2023 ESSA Academy Conference

ESSA Academy Logo "Moving Beyond Compliance"

Day 1 - Monday, March 13th

Breakout Sessions Include:

A Complete Guide to ESSA Consolidated Monitoring - Whether your district is on the 2023-24 monitoring list or not, it is never too early to begin preparing! This session will provide an overview of the ESSA consolidated monitoring protocol for Title programs, including the process, relevant updates, expectations, and requirements for items such as internal controls, time and effort, maintenance of effort, and comparability
The Ultimate Guide to Developing Quality District Strategic and School Renewal Plans - This presentation will focus on an evidence-based approach to assist leaders in creating the necessary structure and culture in which the District Strategic and School Renewal plan process will be a successful part of a school improvement initiative that aligns priority areas with funding and resources.
Updates from Grants Accounting - This session will address an array of financial topics and procedures that impact the fiscal management of federal education grants such as the reimbursement process, obligation, and indirect cost rates.
ESSA Hot Topics - This session will focus on today’s top ESSA concerns including, but not limited to, supplement, not supplant, maintenance of effort, rank and serve, comparability, and recent monitoring findings.
MOE, Comparability, Inventory, Oh My! - While the requirements of Maintenance of Effort and Comparability have not changed, districts are facing increasingly difficult challenges in meeting these requirements. This session will review these challenges and share updates and recommendations to assist districts in achieving compliance with these two necessary aspects of grants management.
Equitable Services: In the Midst of It All - An important first step is ensuring that consultation occurs before any decisions are made that would affect the opportunity for eligible private school children and their teachers or families to participate in Title programs, but what should be done after that and throughout the rest of the year? This session will review important requirements and recommended procedures to ensure the LEA is compliant and that eligible private schools electing to participate receive services on an equitable basis throughout the entire lifecycle of the grant.
Subaward Updates - This session will take a look at the subaward including updates to scope of work items that affect reporting and closeout. This presentation will include news about federal regulations and reminders for compliance.
Bridging the Gap through Continuous Improvement: Effectively Utilizing a Comprehensive Needs Assessment - Needs assessments serve as incredibly powerful tools for decision-making, resource allocation, and ultimately reaching programmatic goals. This session will include the essential information for identifying the knowledge and skills necessary for achieving your organizational goals.
Is Title II for You? - This session will provide information regarding identifying needs and understanding allowability and programmatic compliance of Title II, Part A. Attendees will receive helpful resources to assist districts in better supporting teachers and school leaders.
A Beginner’s Guide to Foster Care - This session will address key components of the Fostering Connections Act. Participants will explore the Best Interest Determination (BID) process and guidance on Immediate Enrollment, as well as ways to collaborate with local DSS agencies. There will be an opportunity to discuss community organizations, current legislation, and resources to assist students in foster care.
Compliant Policies and Procedures - This presentation will discuss how to review your policies and procedures to ensure they are in compliance. We will discuss which policies and procedures are required, how to craft policies and procedures that are specific to your entity's needs, and review how to test your internal controls to ensure your procedures are accurate and up-to-date.

Day 2 - Tuesday, March 14th

Keynote: Understanding Trauma: Recognizing and Responding with a Trauma Informed Lens - Cheryl Fuller - This session will delve into the causes of trauma, trauma responses, and what that may look like for students. In addition, Cheryl Fuller will discuss ways to heal and repair the effects of trauma; how to approach students and situations through a trauma-informed lens, and the ways that helping and addressing trauma for others impacts our own lives and bodies.

General Session: Ensuring Costs Are Allowable- Tiffany Kesslar and Brandi Tennant - This session will discuss the allowability rules under the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) and provide a helpful checklist on how to ensure costs meet program and fiscal requirements so that you avoid audit and monitoring findings.

