Source: https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_and_Multimedia/Correspondence/TAA_Letters/Information_for_Districts_and_Campuses_Identified_for_Interventions_in_the_2013_State_Accountability_Rating_System/
Timestamp: 2017-11-24 11:04:14
Document Index: 80762803

Matched Legal Cases: ['§39', '§39', '§39', '§97', '§39', '§97', '§39', '§39', '§97', '§39']

The purpose of this correspondence is to provide information regarding required actions for districts and/or campuses that are identified for interventions due to low performance in the state academic accountability rating system and/or the system safeguards. Under provisions of Texas Education Code (TEC) §39, districts and campuses identified for low performance must engage in certain intervention actions designed to improve low performance. Additionally, as noted in the 2013 Accountability Manual districts and campuses that do not meet the standard for one or more system safeguard measures and targets will be required to engage in interventions to improve performance on the measures and targets not met. As stipulated at TEC §39.104, accountability interventions and sanctions also apply to charter schools.
On August 1, 2013, accountability performance data was provided to districts and campuses by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Division of Performance Reporting via the Accountability application within the Texas Education Agency Secure Environment (TEASE), and on August 8, 2013 performance data and accountability ratings were released publicly.
The new accountability system includes the performance index framework and the system safeguard measures and targets. Performance in the new accountability system will determine if districts and/or campuses will engage in the Texas Accountability Intervention System (TAIS). Interventions will be required if the district or campus:
received the rating of Improvement Required (IR) due to failing to meet standards of the performance index framework; or
failed to meet the standard for one or more system safeguard measures or targets.
The TEC specifies graduated interventions and sanctions for districts and campuses based on the number of years the district or campus has received an unacceptable rating in the state accountability rating system. Under requirements of TEC §39.116, for purposes of determining multiple years of unacceptable performance and required district and campus interventions and sanctions, the performance ratings issued in 2011 and 2013 shall be considered consecutive. Therefore, to determine the intervention requirements for a campus or district, add the number of consecutive years an unacceptable rating has been assigned, understanding that 2012 does not come into play because no ratings were issued that year. For example, if a district or campus received a rating other than Academically Unacceptable (AU) in 2011 and is rated IR in 2013 it will participate in interventions for 1st Year IR districts and campuses; if the district or campus was rated AU in 2011 and IR in 2013 it will participate in interventions for 2nd Year IR districts and campuses; if the district or campus was rated AU in 2010 and 2011 and IR in 2013 it will participate in interventions for 3rd Year IR districts and campuses, etc.
The first action will be to establish the intervention team, which will implement the TAIS, including data analysis, needs assessment, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the targeted improvement plan, and progress reporting. The intervention team consists of the members of the campus intervention team and the campus leadership team; the members will collaboratively perform the duties reflected in 19 TAC §97.1063 and TEC §39.106. Title 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §97.1063 and TEC §39.106 stipulate that the commissioner shall assign a campus intervention team to a campus when it is rated IR in the state accountability rating system, and describes the required duties of the team. The campus intervention team (CIT) is composed of a Professional Service Provider (PSP) and the District Coordinator of School Improvement (DCSI).
A PSP is an approved member of the PSP Network whose responsibilities include assuring implementation of all intervention requirements and reporting progress to the agency [a registry of qualified PSPs available in each region may be accessed via the Intervention Stage Activity Manager (ISAM) application within TEASE].
The DCSI is a district-level employee who is in a leadership position in school improvement, curriculum and instruction, or in another position with responsibility for student performance. The responsibilities of the DCSI include ensuring district support for the academic achievement of the campus. In a larger district with several campuses rated IR, the DCSI may be supplemented by employees with similar skills and expertise serving as members of a district support team; these persons may be recommended for service on the campus intervention team in lieu of the DCSI. DCSIs for IR district and campuses must attend training on the TAIS; go towww.tcdss.net for information on how to register.
The Campus Leadership Team (CLT) consists of key campus leaders responsible for development, implementation, and monitoring of the targeted improvement plan, monitoring student performance, and determination of student interventions and support services.
