Introducing Region 4 ESC's inaugural School Improvement e-newsletter!


This communication is brought to you by our District System Support Solutions team to keep educators abreast of timely and important information pertaining to school improvement.

Important Dates

Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP) Deadlines

The deadline to submit the Progress #1 submission, an artifact, and board approval in ISAM is December 16. The feedback for Progress #1 submissions will come from TEA and ESC staff in one of two methods: You will be notified if your feedback is being provided through a TEAMS meeting or directly through the Plan4Learning platform. Look for an e-mail from your TEA specialist with further details on the touchpoints that will occur January 2 to February 10, 2023.

Submission Guidance

Effective Schools Framework (ESF) Diagnostic Visits

The ESF diagnostic survey results are now available from CES on the Panorama Survey website. To view the results, access your Panorama dashboard and survey. Your campus results are displayed by essential action and the percent favorable responses. Click on each essential action to access the results by question. Be on the lookout for an e-mail from your Region 4 school improvement specialist(s) for your next steps.


Additionally, expect an e-mail with instructions on submitting pre-work six weeks before the ESF diagnostic visit. Through this process, you and your campus leadership team will complete a data reflection activity and submit two artifacts that best exemplify your work in each essential action. The survey, artifact review, and campus visit will help the ESF diagnostician identify the highest-leverage strengths and areas to work on for the 2023–2024 school year. 

Overview of ESF Diagnostic

Be Merry and Bright

The holidays are upon us. The School Improvement team at Region 4 wishes you and yours a joyous and peaceful season.

Interested In An ESF Diagnostic?


Contact any of our Region 4 team members to learn more.

Grant Announcements and Updates

Grants to Support School Improvement

The ESF Focused Support Grant and the School Improvement Grant program guidelines require the development and implementation of a TIP. Campuses awarded these grants must tie the expenditure of these grant funds to action steps in the TIP. View the grants guide to learn how this should be done in the online plan.

School Improvement Grants Guide

2023 to 2025 ESF Focused Grant Application Window

In January 2023, TEA will begin releasing information about the 2023–2025 ESF Focused Grant opportunity. Please stay tuned for information pertaining to this grant. View the grants webinar to learn more.

School Improvement Grants Webinar

DCSI Resources

The Center for Effective Schools (CES)

How can the CES support the work of a district coordinator of school improvement (DCSI)? The CES supports several school improvement initiatives across the state and works closely with TEA, ESCs, and LEAs.


Visit their website at ces.tea.texas.gov for more information and support for: 


  • The Effective District Framework
  • The Effective Schools Framework
  • District Coordinator of School Improvement
Guide for District Coordinators for School Improvement

Campus Accountability Interventions and Guidance 

Please continue to visit the TEA's school improvement page for the latest information and resources. Click here for information about the DSCI Core Principles.

Campus Accountability Interventions and Guidance

District Spotlight

DSCI Spotlight for December 2022

Dr. Uneeda Givens, Executive Director of Academics, Richard Milburn Academy (RMA)


Being the DCSI allows me to have a close view of each campus, which gives me a better understanding of their barriers and strengths.


District Practices and Processes

At RMA, we establish internal benchmarks and protocols using ESF rubrics.

 

Essential Action Priorities

We have one district essential action and one to two campus essential actions that help to ensure district priorities are met and addressed.

 

District Systems

Coordinating with ESCs, internal review, and monitoring the plan's progress are the keys to our success. View our Consolidated District TIP Resource page here.

 

Keys to Success

Backward planning has helped immensely with meeting submission deadlines.

 

Current Challenge

The TIP is a series of actions to improve the academic performance of students. Our challenge has been balancing between monitoring, providing support, and holding the campus accountable.


A big thanks to Dr. Givens for sharing her district's successes and challenges!

DCSI TIP CYCLE

Submit a Review of Your TIP Cycle

At the end of each TIP cycle, principals and DCSIs must submit a review of their formative data, 90-day outcomes, and action steps.


The videos below provide a review of the reflection process and a demonstration of entering the review elements in Plan4Learning. 


Assessment and Accountability

2023 Updated Accountability Framework Resources

Updated resources are now available for the 2023 Academic Accountability System Framework (November 2022).

View the Updated Preliminary 2023 A–F Refresh Overview and Summary here.


Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback through February 1, 2023, to help inform the proposed rule. The 2023 Accountability Manual will be published in proposed form in spring 2023 for additional feedback prior to becoming a rule in summer 2023.


For additional information, please view the November 9, 2022, Administrator Addressed letter here.


View reporting timelines for spring here.

Accountability and Assessment News

Professional Development

The Region 4 Effective Leadership and Beyond Conference is

February 9, 2023! 

Reach your highest potential as a district or campus leader with sessions focused on


▶️ Strategic Planning;

▶️ Continuous Improvement;

▶️ Instructional Leadership;

▶️ ESF-Aligned Practices, and More!


Learn more and register here.



Looking for additional training?


Find targeted training focused on strategic planning, performance management, ESF best practices, instructional leadership, and more.

Workshops for District and Campus Leaders

CTE News

CTE Courses Offered By the TXVSN

One of the largest needs we have heard from our districts is obtaining access to CTE courses. The Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) offers students the opportunity to access CTE courses aligned to programs of study, and it puts students on the path to becoming a CTE Concentrator or CTE Completer.


Using the TXVSN statewide catalog, students have more opportunities to engage in a program of study to prepare them for future education and careers.

TXVSN List of Courses

Contact Us

We Would Love to Hear From You!

Our dedicated education specialists are ready to help. Reach out to one of our team members below or visit us online to access additional contacts.


Nancy Webster

Senior Specialist 

713.744.8186

[email protected]


Jennifer Wellman

Education Specialist II

713.744.6807

[email protected]

Helpful Links




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