ESSA School Support FAQs

CSI for LEAs FAQs

The ESSA requires state educational agencies to determine school eligibility for CSI once every three years. LEAs with schools eligible for CSI must collaborate with educational partners to develop and implement a school-level plan to improve student outcomes.

Eligibility | Program Requirements | School Improvement Funding

Eligibility

1. What does “No Status” mean in the ESSA Assistance Status Data Files?

   No Status” indicates that a given school was not eligible for an ESSA school support category (i.e., CSI, TSI, or ATSI).

2. Which schools are eligible for CSI?

   When CSI eligibility determinations are made, the following schools can be eligible:

   • All high schools, both Title I and non-Title I-funded, including Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) schools that meet the CSI-Low Graduation criteria are eligible for support.
     
     
   • Not less than the lowest-performing five percent of Title I-funded schools that meet the CSI-Low Performing criteria are eligible for support.
     
     
   • Schools that do not exit ATSI within four years will become eligible for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI.

3. How often is school eligibility for CSI determined?

   California makes CSI and ATSI determinations once every three years. Schools eligible for CSI-Low Graduation Rate, CSI-Low Performing, or ATSI are part of this three-year identification cycle.

   Beginning with the release of the 2026 California School Dashboard (Dashboard), California will also determine, as part of the same three-year cycle, whether schools that have not exited ATSI within four years will transition to CSI-Not Exiting ATSI.

4. How will the CDE determine school eligibility and exit for CSI?

   School support determinations will be made for the following categories of CSI:
   
   

   • CSI-Low Graduation Rate
     • Eligibility: Schools that have a three-year graduation rate (i.e., the combined four-and five-year high school graduation rate) below 68 percent will become eligible for support. This graduation rate criterion applies to both Title I-funded schools and non-Title I-funded schools.
     • Exit: To exit, the school must have a three-year combined four- and five-year high school graduation rate below 68 percent.
       
       
   • CSI-Low Performing
     • Eligibility: Schools that received Title I funding in the 2025–26 school year and are the lowest performing based on the 2026 Dashboard data will become eligible for support.
     • Exit: The school does not meet any of the CSI-Low Performing eligibility criteria for entry and shows improvement in Change on at least one Red state indicator on the 2025 Dashboard.
       
       
   • CSI-Not Exiting ATSI
     • Eligibility: Schools, both Title I-funded and non-Title I-funded, that did not exit ATSI within four years will become eligible for support.
     • Exit: Exit criteria will be available after the release of the 2027 Dashboard.

   
   

   Refer to the Dashboard Technical Guide web page or the CSI-Low Graduation Rate FAQs web page for more information.

   Previous Dashboard Technical Guides can also be found on the CSI LEA Archives web page.
   
   Please note, the 2026 Dashboard and accompanying technical guides will be released fall 2026.

5. What Dashboard years will be used to determine schools eligible for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI due to not exiting ATSI within four years?

   For 2026–27 determinations, the following four Dashboard years will be used to determine schools eligible to transition from ATSI to CSI-Not Exiting ATSI:
   

   • 2023–24
   • 2024–25
   • 2025–26
   • 2026–27

6. When a school becomes eligible for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI, does the initial year of CSI-Not Exiting ATSI eligibility count towards the four-year timeline by which the school must exit CSI or its LEA becomes eligible for Differentiated Assistance?

   Yes. The initial year of eligibility for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI will count as part of the four-year timeline.

7. When will the CDE notify LEAs of their schools' ESSA support determinations?

   In December 2026, the CDE will notifiy LEAs statewide via the Public Release of the Data File for Schools that Meet the Criteria for Support and Improvement in 2026–27 in addition to the posting of the data file on the ESSA Assistance Status Data Files web page.

8. Can schools be eligible for more than one ESSA school support category at a time?

   No. School support categories are hierarchical; therefore, schools can only be eligible for one support category at a time.

9. Are schools with an N-size less than 30 eligible for CSI?

   Schools with an N-size less than 30 may be eligible for CSI. N-size refers to the total enrollment of students at the school.

Program Requirements

1. What requirements apply to LEAs with schools that meet the criteria for CSI?

   Upon receiving notification from the CDE, the LEA shall, for each school eligible for CSI (CSI-Low Graduation, CSI-Low Performing, and CSI-Not Exiting ATSI) and in partnership with its educational partners, locally develop and implement a plan for the school to improve student outcomes.
   
   Beginning with the release of the 2022 Dashboard and associated 2022–23 ESSA Assistance Status Data File, DASS Community of Practice (CoP) schools eligible for CSI based on Low Graduation Rate with less than 100 students enrolled, have the option to forgo implementation of all CSI-related improvement activities as stated in ESSA Section 1111 (d)(1)(B), at its DASS CoP CSI-Low Graduation Rate school/s/.
   
   Please note, LEAs that choose to forgo the development or implementation of a CSI plan at its DASS CoP school/s/ eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria as described above, will also forgo the School Improvement funding associated with that specific school/s/. It is also strongly encouraged that LEAs make this decision in collaboration with the DASS CoP CSI-Low Graduation Rate school/s/ and its educational partners. Please read the FAQs on the DASS CoP tab for more information.
   
