SEA Omnibus Protocol

American Recovery and Reinvest Act Protocol for SEA Officials

Evaluation of the Comprehensive Technical Assistance Centers

During this interview, we would like to talk with you about issues that passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (which we will refer to as the “Recovery Act”) pose for your SEA, and the kinds of technical assistance from the Comprehensive Centers that would support your efforts to effectively request, obtain and use the stimulus money to support education programs in your state. As we proceed with the interview and ask about your technical assistance needs in particular areas, we’d like you to tell us on which issues you see your Regional Comprehensive Center (and the Content Centers) as being a potential source of high quality support, on which you may seek technical assistance elsewhere, and where you see potentially unmet SEA needs.

A. State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF)

The Recovery Act provides funds under the SFSF to maintain support for current elementary and secondary education programs, such as Title I and IDEA. To receive SFSF funding, the state must provide certain assurances and/or meet other requirements.

1. Under SFSF states that cannot maintain support for elementary and secondary education may seek waivers to relieve fiscal burdens on states and LEAs. Is this provision relevant to your state? If you plan to seek waivers, does your SEA need technical assistance in this area? If yes, please elaborate.

2. For states not seeking waivers, SFSF funds must be used to “supplement not supplant” current programs (such as Title I and IDEA). What are the implications of this requirement for how you might use stimulus funding? Does your SEA need any technical assistance to ensure you can meet those provisions? If so, what type of assistance is needed?

3. Spending under the Recovery Act will be subject to “stringent standards of accountability and transparency.” What implications does this provision have for your state? Does your SEA need any technical assistance regarding these provisions? If yes, please elaborate.

B. Revising or Improving State Standards and Assessments

SFSF funding requires that states commit to revising or improving state standards and assessments. What are the greatest challenges for your SEA in this area? What technical assistance and support would be most useful?

C. Improving Teacher Effectiveness and the Distribution of Highly Qualified Teachers

SFSF funding requires that states develop a plan to improve teacher quality and the equitable distribution of highly qualified teachers. For the teacher quality provisions, what are the implications and greatest challenges for your SEA? Does your SEA need any assistance to ensure you can meet those provisions? If so, what type of assistance is needed?

D. Improving Performance in the Lowest Performing Schools

SFSF funding requires that states that states provide support for “struggling schools.” What are the implications of this requirement for how you might use stimulus funding in this state? Does your SEA need any technical assistance in this area? If so, please elaborate.

E. Establishing and Using Linked Pre-K to Higher Education Data Systems

Under the Recovery Act, discretionary funds are available to establish and use linked pre-k to higher education data systems.

1. Is your state interested in applying for funds to establish and use linked data systems?

2. Do you have technical assistance needs to help establish and use linked pre-K to higher education data systems in any of the following areas? If yes, please elaborate on each.

• Technical issues with your current data systems.

• Legal issues related to data systems (e.g., addressing privacy protections, data sharing across agencies).

• Establishing the infrastructure for linking data systems for decision making at the state and local levels?

3. If you are not planning to apply for funds for this purpose, why not?

F. Information Dissemination

Please describe the ways that your state will inform LEA’s about technical assistance available to support implementation of the Recovery Act.

G. Other Areas

Please describe other areas where your SEA would find technical assistance useful with respect to the Recovery Act.