Federal Programs

The Federal Programs Department offers compliance guidance, resources, and support in all federally funded grant programs that the International Leadership of Texas implements. Our mission is to serve our students, parents, families, communities, and staff while meeting the programmatic mandates and intents of the U. S. Department of Education (USDE) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Please see below for the current Grants that the Federal Programs Department manages.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS

NATIONAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

STARTALK is a federal immersion program managed and funded by the National Security Agency. STARTALK grants fund innovative programs with strong language learning outcomes for K-16 students in support of the STARTALK mission to increase the number of U.S. citizens learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages. STARTALK offers students (K–16) and teachers of these languages creative and engaging summer experiences that strive to exemplify best practices in language education and in language teacher development.

ILTexas STARTALK Chinese program 2024 is a residential immersion program. Participants are also required to attend the Pre-camp activities in the Spring of 2024, and Post camp activities in August to December of 2024.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DoDEA, as one of only two Federally-operated school systems, is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing prekindergarten through 12th grade educational programs on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD).

Student Centered: Students are at the heart of all we do.
Excellence: We strive to exceed expectations in all we do.
Continuous Improvement: Our organization, its systems, and processes will be continually reexamined and improved.
Diversity: We honor the uniqueness of each individual and embrace diverse beliefs and backgrounds. We respect differences and create inclusive environments which contribute to a better society for all.
Individual Potential: Individuals develop within an environment that nurtures intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and creative growth.
Lifelong Learning: Learning is an active process of discovery where we cultivate curiosity, perseverance, and the desire to learn.
Shared Responsibility: Partnerships among families, students, staff, and community members are characterized by mutual commitment and collaborative effort that enrich the lives of our students.
Trust: We value relationships based on integrity, mutual respect, and open two-way communication. We cultivate a safe and risk-free culture that encourages and inspires innovation.

Chinese Advanced Language Project

ILTexas has been awarded two 5-year grants in 2022 and 2023 by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) for the Chinese Advanced Language (CAL) project.

The CAL project is expected to increase the language proficiency level of all ILTexas students, with a focus on military-connected and JROTC students, through:

Providing ILTexas Chinese teachers with advanced professional development (PD), including training and instructions from Advanced Chinese Instructional Coaches
Providing high school students access to a free Chinese language and culture immersion summer camp
Hiring additional Chinese language teachers at K-5 level

Fore more information on our grant projects, click here.

CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS CHARTER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION

TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

ILTexas is excited to collaborate with the Texas EducaƟon Agency as a recipient of the following grants.

2022—2024 Silent Panic Alert
2023—2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant, Cycle 1
2023—2024 Texas Education for Homeless Children & Youth
2023—2025 Title 1, 1003 ESF Focused Support Grant
American Rescue Plan Homeless I (TEHCY Supplemental)
American Rescue Plan Homeless II
Dyslexia Grant Award Program, Year 1 Continutation
Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (I, II, & III)
Innovative Services for Students with Autism, Year 2
School Safety Standards
Strong Foundations Instructional Framework, Part 2
Strong Foundations Math & Literacy Framework, Part 2
Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports

STRONGER CONNECTIONS 2024-2025

The purpose of this program is to support systemic change in the way that school districts address and respond to bullying, violence, and acts of hate. Supporting the academic and nonacademic needs of students by providing safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments will result in improved academic achievement as well as mental, behavioral, emotional, and physical health and well-being of students.

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN HOMELESS II

AARP HOMELESS TECHY

CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

EFFECTIVE SCHOOL FRAMEWORK

The goal of the Effective Schools Framework (ESF) is to provide a clear vision for what districts and schools across the state do to ensure an excellent education for all Texas students. The framework, based on years of educational research of best practices, identifies 5 levers essential for successful school outcomes.

At the core of effective schools is effective instruction: interactions between students, teachers, and content determine learning outcomes. This instructional core is strengthened and supported by strategic staffing, high-quality instructional materials and assessments, and positive school culture. Strong school leadership and careful planning encompass and ensure each of these levers.

LEARNING ACCELERATION SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

The Learning Acceleration Support Opportunities (LASO) is the next iteration of a universal consolidated application cycle that strategically batches grant funding opportunities that are supporting with continued learning acceleration and innovation opportunities.

LASO program grants are anchored in five learning acceleration strategies: Strategic Planning, Instructional Materials, Teacher Pipelines, More Time and Innovative School Models.

SAFETY AND FACILITIES ENHANCEMENT

Preventing school violence requires addressing the factors that put people at risk for or that protect them from violence. In an effort to support local safety efforts, on May 31, 2023, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the Adopted amendment to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter CC, Commissioner’s Rules Concerning School Facilities, §61.1031, School Safety Requirements to provide a minimum standard for educational facilities for the state of Texas.