   NOTE: For LEAs with schools that do not exit CSI within four years, please see the additional Program/Planning requirements on the CSI to LEA DA tab above.
   

2. How are federal and state planning requirements aligned?

   Assembly Bill 716, signed by the Governor on September 18, 2018, and codified in Education Code (EC) 64001–65001, streamlines and aligns state and federal planning processes. Effective January 1, 2019, this law renamed the Single Plan for Student Achievement to the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). Additionally, the law contains the following key provisions:
   
   

   • It allows the School Plan to be used as the improvement plan for CSI, TSI, and ATSI under the ESSA.
     
     
   • It allows single school districts and charter schools to utilize the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) to serve as the School Plan, provided that the LCAP meets the federal school planning requirements and the stakeholder requirements established in EC subdivision (a) of Section 52062.
     
     

   In addition, LEAs with schools that meet the criteria for CSI will complete the CSI prompts located in the Plan Summary section of the LCAP.
   
   For more information about how to use the LCAP to meet CSI planning requirements or the SPSA to meet CSI, TSI, or ATSI planning requirements, please review the CSI Planning Summary web page and/or the SPSA Planning Summary web page (Coming Soon).

   School Plan and LCAP federal planning instructions are located on the LCAP web page.

3. If an LEA chooses to use ESSA, Section 1003 funding for CSI activities to meet its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) goals, is it required to report those funds in the LCAP?

   Yes. If ESSA, Section 1003 funds are used to implement actions and services to meet an articulated goal related to CSI activities in the LCAP, those funds must be included in the LCAP.

   LCAP instructions for CSI are located on the LCAP web page.

4. Can charter schools and single school districts use their LCAP instead of the School Plan to meet federal planning requirements?

   Yes. Effective January 1, 2019, Assembly Bill 716, codified in California EC 64001(j), states that “[s]ingle school districts and charter schools may utilize the LCAP to serve as the School Plan, provided that the LCAP meets federal school planning requirements and the stakeholder requirements…” Charter schools and single school districts may use their LCAP planning process and requirements to engage its educational partners or they may utilize the School Plan and establish a Schoolsite Council to meet the federal planning requirements. Note: This law does not change the requirement of a school with 21 or more students to have an English learner advisory committee.

   Additionally, beginning with the 2022 Dashboard, any LEA with DASS CoP schools identified under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria, regardless of the number of students enrolled, may also use the LCAP to meet its CSI planning requirements.

   For more information about how to use the LCAP to meet CSI planning requirements, please review the CSI Planning Summary web page.

   LCAP and School Plan instructions for CSI are located on the LCAP web page.
   

5. Are planning requirements different for schools that transition from ATSI to CSI-Not Exiting ATSI?

   Yes. There are a two key differences between the federal planning requirements for ATSI and CSI.

   First, for ATSI, the school is responsible for developing and implementing the ATSI plan. For CSI, the LEA is responsible for developing and implementing the school's CSI plan.

   Second, a school-level needs assessment is required for a CSI plan but is recommended for an ATSI plan.

   All other federal planning requirements are the same for both ATSI and CSI, including collaborating with educational partners, being informed by State indicators, including evidence-based interventions, and identifying resource inequities.
   
   Additional information about federal planning requirements is available on the CSI web page and the TSI/ATSI web page.

6. Do single school districts and direct-funded (DF) charter schools using the LCAP to meet CSI planning requirements need to complete the CSI prompts in the LCAP Plan Summary?

   Single school districts and DF charter schools using the LCAP for CSI planning do not need to complete the first CSI prompt (“Schools Identified”) in the LCAP Plan Summary as this prompt is not applicable.

   Single school districts and DF charter schools are still required to complete the second and third CSI prompts (“Support for Identified Schools” and “Monitoring and Evaluating Effectiveness”) in the LCAP Plan Summary, even though those prompts are not phrased for single-school districts or DF charter schools.

   A single school district continues to submit its LCAP to its COE for approval. Similarly, a DF charter school must submit the LCAP Plan Summary, including the completed CSI prompts, to the COE in the county where the charter school is located for approval of the CSI prompts.

   LCAP instructions for CSI are located on the LCAP web page within the LCAP template.

7. How do single school districts and charter schools that use the LCAP in place of the School Plan demonstrate the use of CSI funds in the LCAP Template and Action tables?

   Single school districts and charter schools using the LCAP in place of the School Plan shall include evidence-based interventions in the LCAP section titled “Goals and Actions”.

   And located in the “Data Entry Table” tab within the “LCAP Action Tables”, single school districts and charter schools utilizing the LCAP to meet federal school planning requirements shall include CSI funds as part of the total amount of federal funds in the “Federal Funds” column if used to implement a goal, action, or service as applicable.

   LCAP and School Plan instructions for CSI are located on the LCAP web page.

8. What is the COE role with charter schools that meet the criteria for CSI?

   Charter schools eligible for CSI will complete the CSI prompts in the Plan Summary section in the LCAP. The charter school will submit only the Plan Summary section of the LCAP to the County Superintendent of Schools of the county in which the charter school is located for review and approval of only the CSI prompts within the Plan Summary section of the charter school’s LCAP.