Breakout Sessions Include:

ESSER Requirements and Updates - This presentation will review ESSER allowable uses of funds and discuss recent guidance, disposition of equipment and supplies, and recent monitoring protocols and planning for the future!
Updates from the Office of Auditing Services: Subrecipient Risk Assessment, Audits, and Time and Effort - The session will present information regarding the annual subrecipient risk assessment process that the SCDE conducts for subgrantees, as well as audits that districts may be subject to from the SCDE Office of Auditing Services. Presenters will also address questions regarding time and effort.
Title III, Part A FUNding - Are you new to Title III, Part A, or in need of a refresher? Join the Multilingual Learner Program State Coordinator at the Title III, Part A FUNding session to test your knowledge. This session will provide an overview of Title III, Part A Multilingual Learner and Immigrant FUNding, including calculations, allowable uses, timelines, and more.
A Complete Guide to ESSA Consolidated Monitoring - Whether your district is on the 2023-24 monitoring list or not, it is never too early to begin preparing! This session will provide an overview of the ESSA consolidated monitoring protocol for Title programs, including the process, relevant updates, expectations, and requirements for items such as internal controls, time and effort, maintenance of effort, and comparability.
Title IV: Innovation & Evaluation - This session is for anyone interested in learning more about the Title IV, Part A program (Student Support and Academic Enrichment). Specifically, presenters will demonstrate how annual evaluation results can inform programming for the upcoming school year to ensure alignment with increasing student opportunities for a well-rounded education, maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment, and improving the effective use of technology. Participants will receive helpful resources to develop effective and innovative strategies that are based on both data assessment and future thinking.
Harvesting Educational Opportunities for Migratory Students and Families - This session will present information about the South Carolina Migrant Education Program (SCMEP), including an overview of the program, migrant education statistics that may surprise you, “hot spots” in South Carolina, and tips for ensuring civil rights obligations to migratory students. Attendees will receive information about the Title I, Part C application process and how these funds can be used by districts to support migrant youth and their families in local communities. To the extent practicable, this session will be interactive and will include a few scenarios to put participants’ new learning to the test.
Finance Facts - This session will address key components of planning for grants and grants management. From comprehensive needs assessments to claiming and deobligating, this session will provide a broad range of information regarding grant management and fiscal oversight.

Day 3 - Wednesday, March 15th

Keynote: Creating a Coherent Multi-Tiered System of Support: Finding our Place - Dr. Amy Jablonski - Federal Programs is an essential component in the designing of a strong educational system. This presentation will highlight the incredible opportunity the coherence of aligning these resources has on designing a robust system of support for students to experience.

NIRN Hexagon Discussion Analysis Tool - The Hexagon Discussion and Analysis Tool helps organizations evaluate the fit and feasibility of implementing programs or practices in a given context. This tool is designed to be used by a team to facilitate discussion and ensure diverse perspectives are represented in a discussion of the six contextual fit and feasibility indicators.

Breakout Sessions Include:

Where’s the Beef? Beefing up your Title I Homeless Set Aside - In this session, presenters will discuss the U.S. Department of Education’s guidance for the Title I, Part A homeless set-aside. Attendees will receive helpful information to guide planning so that students experiencing homelessness receive the support services that are needed to succeed in school.
Why Title V Matters - Spoiler Alert! Title V matters because it can help ensure that school and district leaders working in districts with rural populations have funding flexibility so teachers, school personnel, and students get the extra support they need. If you receive an allocation, this session is for you. Attendees will leave with updated resources, guides, and fresh ideas to support the implementation of Title V.
SC Innovation Station - One Stop Shop - SC Innovation Station provides vetted resources and professional learning opportunities to support continuous improvement efforts and effective implementation of evidence-based interventions that positively impact student engagement and achievement. This session will provide a navigation of the site and how it can be a resource for fulfilling requirements and moving the needle on student achievement.
Parent and Family Engagement; Reframing our Thinking - Are you struggling to re-engage parents post-COVID? In this session, presenters will cover Title I Parent and Family Engagement compliance requirements, barriers families may have, and innovative ways to overcome those barriers and get families involved.