Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Schools Eligible for Support and Improvement in 2025–26

As a follow up to the release of the California School Dashboard (Dashboard) in November 2025, the California Department of Education (CDE) is required under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to determine schools eligible to exit Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) consistent with ESSA, Section 1111(c)(4)(D)(i) and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) consistent with ESSA, Section 1111(c)(4)(C)(iii). Additionally, as this is the third year of a three-year eligibility cycle for schools in CSI and ATSI, this is also the second time schools may be eligible for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) pursuant to ESSA, Section 1111(d)(2)(A).

The 2025–26 ESSA Assistance Status Data File (Data File) for schools that meet the criteria is now available on the CDE CSI web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/csi.asp and the CDE TSI/ATSI web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/tsi.asp.

Information on the selection, eligibility and exit criteria, program requirements, and support for CSI, ATSI, and TSI can be accessed from the CDE School Support web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/schoolsupport.asp. Additional information, including examples, are also available in the ESSA Assistance Criteria Guide, which is available on the CDE Dashboard Technical Guide web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/cm/dashboardguide.asp.

Comprehensive Support and Improvement Applications for Funding

Reference-Only versions of the 2025–26 ESSA CSI Local Educational Agency (LEA) and county office of education (COE) Applications for Funding will be posted in early 2026 under the Funding Tab on the CDE CSI web page found at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/csi.asp. The Grant Management and Reporting Tool will open in early 2026 for LEAs and COEs to complete and submit applications.

ESSA School Support Webinar Series

The CDE is hosting the following upcoming webinars to support the release of the new 2025–26 Data File. Eligible LEA and COE teams that will be responsible for managing the CSI LEA and COE subgrants and those supporting schools eligible for TSI or ATSI are encouraged to attend.

• 2025–26 Dashboard Alternatives School Status Flexibilities for CSI
  January 12, 2026, at 10 a.m.
  
  
• 2025–26 CSI LEA Application for Funding
  January 13, 2026, at 10 a.m.
  
  
• 2025–26 CSI COE Plan Development and Implementation Support Application for Funding
  January 14, 2026, at 10 a.m.
  
  
• 2025–26 CSI COE Plan Approval Application for Funding
  January 15, 2026, at 10 a.m.
  
  
• TSI/ATSI Planning and Support
  January 20, 2026, at 10 a.m.
  
  
• ESSA School Support Office Hours
  January 21, 2026, at 10 a.m.

Registration for these webinars is required. To register, please visit the CDE ESSA School Support Webinar Resources web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/essawebinars.asp.

Planning Requirements

LEAs with schools eligible for CSI (ESSA, Section 1111[d][1]) and schools eligible for ATSI or TSI (ESSA, Section 1111[d][2]) are required to develop school plans to improve student outcomes. LEAs may use the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) template which meets the federal planning requirements for those schools operating a Title I, Part A, Schoolwide Program or that are eligible for ESSA school support and improvement (California Education Code 64001[h]).

Single school districts and charter schools eligible for CSI, ATSI, or TSI may use the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) to serve as the school plan (California Education Code 64001[j]). The LCAP and SPSA templates and instructions for completion are available on the CDE LCAP web page found at https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lc/.

Contact Information

Frequently asked questions about school eligibility are addressed under the Technical Assistance tabs on the CDE CSI web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/csi.asp and on the CDE TSI/ATSI web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/sw/t1/tsi.asp.

For questions regarding the eligibility and exit criteria for CSI, ATSI, or TSI, please contact the Accountability Development and Policy Development Unit by email at Dashboard@cde.ca.gov.

For questions regarding the CSI program and funding applications or the TSI/ATSI programs, please contact the School Improvement and Support Office by phone at 916-319-0833 or by email at SISO@cde.ca.gov.

For information regarding the CSI planning process, please contact the Local Agency Systems Support Office by phone at 916-323-LCFF (5233) or by email at LCFF@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

/s/

Cindy Kazanis, Director
Analysis, Measurement, and Accountability Reporting Division

Erika Torres, Ed.D., MSW
Interim Division Director
Student Achievement and Support Division

CK/ET:sb

cc: Dashboard Coordinators