9. What can a review of resource inequities include?

   A review of resource inequities examines whether schools have equitable access to key resources needed to support student success. Areas of review may include but are not limited to:

   • Teachers and staff: Experience, credentials, certification, and staffing levels
   • Funding: Distribution of resources to meet student needs
   • Instructional materials: Curriculum, textbooks, and technology
   • Student supports: Access to counselors, nurses, and other services

School Improvement Funding

1. What resources and assistance are available to support LEAs with schools that are eligible for CSI?

   The ESSA requires that the State annually reserve seven percent of its Title I, Part A allocation for school improvement. Of the seven percent the State is required to reserve, not less than 95 percent of the funds must be distributed in local assistance to LEAs and COEs with schools eligible for CSI. LEA allocations are based on California’s annual Title I, Part A allocation and are contingent upon California budget authority.

   The LEA must use its ESSA, Section 1003 funds to locally develop and implement a plan in each school eligible for CSI to improve student outcomes. The SPSA for CSI and the LEA LCAP will be used to meet CSI planning requirements. Instructions for using the SPSA and LCAP for federal planning are located on the LCAP web page. Additional planning and programmatic resources are available on the Continuous Improvement Resources web page.
   

2. How will an LEA know if it is eligible to apply for ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds?

   Please visit the CSI LEA Fiscal Information web page then select the Funding Results hyperlink to view an LEA’s subgrant eligibility results.

3. Which LEAs are eligible to receive ESSA, Section 1003 funding?

   LEAs with schools that meet the criteria for any category of CSI are eligible to apply for and receive ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funding.

4. Are charter schools eligible for ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funding?

   All LEAs, with schools eligible for any category of CSI are eligible to receive ESSA, Section 1003 funding. California’s ESSA State Plan defines an LEA as a COE, school district, and direct-funded charter school.
   

5. Will COEs be eligible to apply for and receive ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds on behalf of its county-operated schools that transition into CSI-Not Exiting ATSI as a result of not exiting ATSI within four years?

   Yes. COEs with county-operated schools eligible for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI are eligible to apply for and receive ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds (CSI LEA, Plan Development and Implementation Support, and Plan Approval Subgrants, as applicable).

6. Is an application required to receive ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funding for CSI?

   Section 1003(e) of the ESSA requires that an LEA shall submit to the State an application for ESSA, Section 1003 funding in order to receive an allocation. The first ESSA CSI LEA Application for Funding was made available in February 2019, and annually thereafter. Applications for ESSA, Section 1003 funding will follow school support eligibility timelines that are determined by California’s ESSA State Plan.
   
   Please visit the CSI LEA Applications for Funding web page for more information.

7. How does the CDE allocate ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds to eligible LEAs?

   ESSA, Section 1003 funds are not competitive and are allocated to eligible LEAs based on a formula. LEAs with schools that are eligible for any category of CSI will receive an allocation based on the total number of schools eligible for CSI, statewide.

8. If an LEA chooses not to apply for/declines ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funding, must it still meet the statutory planning requirements for CSI?

   Yes. If an LEA chooses not to apply for ESSA, Section 1003 funding, the LEA and its schools are still required to meet the statutory planning requirements for CSI, unless the LEA with a DASS CoP school eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria with less than 100 enrolled students chooses to forgo the implementation of school improvement activities pursuant to ESSA, Section 1111(d)(1)(C)(ii). Per subsection (1) of Section 1111(d) of the ESSA, LEAs with its educational partners are required to develop and implement a plan to improve student outcomes in its CSI-eligible schools.

   It is advantageous for the LEA to apply for ESSA, Section 1003 funding in order to receive additional resources and assistance to meet the ESSA plan development and implementation requirements.

9. If an LEA plans to close a school that is eligible for CSI after it has received its ESSA, Section 1003 allocation, does the LEA have to return all or part of its allocation?

   If an LEA plans to close a school after it has received its ESSA, Section 1003 allocation, it must log into the Grant Management and Reporting Tool and submit a “School Closure” request. The CDE will use the California School Directory to confirm the date of the school’s closure.

   LEAs with two or more CSI-eligible schools will be required to redistribute any amounts allocated to the closed school to the LEA or its remaining CSI-eligible school/s/.
   
   If the LEA does not have any other open CSI-eligible schools to reallocate to, then the LEA must closeout the subgrant and may not expend any additional ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds as of the date of the school’s closure. The CDE will then determine whether the LEA must return all, part, or none of its allocation, based on the school closure date and expenditures claimed.

   School Improvement funds for CSI shall only be used for allowable expenditures, including expenditures related to CSI Plan development and implementation activities designed to improve student outcomes and may not be used to support school closure activities.

10. Under what circumstances would an LEA no longer be eligible to receive ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds?

    If an LEA no longer has schools eligible for CSI, it is no longer eligible to apply for or receive ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds.

11. Will an LEA with schools eligible for TSI or ATSI receive ESSA, Section 1003 funding?

    No. Only LEAs with schools that meet the criteria for CSI are eligible to apply for and receive ESSA, Section 1003 funding.

12. The Legislature determined that ESSA, Section 1003 funds cannot be used to hire additional permanent staff. What was the purpose or intent of this stipulation?

