A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

 

December 3, 2010

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT:        NCLB Program Data Reporting Variance Reports

As part of its Consolidated State Performance Report (CSPR) to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), the Texas Education Agency (Agency) is required to provide explanations for certain data elements if there is a variance from the data that were reported in the previous year.  The data reported to USDE by TEA in the CSPR are a composite of the NCLB Program Compliance Report data submitted by local education agencies (LEAs).

In an effort to improve overall data quality and to be able to provide more accurate information to USDE on questions related to variance issues, the Agency has developed a set of variance reports to compare each LEA's most current Consolidated Compliance Report data to its prior-year compliance report and to its PEIMS information.  These reports are now available through the NCLB Reports application on the Texas Education Agency Secure Environment (TEASE).  Your LEA has a variance report available for review.

The Agency is not stating that the LEA reported data are incorrect.  Rather, the reports indicate where substantive variances exist—which may be due to plausible explanations or possibly incorrect data reporting.  In order to obtain an accurate understanding of the variances in state-level data, the Agency is requesting the assistance of LEAs that have variances in their reported data in excess of 25 percent (25%).  LEAs that have such variances are required to review their data for accuracy and provide an explanation for the variance.  If the LEA’s report indicates a variance of more than 25% in one or more NCLB program areas, please review the data and complete the appropriate response template.  If the data reported on the most recent compliance report are incorrect, LEAs are also asked to amend the compliance report January 12, 2011.  A template for LEAs to use in responding to their Variance Reports is available through the following web page:  http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=2147489842&menu_id=798

Technical Assistance
Technical assistance will be provided through the Texas Education Telecommunication Network (TETN) on the following dates and times:

• December 9, 2010—3:15 pm to 4:15 pm—event #9330
• December 16, 2010—3:15 pm to 4:15 pm—event #9331
• December 17, 2010—9:00 am to 11:00 am—event #9332

Please contact the TETN Site Manager at your regional Education Service Center for information on attending the TETN of your choice.

Contact Information
If you have any questions related to the Variance Reports or to the completion of the response template, please contact your regional education service center (ESC) staff or e-mail the appropriate regional contact in the Division of NCLB Program Coordination:

Regions 1-10:	Regions 11-20:
Heather.Mauze@tea.state.tx.us	Cindy.Watson@tea.state.tx.us

Response Submission
Completed templates should be submitted no later than January 12, 2011, via electronic mail to:  nclbissues@tea.state.tx.us.  Failure to comply with this submission deadline may cause the LEA’s 2011 Initial Compliance Review (ICR) score in the 2011 NCLB desk audit process and subsequent compliance interventions to be elevated.

We appreciate your assistance in ensuring that the information we submit to the U.S. Department of Education is as accurate as possible.

Sincerely,

 

Cory Green, Senior Director
Division of NCLB Program Coordination

CG/vs