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Sept. 25, 2008
TEA seeking educational consultants to assist schools with high school redesign and restructuring plans
AUSTIN – The Texas High School Redesign and Restructuring Project is getting a little make-over. For the first time, schools receiving a High School Redesign and Restructuring (HSRR) grant will be able to choose from a list of educational consultants to help implement their redesign plan.
The HSRR program provides grant funds to high school campuses rated Academically Unacceptable under the state’s accountability rating system to implement innovative, school-wide initiatives to improve student performance on the campus. With assistance, grantee schools will determine the most effective means of correcting the problems that led to their unacceptable designation and lay out the solution in a redesign and restructuring plan. Participating schools will then choose an educational partner from the approved list to assist with the implementation of their redesign plan.
To begin the process of creating a list of educational partners, the Texas Education Agency is asking qualified service providers who can offer intensive coaching, mentoring and professional development to submit a proposal in response to an Request for Qualifications (RFQ). This RFQ provides an opportunity for eligible entities to be included on the Approved Service Providers List for schools that qualify for the HSRR grant.
These educational partners will be selected based on their expertise in school redesign, specifically in at least one of the following areas: curriculum, instruction and assessment; leadership; or campus culture and climate. Eligible applicants include regional education service centers; institutions of higher education; county departments of education; and nonprofit and private organizations with significant experience in providing high school redesign and reform services.
Qualified applicants have until Oct. 21 to respond to the RFQ. Complete details of the request can be found on the web at http://esbd.cpa.state.tx.us/bid_show.cfm?bidid=78904.
To date, four cycles of grants totaling more than $15 million have been allocated to 58 campuses for the Redesign and Restructuring program.
While state law requires all campuses rated Academically Unacceptable to implement targeted improvement plans, school districts or charter schools that receive funding from the HSRR grant must engage in long-term, comprehensive reform efforts. High schools are expected to implement programs and activities that result in a redesigned school that is fundamentally different from the existing one.
The specific goals for the HSRR grant program are to:
- correct the identified deficiencies of unacceptable performance based on the campus accountability rating;
- demonstrate innovative management and instructional practices;
- develop district leadership capacity;
- develop leadership capacity in principals and other campus administrators;
- improve instructional capacity and effectiveness of the school;
- increase overall student achievement;
- raise academic standards and expectations for all students;
- improve the overall climate and culture of the school.
In October, the agency will make a total of $3 million available for funding through the HSRR grant for high schools that qualify. The program will support the redesign of approximately 15 schools. Each recipient is eligible for a grant that ranges from $60,000 to $200,000, depending on the size of the campus.
Educational partners approved for participation in the program will be eligible to provide services to the grantee schools for a period of up to two years, after which they may reapply to continue eligibility. Final selection of educational service providers is expected to be made by Dec. 1.
Contact:
Division of Communications
1701 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: (512) 463-9000
E-mail: teainfo@tea.state.tx.us