  programs, SLCs, and other research-based,
  TEKS-aligned high school-to-college bridge
  programs

21
Guiding Principles

• Highly Qualified teachers implementing tutoring
  programs
• Development of a campus leadership team
• Parental involvement in decision making for
  students identified as at risk of not completing
  high school within four years after the enrolling
  in ninth grade.

22
Project Period

• Starting date of no earlier than August 14, 2006
  and ending date of no later than February 29,
  2008.
• All obligations of funds for activities and
  services conducted must occur within these dates.
  
• All goods must be received and all services must
  be provided or delivered by the ending date.

23
For Grant Updates

• Grantees are responsible for periodically
  checking the Region XIII Education Service Center
  website for any postings of additional/clarifying
  information that pertains to this grant.
• http//www.esc13.net/grants/thscs

24
Reporting

• Reports are due to ESC XIII within 15 days after
  the end of each reporting period.
• The final reports are due within 30 days after
  the ending date of the grant.
• Final payment is contingent upon receipt of the
  final reports and all other required documents.
  Per state law, 10 of grant funds will be
  withheld until all reports are received.

25
Important Reminder

• It is imperative that all required reports be
  filed by the due date. Failure to do so may
  cause the final 10 of grant funds to be
  withheld. Not filing the appropriate reports may
  also impact a district or campus future
  eligibility to obtain some grants from TEA.

26
Activity/Progress Reports

• 1st Interim Report
• 08/14/06 12/31/06
• Due 01/15/07
• 2nd Interim Report
• 01/01/07 05/31/07
• Due 06/15/07
• 3rd Interim Report
• 06/01/07 10/31/07
• Due 11/15/07
• Final Report
• 11/01/07 02/29/08
• Due 03/30/08

27
Activity/Progress Reports

• Activity reports must be received by ESC XIII no
  later than 5 pm (CST) on the due date.
• Access and complete the reports on the website.
• Reports will provide information about activities
  occurring under the grant.

28
Activity/Progress Reports

• Future reports will require more specific hard
  data about activities.
• Posted on www.esc13.net/grants/thscs.
• May send a reminder e-mail in advance.

29
Expenditure Reports

• 1st Interim Report
• 08/14/06 11/30/06
• Due 12/15/06
• 2nd Interim Report
• 12/01/06 03/31/07
• Due 04/15/07
• 3rd Interim Report
• 04/01/07 07/31/07
• Due 08/15/07
• 4th Interim Report
• 08/01/07 11/30/07
• Due 12/15/07
• Final Expenditure Report
• 12/01/07 2/29/08
• Due 03/30/08

30
Expenditure Reports

• Access online
• Track current and total expenditures
• Send with original signature
• Four interim reports and one final report

31
How to File an Amendment

• Access the required documents at
  http//www5.esc13.net/grants/thscs/index.html
• Part 4 Application has the documents. Fill out
• Schedule 1, General Information
• Schedule 3, Purpose of Amendment
• The applicable section of Schedule 4 B
• Schedule 4C, if applicable
• All of Schedule 5

32
Reimbursements

• Can be filed any time after funds are expended,
  but must be at least quarterly
• Checks will be cut weekly (disbursed each
  Friday).
• Request for reimbursement must be submitted by
  500 p.m. (CST) on Thursday in order to have a
  reimbursement dispersed by the following Friday.
• Please plan for at least a one week turnaround on
  all reimbursement requests.

33
Submitting Reimbursements

• Download the Request for Reimbursement form at
  www.esc13.net/grants/thscs/index.html
• Enter the approved budget and expenditure amounts
  to be reimbursed by class/object code category
• Enter information under each column. Report the
  requested amount for reimbursement under the
  column heading Exp. This Period
• Print a hard copy of the form

34
Submitting Reimbursements

• Obtain an original signature from the authorized
  official
• Fax the signed request form to [phone]
• Send original signed requests within 7 days to
  Region XIII (c/o Angie Currie), 5701 Springdale
  Rd., Austin, TX 78723
• All reimbursements will be sent to the district
  office address on file in the ESC XIII THSCS,
  Cycle 3 data base system.

35
(No Transcript)
36
Special Amendment
Texas High School Completion and Success Grant,
Cycle 3 Award Enhancement
37
Special Amendment

• Potential award is based on a 30
• percent increase to the original award.
• Not awarded by a competitive process.
• Will be treated as an amendment to the
• original grant application.
• Each application has been reviewed to
• ensure that proposed projects meet the
• objectives of the enhancement prior to
• awarding any additional funds.

38
Special Amendment

• Funds solicited through the Award Enhancement
  application should not be expended prior to
  receiving written notification that your request
  for additional funds has been approved.
• Any costs associated with the requested Award
  Enhancement that are encumbered prior to
  receiving written approval will be the sole
  responsibility of the campus and district.

39
Special Amendment

• The application to amend your THSCS grant must
  ONLY address
• Increased use of research-based intervention
  models, such as Dual Enrollment Advanced
  Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate
  (IB) programs AP Strategies AVID
• High school transition programs
  (8th-9th/12th-Postsecondary), and/or
• A financial assistance program for economically
  disadvantaged students to take the college
  entrance exams (SAT/ACT).

40
Special Amendment

• NOTE This Special Amendment is not a separate
  grant.
• Upon approval, enhancement funds will be added
  into your original NOGA budget (as a special
  amendment) and available for the length of the
  grant through February 29, 2008.

41
Special Amendment

• Amended NOGAs will be sent to the Superintendents
  and copied to the Campus Principals.
• Activities completed and funds expended under
  this enhancement must be included in the progress
  and financial reports per the guidelines of the
  original THSCS, Cycle 3 RFA.

42
Questions Special Items of Interest

• ESC XIII

43
To obtain clarifying information about grant
amendments and/or reports please contact

• Michelle Lokken
• Texas High School Project Specialist
• Region XIII Education Service Center
• 5701 Springdale Road
• Austin, Texas 78723-3675
• [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• michelle.lokken_at_esc13.txed.net

44
THSCS, Cycle 3 Managed through the ESC XIII
Texas High School Project Office

• Sean A. Haley, Ph.D.
• Coordinator for the Texas High School Project
• Region XIII Education Service Center
• 5701 Springdale Road
• Austin, Texas 78723-3675
• [phone]
• Fax [phone]
• sean.haley_at_esc13.txed.net

45
(No Transcript)