SCHOOL SAFETY STANDARDS

The purpose of the School Safety Standards Formula Grant is to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) in meeting the Chapter 61, Sub-chapter CC, 61.1031 of Commissioner's Rules and to include other security related costs like metal detectors, cameras, and monitoring tools such as those allowed under the school safety allotment, the Senate Bill 500 school safety and security grant, and the silent panic alert technology grant.

STARTALK

Click here for more information

STRONG FOUNDATIONS

Local education agencies (LEAs) can apply for two types of Strong Foundations grants. The Planning grant helps LEAs adopt or prepare to use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). The Implementation grant supports LEAs in effectively implementing HQIM.

Strong Foundations Planning provides LEAs support to develop a strong instructional framework in math or literacy, provides optional adoption supports in selecting new HQIM, if LEAs choose to make a materials switch, and training to support creating systems to effectively manage instruction at the district level.
Strong Foundations Implementation provides in-kind support for pre-implementation planning and content- and product-specific professional learning for teachers, coaches, and administrators on effectively implementing HQIM.

The Strong Foundations Grant Program (Texas Education Code, 29.0881) was established through House Bill 4545, 87th Texas Legislature, 2021, and offers K–5 Math & Literacy comprehensive Tier 1 instructional supports, including curriculum, instructional leadership, and planning supports.

NON-COMPETITIVE GRANTS

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF (ESSER) FUND

EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT

Title I, Part A

Title I, Part A provides ILTexas with federal funding to supply supplemental educational resources to schools based on the percentage of low‐income families we serve.

Title I, Part C

Title I, Part C provides ILTexas with federal funding to design, develop, and implement supports to help students who are migratory overcome challenges of mobility.

Title II, Part A

Title II, Part A provides ILTexas with federal funding to improve teacher and principal quality.

Title III, Part A

Title III, Part A provides ILTexas with federal funding to help multilingual children learn the English language and immigrant children attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English. This additional support helps ILTexas children meet the academic achievement standards set by the state.

Title IV, Part A

Title IV, Part A provides ILTexas with federal funding to supply students with access to well-rounded educational opportunities, improve the school creating a safe and healthy environment, and improve academic outcomes through the integration of technology.

MCKINNEY-VENTO-HOMELESS EDUCATION ASSISTANCE ACT

PERKINS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE)

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

SPECIAL EDUCATION

PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

Title I Parent and Family Engagement

What is Parent and Family Engagement?
- Research shows that parent and family engagement contribute to positive outcomes for children and schools, such as better attendance, decreased disciplinary issues and improved graduation rates. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) recognizes the critical role parents play in helping children achieve academic success.
- The Texas Education Agency (TEA) believes that meaningful partnerships between schools, families and communities are the foundation of effective schools. TEA has adopted a Parent and Family Engagement Statewide Plan, laying out its vision and priorities for Parent and Family Engagement.
- ILTexas is committed to partnering with all families and providing opportunities to support students and collaborate with teachers. School-Family partnerships are key to ensuring that students learn and thrive, in and out of the classroom.
- Title I funds provide supplemental resources to ensure that all students receive a high-quality education and meet challenging state standards. Local Education Agencies and campuses that receive Title I, Part A funds are required to conduct specific activities to support parent and family engagement.
- ILTexas campuses conduct family engagement activities and events throughout the school year. For more information, please contact your child’s campus.

TItle III Parent, Family and Community Engagement

TEA Title III Parent, Family and Community Engagement
- What is Title III Parent, Family and Community Engagement?
  - Title III, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is specific to students who are classified as English Learners and/or immigrants. Parent, family and community engagement activities under this part of ESSA must take into consideration the needs of families of these populations of students. The supplemental activities required under are:
    - Parent Outreach and Training
    - Family Outreach and Training and Family Literacy Services
    - Community Participation Programs
  - ILTexas conducts activities and holds events throughout the year to support families of our English Language Learning students and families. Please contact your child’s campus for more information.

PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NEWSLETTERS

Resources

NATIONAL CENTER FOR HOMELESS EDUCATION AT SERVE

TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY (TEA)

TEXAS EDUCATION FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH (TEHCY) PROGRAM

THE TITLE I PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT STATEWIDE INITIATIVE

COMPENSATORY EDUCATION

Under OSEP requirements, public schools must post on their websites a document published by the Texas Education Agency providing information to assist parents request compensatory services if a child may have been previously delayed or denied an evaluation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The documents are also available on the Texas Education Agency’s website under the “Delayed or Denied Evaluations or Compensatory Services” tab. The notice must be posted in English and Spanish. Schools must also provide this information to families of students:)