    The legislative intent was not to ‘add a full-time equivalent (FTE)’ with ESSA, Section 1003 funding. Because this funding ends with each subgrant period, the LEA and its schools should not add a position that would not be sustainable in the absence of ESSA, Section 1003 funds.

13. Are Subscription-Based Information Technology Arrangements an allowable use of ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds for CSI?

    Yes. In May 2020, the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued Statement No. 96, Subscription-Based Information Technology Arrangements. GASB 96 is effective for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and beyond. To support with reporting ESSA school improvement expenditures, the following object code was added to grant management reports:
    
    - Object Code 6700-Subscription Assets
    
    Please contact the CDE Financial Accountability & Information Services office at sacsinfo@cde.ca.gov for additional guidance.

14. Where can I find more resources and information regarding allowable uses of ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds, including Capital Expenditures?

    For additional information about allowable uses of ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds for CSI, please refer to the ESSA CSI LEA Authorized Use of Funds web page.

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CSI to LEA Differentiated Assistance (DA) FAQs

LEAs with schools that do not exit CSI within four years will become eligible for DA (Level 2 support) under the California System of Support. For more information related to DA, please visit California’s Statewide System of Support web page and System of Support web page.

Eligibility | Program/Planning | School Improvement Funding

Eligibility

1. What California School Dashboard (Dashboard) years will be used to determine LEAs eligible for DA because one of its schools did not exit CSI within four years?
   For 2026–27 determinations, the following four Dashboard years will be used to determine LEAs eligible for DA due to a school not exiting CSI within four years:
   
   • 2023–24
   • 2024–25
   • 2025–26
   • 2026–27
     
     
2. How often will California make determinations that transition LEAs into DA as a result of one of its schools not exiting CSI within four years?
   Beginning with the 2026 Dashboard, California will determine LEA DA eligibility once every three years based on whether an LEA has a school that has not exited CSI within four years. The next determination will occur following the 2029 Dashboard.
   
   
3. Where can LEAs access the ESSA school support eligibility file?
   Please visit the ESSA Assistance Status Data Files web page to access the ESSA Assistance Status Data Files.
   
   
4. Where can LEAs access the DA eligibility file?
   Please visit the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) web page to access the LCFF Assistance Status Spreadsheets.
   
   
5. Does the CSI pathway to DA for not exiting CSI within four years apply to Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) schools?
   Yes. There is no differentiation between DASS and non-DASS schools for the CSI pathway to DA. As such, any school regardless of its DASS status, that doesn’t exit CSI within four years will escalate its LEA into DA.
   
   
6. For Direct Funded (DF) charter schools, does the CSI pathway to DA apply to the charter school, its authorizing school district, or both?
   DF charter schools are considered their own LEA. As such, if a DF charter school does not exit CSI within four years, the DF charter school will become eligible for DA, not its authorizing school district.

Program/Planning

1. If an LEA meets DA eligibility requirements because it has a school that did not exit CSI within four years, must it meet the requirements for both DA and CSI?
   Yes. In a scenario in which an LEA becomes eligible for DA as a result of one or more of its schools not exiting CSI within four years, the LEA will have a dual responsibility to meet the requirements of DA while also developing and implementing school improvement plans for its CSI-eligible schools.
   
   An LEA must continue to implement all CSI activities on behalf of its CSI-eligible school until the school meets CSI exit criteria. Planning requirements for CSI are available on the CSI web page, and information about DA and its requirements are available on the California’s Statewide System of Support web page and System of Support web page.
   
   
2. Does California’s ESSA State Plan include additional requirements for LEAs with schools that do not exit CSI within four years?
   Yes. Through the LEA’s DA eligibility, the LEA will be required to partner with an external entity, agency, or individual with demonstrated expertise and capacity to conduct a deep, comprehensive, evidence-based review of the LEA and school. More rigorous interventions will include, but not be limited to, the following activities:
   • LEAs will partner with an external entity, agency, or individual to conduct a new comprehensive and/or segmented needs assessment that focuses on systemic factors and conduct a deep root cause analysis that identifies gaps between current conditions and desired conditions in student performance and progress.
     
     
   • LEAs will continue to partner with an external entity, agency, or individual to utilize the results of the deep root cause analysis along with stakeholder feedback to develop a new improvement plan (CSI plan) that includes a prioritized set of more rigorous interventions and strategies that have demonstrated impact or that are supported by the strongest or moderate levels of evidence.
     
     
   • The amended CSI plan will include a program evaluation component with support to conduct more rigorous ongoing performance and progress monitoring, as well as to build internal accountability with evidence of improvement.
   
   See page 85 under the Intensive Intereventions section of the California ESSA State Plan (DOCX) for more information.
   
   
3. Are there any additional considerations for LEAs that become eligible for DA as a result of one of their schools not exiting CSI within four years?
   An LEA’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) must provide a summary of the work underway as part of receiving DA support and must also include actions within the LCAP related to its implementation of the work underway as part of DA.
   
   For more information about how an LEA’s LCAP must reflect its DA eligibility, please visit the FAQs section of the California’s System of Support web page or contact the Local Agency Systems Support Office by email at LCFF@cde.ca.gov.

