Introduction
The Office of Federal and State Accountability will host its annual ESSA Academy on March 24-25, 2025, at the Cooperative Conference Center (169 Laurelhurst Avenue, Columbia, SC). Each morning will begin with a phenomenal keynote speaker, followed by breakout sessions to support the successful implementation of ESSA programs. CEU credits will be awarded to attendees upon completion. All school- and district-level personnel who work with ESSA programs, including but not limited to Title I Principals, Federal Programs Coordinators, Academic Officers, and Finance Directors, are encouraged to attend.
Day 1 - Monday, March 24th (current page)
Link to Tuesday, March 25th
Welcome - 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM
KEYNOTE: Superintendent Ellen Weaver and Shalinee Sharma - 9:10 AM - 10:30 AM
Breakout Session 1 - 10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
Subgroup Success: Identifying and celebrating promising practices leading to improved student outcomes for all students. Participants will hear from school leaders about the action steps taken to positively influence learning in every classroom.
High FIVE, Title V!: This session will focus on how Title V funding can be braided with other federal grants to support rural districts in meeting goals and objectives.
A Complete Guide to ESSA Consolidated Monitoring: Even if your district is not in the upcoming monitoring cycle, 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.
Federal Update: Summary of New Federal Joint Guidance to Support Students in Foster Care: On November 15, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new Non-Regulatory Guidance: Ensuring Educational Stability and Success for Students in Foster Care. This session will give an overview and the next steps to better service our students in foster care.
Breakout Session 2 - 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Developing and Implementing Quality District Strategic and School Renewal Plans: The presentation will assist district leaders in developing quality District Strategic and School Renewal Plans that set the foundation for great Title I plans.
Maximizing Investments: Getting the Bang for Your Buck: Participants will learn the importance of evaluating activities for return on investment. Attendees will gain strategies from successful Title I principals and the Office of Federal and State Accountability.
Title III, Part A: Multilingual Learner and Immigrant Subgrants: Are you new to Title III, Part A, or need a refresher? This session will provide an overview of the Title III, Part A Multilingual Learner and Immigrant subgrants, including calculations, allowable uses, timelines, and step-by-step guidance and application expectations.
TIPAH (Title I, Part A Homeless) Refresher: With ARP-HCY funds having expired, the LEA homeless set aside is even more critical in providing support for students who are experiencing homelessness. This session will review best practices for LEA allocation and collaboration as well as address allowable activities.
Breakout Session 3 - 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
Neglected and Delinquent Programs-Managing the Complexities: The complexities of a program can be challenging, but when managed properly, they can evolve into a powerful driving force for a successful program. This session will focus on ensuring program compliance, outlining data expectations, and reviewing the updated Non-Regulatory Guidance from the U.S. Department of Education.
Moving Beyond Title I Compliance: Strategies to Engage Families: Are you a Title I school that is struggling with the heavy lift of family engagement? OFSA will discuss out-of-the-box family engagement activities, strategies for having parents as partners, and how to document your events for a successful monitoring visit.
Data-Driven School Improvement: Monitoring Progress and Maximizing Impact: Effectively managing school improvement data is critical to driving meaningful change. This session will equip district and school leaders with practical strategies for collecting, analyzing, and using data to monitor progress, inform decision-making, and ensure accountability. Participants will explore best practices in progress monitoring, learn how to align data collection with improvement goals, and gain actionable tips for making data work for their schools. Real-world examples and tools will be shared to help educators move from compliance to continuous improvement, ensuring every student benefits from targeted interventions and strategic resource allocation.
COMmon Monitoring Findings and How to Avoid Them: The COM Team will discuss common monitoring findings and the resolution process. Attendees will have an opportunity to discuss pathways to achieve a clear audit.
Breakout Session 4 - 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
Raising the Bar, Maximizing the Impact, and Measuring the Success: Staff from Berkeley County will share how they have created and implemented a district approach to School Improvement by Raising the Bar, Maximizing the Impact, and Measuring the Success within Title I schoolwide programs, district grant administration, and the School Improvement Designation schools.
Moving Beyond the Norm with Title II: Participants will learn the importance of evaluating activities for return on investment. Attendees will gain strategies from successful Title I principals and the Office of Federal and State Accountability.
Key Features of an Approvable Continuous Improvement Plan: The SCDE School Improvement Managers will take educators on a journey exploring the key features of creating an approvable Continuous Improvement Plan. Join our team as we explore components for establishing a team to develop a plan that is aligned, monitored for impact, and meets the approvability guidelines to address the academic needs of students across the state.
Bringing Life to Words: Ensuring equitable experiences that support educational excellence for all learners is a key priority of Richland County School District One. Through the implementation of the authors' visit and motivational speaker series, the office of federal and state programs has inspired students to pursue reading and writing in a new light.
Some presentations could not uploaded to our website due to accessibility issues. These can be found on the Whova application within the agenda section.