Districts should carefully review the job descriptions found at each link above before identifying and proposing a PSP and DCSI, and prior to establishing the CLT. After carefully reviewing the job descriptions for the PSP and DCSI, and communicating with the regional education service center (ESC) turnaround team regarding the selection process, the district may propose and submit for TEA approval the name(s) of the recommended DCSI and PSP. The name and qualifying information for the proposed DCSI must be submitted for approval no later than August 23, 2013, and the name of the PSP must be submitted for approval no later than September 6, 2013,via email to ISAM@tea.texas.gov. Districts are encouraged to use their regional ESC as a resource for guidance in identifying and recommending a PSP and DCSI, and for submitting the names through ISAM. The TEA and/or the Texas Center for District and School Support (TCDSS) will notify the district of final determinations regarding assignment of the PSP and DCSI via ISAM.
The intervention team will carry out intervention requirements reflected in TEC §39, 19 TAC §97, and TAIS guidance. For information on basic intervention activities and campus actions please see the Framework for Improvement Required Campus-Level Interventions and the Campus-Level Accountability Interventions flowchart.
Intervention requirements differ for districts with a single campus (single-campus districts) and for districts with more than one campus (multi-campus districts). Single campus districts will implement the interventions required for the campus, while multi-campus districts will engage in district-level interventions described in this section.
Districts that are rated IR in 2013 must determine who will serve as the District Coordinator of School Improvement (DCSI), and who will serve on the District Leadership Team (DLT). Districts should carefully review the job descriptions found at each link above before identifying the DCSI and establishing the DLT. The name of the DCSI will be submitted via email to ISAM@tea.texas.gov
For information on basic activities and district actions please see the Framework for Improvement Required District-Level Interventions and the District-Level Accountability Interventions flowchart.
Intervention Requirements for all Campuses and Districts rated Met Standard that Failed to Meet One or More System Safeguard Measures or Targets
Campuses rated Met Standard or Met Alternative Standard that failed to meet one or more system safeguard measures or targets are required to utilize the campus leadership team to engage in the TAIS process of data analysis, needs assessment, and development, implementation, and monitoring of an improvement plan designed to address the low performance identified by the system safeguards. Districts rated Met Standard or Met Alternative Standard that failed to meet one or more system safeguard measures or targets are required to utilize the district leadership team to engage in the TAIS process to develop, implement, and monitor an improvement plan designed to address the low performance identified by the system safeguards. Although no submissions or progress reporting are specified at this time, the TEA will be in contact with campuses and districts missing multiple system safeguards regarding their implementation of actions addressing low performance and for reports on the effectiveness of improvement initiatives and strategies.
Additional Intervention Systems and Requirements
Campuses Rated AU in 2011 and Rated Met Standard in 2013: Interventions for campuses identified under TEC §39.106(e)(1) will be communicated at a later date.
Federal Accountability System: The TEA is engaged in continuing conversations regarding a waiver of federal accountability requirements. When final decisions are made Title I districts and campuses may be subject to additional intervention requirements. For additional information see the letter found at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=25769806405.
Performance-Based Monitoring (PBM) System: Districts will receive Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System (PBMAS) reports in late August, and stages of intervention will be communicated to districts via ISAM in September. Districts staged for PBM interventions will be required to establish a DCSI and DLT. The DCSI and DLT will engage in the TAIS intervention process and develop strategies and initiatives in the district improvement plan that address low performance identified in the PBMAS reports.
Additional information about intervention requirements and resources are found on the Program Monitoring and Interventions (PMI) website at www.tea.state.tx.us/pmi/accountabilitymonitoring. The website will be updated periodically to include resources to facilitate the intervention processes. We encourage you to work closely with your regional education service center (ESC), which can provide technical assistance and guidance regarding the intervention requirements, and assist in determination of the DCSI, PSP, and membership of the leadership teams that will engage in intervention actions. Additionally, the ESC will be able to provide information about training for the DCSI, CLT, and DLT.