School Improvement Funding

1. If a school does not exit CSI within four years and its LEA becomes eligible for DA, is the LEA still eligible to apply for and receive ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds?
   Yes. LEAs will remain eligible to apply for and receive ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds if it has at least one school eligible for any category of CSI.
   
   
2. Can an LEA use its ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds district-wide to support its DA eligibility due to a school not exiting CSI within four years?
   No. ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds cannot be used district-wide to support an LEA’s DA eligibility. Federal ESSA school improvement funds can only be used at or on behalf of an LEA’s CSI-eligible schools for improving school and student outcomes.
   
   
3. How will an LEA know if it is eligible to apply for ESSA, Section 1003 school improvement funds?
   Please visit the following web pages for more information:
   
   
   • ESSA School Support Determinations: ESSA Assistance Status Data Files web page
   • ESSA School Support Funding Determinations: CSI LEA Fiscal Information web page

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Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) Community of Practice (CoP) FAQs

DASS schools serve California’s highest risk students. DASS schools that meet eligibility criteria for CSI-Low Graduation Rate, CSI-Low Performing, or CSI-Not Exiting ATSI are referred to as DASS CoP schools.

The FAQs below review information related to DASS CoP schools and the CSI flexibilities available to DASS CoP schools that meet specific requirements.

1. Can LEAs with DASS CoP schools eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria with less than 100 enrolled students forgo all CSI planning and implementation activities for these schools?
   Yes. LEAs with DASS CoP schools eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria with less than 100 enrolled students, have the option to forgo all required CSI planning and implementation activities. LEAs who exercise this flexibility will forfeit the ESSA, Section 1003 funds for CSI that would have otherwise been allocated to the LEA for its DASS CoP CSI-Low Graduation Rate school/s/.

2. If an LEA with DASS CoP school/s/ eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria with less than 100 enrolled students opts to forgo all CSI planning and implementation activities for these schools, how do they reflect this decision in the CSI section of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Plan Summary?
   Any LEA (single school district, charter school, or traditional school district) with DASS CoP school/s/ eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria with less than 100 enrolled students that opts to forgo all CSI planning and implementation activities for these school/s/ must reflect this decision in the LCAP by adding the following statement to Prompt 1 of the CSI section of the LCAP Plan Summary:

   [NAME OF SCHOOL/S/], a Dashboard Alternative School Status Community of Practice school eligible for Comprehensive Support and Improvement Low Graduation Rate with less than 100 enrolled students, in collaboration with its local educational agency and educational partners, will forgo all improvement activities and applicable funding pursuant to the flexibility allowed by the Every Student Succeeds Act and approved by the California State Board of Education.

3. Can LEAs with DASS CoP schools eligible under the CSI-Low Performing or CSI-Not Exiting ATSI criteria regardless of enrollment size, forgo CSI planning and implementation activities for these schools?
   No. LEAs with DASS CoP schools eligible under the CSI-Low Performing or CSI-Not Exiting ATSI criteria regardless of enrollment size, must continue to plan and implement CSI activities pursuant to ESSA Section 1111 (d)(1)(B) and do not have the option to forgo school improvement activities. The flexibility to forgo all CSI planning and implementation activities is only applicable to LEAs with DASS CoP schools eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria with less than 100 enrolled students.
4. My LEA has decided to exercise the flexibility to forgo all school improvement activities for its DASS CoP school eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria with less than 100 enrolled students. What resources are available to support this school with its continuous improvement efforts?
   The Continuous Improvement Resources web page contains various resources, tools, guides, and worksheets dedicated to continuous school improvement.
5. Can LEAs with DASS CoP schools eligible under the CSI-Low Performing or CSI-Not Exiting ATSI criteria use the LCAP to meet its CSI planning requirements?
   No. Only LEAs with DASS CoP schools eligible under the CSI-Low Graduation Rate criteria have the option to use the LCAP to meet its CSI planning requirements.

DASS CoP schools eligible under the CSI-Low Performing or CSI-Not Exiting ATSI criteria must continue to use the School Plan for Student Achievement (or an alternative that meets federal planning requirements) to meet CSI planning requirements. However, if the DASS CoP school eligible under the CSI-Low Performing or CSI-Not Exiting ATSI criteria is also a single school district or charter school, then it continues to have the option to use its LCAP.

6. Does the CSI pathway to Differentiated Assistance (DA) (Level 2 support) for not exiting CSI within four years apply to DASS schools?
   Yes. There is no differentiation between DASS and non-DASS schools for the CSI pathway to DA. As such, any school regardless of its DASS status, that doesn’t exit CSI within four years will escalate its LEA into DA.
   
   
7. How do I access a current list of DASS schools?
   A current list of schools participating in the DASS program can be found on the Active DASS Schools web page.
   
   
8. How do I confirm the enrollment of a DASS CoP school?
   LEAs can confirm the enrollment of a DASS CoP school using the ESSA Assistance Status Data File.

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CSI for COEs FAQs

COE PA/PDIS Program | COE PA/PDIS Funding

COE Plan Approval (PA)/Plan Development and Implementation Support (PDIS) Program

1. What support will the COE be required to provide to LEAs with schools eligible for CSI?
   COEs that are eligible to receive Plan Development and Implementation Support funding are required to support LEAs to meaningfully address their CSI plan development and implementation activities.

