ACTION REQUIRED

October 14, 2011                                                                                           

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT:  2011-2012 Performance-Based Monitoring Intervention Staging

The Texas Education Agency (TEA or the agency) previously outlined key provisions of state legislation (House Bill 3459, 78th Regular Legislative Session) that significantly revised the scope of school district monitoring. In line with this effort, the agency is implementing a series of Performance-Based Monitoring (PBM) activities for the 2011-2012 school year as referenced in 19 Texas Administrative Code §97.1071, Special Program Performance; Intervention Stages. The purpose of this letter is to notify local education agencies (LEAs) that 2011-2012 intervention staging information for the bilingual education/English as a second language, career and technical education, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and special education program areas, including Residential Facility Monitoring, will be available the week of October 17, 2011, on the Intervention Stage and Activity Manager (ISAM) application on the Texas Education Agency Secure Environment (TEASE).

A supporting Summary of Interventions document available on the Program Monitoring and Interventions website at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/pmi will provide you with detailed information on any activities in which your district or charter school is required to engage during this program year.  Additionally, information will be available in ISAM that details the criteria that were used to select districts and charter schools for 2011-2012 interventions. The document detailing the selection criteria for 2011-2012 interventions, as well as other important monitoring documents and tools, also will be available on the TEA website the week of October 17, 2011. Information to assist LEAs in signing up for TEASE access, accessing the ISAM system, uploading documents in ISAM, or changing contact information in ISAM, is available under the How Do I …section of the Program Monitoring and Interventions homepage. LEAs that need additional information regarding the ISAM application can contact their regional education service center (ESC) PBM Contact for assistance.  

Monitoring and intervention activities have been designed to focus on a data-driven and performance-based system that will take place in a continuous improvement model.  Determinations regarding monitoring and interventions are the result of a performance-based evaluation process implemented by the agency through the Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System (PBMAS). The results of the PBMAS for all program areas included in the system was disseminated to districts and charter schools on September 14, 2011, in the form of a PBMAS summary report. Additionally, for the NCLB program area, the Division of NCLB Coordination has calculated the results of specific Initial Compliance Review (ICR) indicators, and information related to those results will be displayed in the ISAM system.

The agency has conducted a review of PBMAS data, including determinations resulting from special data analysis for districts and charter schools with small numbers of students, and has reviewed longitudinal data related to PBM interventions. The results of the longitudinal PBM review, the PBMAS review, and, in the case of NCLB, the Initial Compliance Review, have been used to determine stages of intervention for the various program areas. Additionally, districts staged in more than one program area for 2011-2012 will engage in integrated intervention activities focused on areas of low student performance and systemic improvement needs. When data accuracy issues are identified either as part of the agency’s PBMAS data review or during the implementation of intervention activities, the district or charter school will be required to address improvements in the procedures and systems used to collect and submit data. Districts also may be subject to escalated oversight, interventions, and/or sanctions whenever such action is required.

If individual or unanticipated circumstances impact the ability of the district or charter school to meet required intervention timelines as specified in related monitoring materials, information detailing the district’s or charter school’s individual circumstances, along with a projected date for completion of activities, should be submitted to the TEA Division of Program Monitoring and Interventions by November 14, 2011. Such a submission does not automatically defer any other requirement contained in this letter or other monitoring documents. The agency will consider individual circumstances or requests for timeline extension submitted and will be in further communication with the LEA regarding the status of intervention activities.

Should your LEA be identified as a result of any other monitoring activities the agency is required to conduct, including monitoring activities related to accreditation determinations or compliance with federal formula and discretionary grant requirements, you will be notified in a timely manner by appropriate agency staff.

We appreciate your support and anticipate that a data-driven, performance-based approach to monitoring will continue to assist LEAs in their ongoing efforts to improve student achievement.

Sincerely,

Karen Batchelor
Program Monitoring and Interventions