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

March 31, 2010

To the Administrator Addressed:

Subject:  Formation of a Professional Service Network for CIT members, CAMs, and TAPs

As you are aware, both the state and federal accountability systems have provisions requiring low-performing campuses to acquire professional services to assist the campus in its improvement efforts.  The providers of professional services have been chosen and trained in different ways and have had different responsibilities under the two accountability systems.  Texas Education Code (TEC) §39.106 requires the commissioner to assign a Campus Intervention Team (CIT) if the performance of a campus is below any standard of the state academic accountability system and delineates the duties and responsibilities of the CIT.  Under the requirements of the Texas Statewide System of Support for campuses in the Title I School Improvement Program (SIP) of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), a campus that does not meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two or more consecutive years must select a Campus Administrator Mentor (CAM) or Technical Assistance Provider (TAP).

The purpose of this letter is to notify districts that the Texas Education Agency (TEA or agency) is merging these sets of campus support staff into a Professional Service Provider (PSP) network, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.  The PSP network is being formed to ensure that persons serving as PSPs share a common core of knowledge, have a clear understanding of the requirements of the accountability systems, and have the skills and abilities necessary to assist struggling campuses.  This initiative aligns with feedback received from district personnel and CITs, CAMs, and TAPs regarding the need for system alignment and consistent training of service providers.  The TEA is working through the Texas Turnaround Center (TTC) and the School Improvement Resource Center (SIRC) to develop the PSP network, which will provide support as we work to:

• ensure a consistent, coordinated system of support for low-performing campuses and districts;
• clarify roles and responsibilities of external support personnel;
• enhance the capacity and skills of all PSPs to ensure a consistently high quality of support; and
• intensify and expand efforts to increase the success of campuses with multiple years of low performance in either the state or federal system, including the potential for utilizing one PSP to support improvement in both systems.

More information about the PSP network can be found in a webinar posted at the following link: http://www.txturnaround.org/docs/webinar/PSP_%20Network_CIT_%20App_Elig_Proc_2010_11_%20FS.pdf.

Beginning in 2010-2011, districts and campuses required to acquire professional services due to low performance in the state or federal accountability systems will select external CIT members, CAMs, and TAPs who have completed requirements for membership in the PSP network.  Membership in the network requires an application/vetting process and participation in summer training provided by the SIRC and TTC in Austin, Texas.  While TAPs and CAMs have always had a summer training requirement, the training requirement is new for external CIT members.

Individuals interested in serving as external CIT members during the 2010-2011 school year must complete the application and agree to attend the summer training.  The External CIT application is found on the TTC website at http://www.txturnaround.org/.  Persons currently approved to serve as CAMs and TAPs must continue to attend summer training and must complete an application that provides updated contact information.  All participants in the PSP network incur the cost of travel and accommodations while attending the summer training.

Only those individuals who meet the requirements of the PSP network will be eligible to serve as an external CIT member for the 2010-2011 school year.  If you know of individuals interested in serving as external CIT members for the 2010-2011 school year, please encourage them to complete the application located at the link referenced above. 

April 30, 2010, is the deadline for submission of an application to serve as an external CIT member in the PSP network for the 2010-2011 school year.

Please share this information with interested staff and campus administrators within your district. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact the Texas Turnaround Center at (512) 919-5164.

Sincerely,

Laura Taylor                                                                Ann Smisko
Associate Commissioner                                            Associate Commissioner
Department of Accreditation                                      School Improvement and Support

LT:AS:sw

cc:   Education Service Center Executive Director
        Education Service Center Turnaround Contact
        Education Service Center PBM Contact(s)