   COEs that are eligible to receive Plan Approval funding are required to review and approve the CSI prompts in the LEA Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Plan Summary.

   Beginning with Fiscal Year (FY) 2021‒22 and moving forward, information for ESSA CSI COE subgrants is located on the CSI COE Program Information web page.

2. Which CSI Plans do the FY 2025 ESSA school improvement funds support?
   CSI Plan Development and Implementation Activities (Schedule 1): 2025–26 ESSA school improvement funds for CSI support development and implementation activities for the 2026–27 CSI plans. In most LEAs, CSI plan development activities begin as early as winter/spring 2026. It is the expectation that CSI plan implementation should begin by the first day of the 2026–27 school year.

   CSI Prompt Review and Approval Activities (Provision 11 of Schedule 2): 2025–26 ESSA school improvement funds support the review and approval process of CSI prompts in 2026–27 LEA LCAPs.

3. Will COEs apply for funding and report expenditures using the Grant Management and Reporting Tool (GMART) as in the past?
   Yes. At this time, there are no changes to the platform with which the COE will use to apply for ESSA school improvement funds and report expenditures. The GMART is designed to allow the COE to apply for each $5 million allocation through separate applications and report expenditures separately.

4. When will the applications for funding be available and COEs notified?
   Each year the ESSA CSI COE Plan Development and Implementation Support and Plan Approval Applications for Funding will be released in January. Prior to the applications becoming available, communications are sent regarding timelines, guidance, and webinars.

5. What happens if a COE declines ESSA school improvement funds?
   Regardless of whether or not the COE elects to accept funding, the COE is expected to offer CSI plan development and implementation support and/or CSI plan review and approval to all LEAs in its county with schools eligible for CSI.

6. Are COEs expected to provide CSI plan development and implementation support to charter schools eligible for CSI?
   Yes. The COE is expected to offer support to all LEAs in its county with schools eligible for CSI, including charter schools.

7. What support will the COE be required to provide to LEAs with schools eligible for CSI?
   COEs that are eligible to receive Plan Development and Implementation Support funding are required to support LEAs to meaningfully address their CSI plan development and implementation activities.

   COEs that are eligible to receive Plan Approval funding are required to review and approve the CSI prompts in the LEA LCAP Plan Summary.

   Beginning with FY 2021‒22 and moving forward, information for ESSA CSI COE subgrants is located on the CSI COE Program Information web page.

COE PA/PDIS Funding

1. Which COEs are eligible to receive funding to support CSI activities within their county?
   Those COEs with one or more LEAs within its county with schools eligible for CSI are eligible to receive funding for the Plan Development and Implementation Support Subgrant.

   Those COEs that review and approve LEA LCAPs with included CSI Prompts are eligible for the Plan Approval Subgrant.

2. How does the CDE allocate ESSA, Section 1003 funds to eligible COEs?
   The CDE awards ESSA, Section 1003 funds on the basis of a formula. COEs that are eligible for school improvement funding for CSI will receive an allocation based on the total number of schools eligible for CSI, statewide.

3. Is an application required for COEs to receive funding for CSI activities?
   In order to receive each fiscal year’s funding, eligible COEs must submit to the CDE an application for funding in the Grant Management and Reporting Tool. The application for funding is an annual process. Applications for funding will follow CSI eligibility timelines that are determined by federal grant management requirements and California’s Accountability and Continuous Improvement System.

4. Can funding that the COE receives to support CSI activities be used to support TSI or ATSI activities?
   Funding that the COE receives to support CSI activities can only be used to support CSI activities. Additional funding is currently not available to support TSI or ATSI activities.

5. Where can I find more CSI COE fiscal information?
   CSI COE fiscal information is located on the CSI COE Fiscal Information web page.

6. How much funding is provided to COEs for the purposes of supporting development and implementation of CSI plans for LEAs?
   The most recent Budget Act appropriated $5 million to COEs for the purposes of supporting the development and implementation of CSI plans for LEAs.

7. How much funding is available to COEs for the purposes of approving CSI plans through review and approval of the CSI prompts in the LEA LCAP?
   The most recent Budget Act appropriated $5 million to COEs for the purposes of approving CSI plans through review and approval of the CSI Prompts in the LEA LCAP.

8. How is the COE apportionment determined?
   The COE apportionments are determined by a formula based on the total number of schools eligible for CSI, statewide.

9. When are the ESSA school improvement funds for CSI distributed to COEs?
   The first apportionment is processed in the spring.

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TSI/ATSI FAQs

ESSA requires state educational agencies to determine school eligibility for TSI and ATSI. Schools eligible for TSI and ATSI must collaborate with educational partners to develop and implement a school-level plan to improve student outcomes.

TSI/ATSI eligibility | TSI/ATSI planning

TSI/ATSI Eligibility

1. What is the difference between TSI and ATSI?
   The differences between TSI and ATSI are in the determination cycle, exit criteria, and planning requirements.
   
   
   • Determination Cycle: TSI determinations are made in non-CSI/ATSI entry years. ATSI determinations are made on a three-year cycle that begins with the 2026 California School Dashboard (Dashboard).
   • Exit: While ATSI has specific exit criteria (schools must no longer meet ATSI entry criteria and meet specific improvement conditions), TSI is an annual determination and does not have exit criteria. As such, if a TSI-eligible school no longer meets the TSI entry criteria, the school will no longer be eligible for TSI.
   • Planning: TSI and ATSI improvement plans must meet federal planning requirements, but the ATSI plan must also include the identification of resource inequities. More information about TSI and ATSI planning requirements is available on the Planning Requirements tab of the TSI/ATSI web page.
     
     
2. Which schools are eligible for TSI?
   All schools (traditional, charter, Dashboard Alternative School Status [DASS], Title I, and non-Title I) with two consecutive years of Dashboard outcomes that meet the TSI criteria could become eligible if it is a TSI determination year. TSI determinations are made in non-CSI/ATSI entry years. TSI determinations were made based on the results of the 2025 Dashboard. More eligibility information for ESSA school support determinations, including TSI, is available in the Dashboard Technical Guide which can be accessed on the Dashboard Resources web page.
   
   
3. Which schools are eligible for ATSI?
   All schools (traditional, charter, DASS, Title I, and non-Title I) with two consecutive years of Dashboard outcomes that meet the ATSI criteria could become eligible if it is an ATSI determination year. ATSI determinations are made on a three-year cycle beginning with the 2026 Dashboard. More eligibility information for ESSA school support determinations, including ATSI, is available in the Dashboard Technical Guide which can be accessed on the Dashboard Resources web page.
   
   
4. How will the CDE determine school eligibility for TSI and ATSI?
   The CDE will use the Dashboard state indicators to determine school eligibility for TSI and ATSI. Schools with one or more student group/s/ that meet the same criteria used to determine CSI-Low Performing will be eligible for TSI or ATSI depending on the school support categories being determined in a given year. ATSI determinations are made on a three-year cycle beginning with the 2026 Dashboard. TSI determinations are made in non-CSI/ATSI entry years beginning with the 2027 Dashboard.
   
   LEAs, COEs, and charter schools can find information about their ESSA school support eligibility status on the most recent ESSA Assistance Status Data File web page. More information is available in the Dashboard Technical Guide which can be accessed on the Dashboard Resources web page.
   Note: The California School Dashboard Technical Guides for previous school years can be viewed on the CSI LEA Archives web page.
   
   
   
5. Can schools be eligible for more than one ESSA school support category at a time?
   No. ESSA school support categories are hierarchical; therefore, schools can only be eligible for one support category at a time

   As examples:

   • A school that meets the criteria for ATSI would not be eligible for CSI-Low Graduation Rate or CSI-Low Performing at the same time.
   • A school that meets the criteria for ATSI cannot be eligible for TSI at the same time.
     
     
6. How often is school eligibility determined for ATSI?
   ATSI determinations are made on a three-year cycle, that is, once every three years. The next ATSI determinations will be made based on the results of the 2026 Dashboard.
   
   
7. How often is school eligibility determined for TSI?
   TSI determinations are made in non-CSI and non-ATSI entry years. The first TSI determinations were made based on the results of the 2024 Dashboard and again based on the results of the 2025 Dashboard. TSI determinations will be made again based on the results of the 2027 Dashboard.
   
   
8. How often can schools exit from TSI or ATSI?
   If ATSI-eligible schools meet the identified ATSI exit criteria, they have the opportunity to exit ATSI annually. TSI is an annual determination and does not have exit criteria. As such, if a TSI-eligible school no longer meets the TSI entry criteria, the school will no longer be eligible for TSI.
   
   
9. What student groups are used to determine school eligibility for TSI and ATSI?
   TSI and ATSI eligibility is based on the performance of the following student groups:
   
   
   • Black/African American
   • American Indian/Alaska Native
   • Asian American
   • English Learner Students
   • Filipino
   • Foster Youth Students
   • Hispanic
   • Homeless Students
   • Two or More Races
   • Pacific Islander
   • Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students
   • Students with Disabilities
   • White
     
     
   ATSI determinations are made on a three-year cycle beginning with the 2026 Dashboard. TSI determinations are made in non-CSI/ATSI entry years beginning with the 2027 Dashboard.
   More information about how student groups are evaluated to make TSI and ATSI school support determinations is available in the Dashboard Technical Guide which can be accessed on the Dashboard Resources web page.
10. What is CSI-Not Exiting ATSI?
    Pursuant to ESSA, Section 1111(d)(3)(A)(i)(II), ATSI-eligible schools that do not exit ATSI within four years will transition into the new category of CSI-Not Exiting ATSI. Once eligible for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI, the LEA, in collaboration with its school and educational partners, will develop and implement a CSI plan. The LEA will also be eligible to apply for and receive ESSA, Section 1003 funds for school improvement. More information about CSI-Not Exiting ATSI is available on the CSI for LEAs tab.
    
    
11. How often will California make determinations for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI?
    California makes CSI and ATSI determinations once every three years. Schools eligible for CSI-Low Graduation Rate, CSI-Low Performing, or ATSI are part of this three-year identification cycle.
    
    Beginning with the release of the 2026 Dashboard, California will also determine, as part of the same three-year cycle, schools that are eligible for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI.
    
    
12. What Dashboard years will be used to determine schools eligible for CSI-Not Exiting ATSI?
    For 2026–27 determinations, the following four Dashboard years will be used to determine schools eligible to transition from ATSI to CSI:
    
    • 2023–24
    • 2024–25
    • 2025–26
    • 2026–27

TSI/ATSI Planning

1. How will a school be notified that it is eligible for TSI or ATSI?
   California will notify each LEA in the State of any school served by the LEA, in which any student group is consistently underperforming.

   Upon notification by the State, the LEA is required to:

   Provide notification to such school with respect to which student group/s/ in such school are consistently underperforming.

2. What requirements apply to LEAs with schools eligible for TSI or ATSI?
   Upon receiving notification from the CDE, the LEA shall, for each school eligible for TSI or ATSI:
   
   
   • Provide notification to such school with respect to which student group/s/ in such school are consistently underperforming.
   • Approve and monitor the implementation of each school plan.
   • Take any additional action following unsuccessful implementation of such school plan after a number of years determined by the LEA.
     
     
3. What requirements apply to schools eligible for TSI or ATSI?
   Upon notification by the LEA, each TSI- or ATSI-eligible school is required to collaborate with educational partners to develop and implement a school-level plan to improve student outcomes.
   

   The school plan, inclusive of all student groups that were the subject of notification, must:

   • Be based on indicators in the statewide accountability system and be informed by all indicators, including student performance against long-term goals; and
   • Include evidence-based interventions.
   
   

   For ATSI-eligible schools only, the school plan must also:

   • Identify resource inequities, which may include a review of LEA- and school-level budgeting, to be addressed through implementation of the school improvement plan.
     
     
4. What planning options are available to TSI or ATSI-eligible Special Education programs/schools that do not use a School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) or LCAP?
   Special Education programs/schools have the flexibility to meet the TSI and ATSI federal planning requirements using one of three options. Options for addressing the TSI and ATSI planning requirements include:
   
   
   • Option 1: Use the CDE’s SPSA template and instructions to address TSI or ATSI planning requirements. If the SPSA template is completed according to the provided instructions, and the SPSA is implemented with fidelity, TSI or ATSI planning requirements would be met, as applicable.
   • Option 2: Review the Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) to see if the plan addresses any of the TSI or ATSI planning requirements. If there are areas the SELPA does not address, additional information regarding the TSI or ATSI planning requirements can be provided.
   • Option 3: Develop a TSI or ATSI plan using a format of choice to address the TSI or ATSI planning requirements. If a school elects to use its own template to document its school improvement efforts, then it must ensure that its template/process addresses all federal school improvement planning requirements for TSI or ATSI, as applicable.
     
   
   
5. Are DASS schools with less than 100 students enrolled exempted from implementation of TSI or ATSI activities?
   No. DASS schools with less than 100 students enrolled are not exempted from school improvement planning and implementation activities for TSI or ATSI.
   
   
6. How do eligible single school districts and charter schools integrate the TSI or ATSI plan into the LCAP?
   The TSI/ATSI Planning Summary may serve as a resource for single school districts and charter schools using the LCAP as their TSI or ATSI plan.
   
   
7. When must the TSI or ATSI plan be approved?
   There is no statutory requirement for the approval/implementation of the TSI or ATSI plan or the SPSA, however, the U.S. Department of Education has set the expectation for TSI and ATSI plans to be developed and approved at the local level (school and LEA) by the start of the school year. This is to ensure that students and the school receive a full year of intervention and support consistent with the LEA’s TSI or ATSI plan for that school.
   
   
8. Are ESSA, Section 1003 funds available to support schools eligible for TSI or ATSI?
   No. School improvement funds are not available to support TSI and ATSI activities.

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Resources

Webinar Resources

ESSA School Support Webinar Resources

Program Resources

• Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as amended by ESSA in 2015 (PDF; 3MB)
  
• ESSA and California ESSA State Plan
  
• California School Dashboard
  
• Active DASS Schools
  
• DASS
  
• CSI Planning Summary
  
• Planning for the LCAP and School Plan
  
• CSI-Low Graduation Rate FAQs
  
• Dashboard Technical Guide
  

Other Related Resources

• Evidence-Based Interventions Under the ESSA
• Non-Regulatory Guidance: Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments (PDF)
  
• Continuous Improvement Resources
  
• Ways 2 Equity Playbook
  

Contacts

Program Contacts

• ESSA School Support and Differentiated Assistance (DA) Eligibility
  Accountability Development and Policy Analysis Unit by email at Dashboard@cde.ca.gov
  
  
• ESSA School Improvement Programs and Funding
  School Improvement and Support Office (SISO) by email at SISO@cde.ca.gov
  
  
• System of Support and DA
  System of Support Office at CASystemofSupport@cde.ca.gov
  
  
• Local Control and Accountability Plan and School Planning
  Local Agency Systems Support Office by email at LCFF@cde.ca.gov
  
  
• Compliance Monitoring
  Title I Monitoring and Support Office at TIMSO@cde.ca.gov
  Title II Monitoring (Professional Learning Support and Monitoring Office) at TitleII@cde.ca.gov