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Targeted/Additional Targeted Support & Improvement

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires state educational agencies to determine school eligibility for targeted support and improvement (TSI) and additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI).

Please note, California has not made school eligibility determinations for TSI. Once more information on TSI eligibility determinations is available, this web page will be updated accordingly.

Schools that meet the criteria for ATSI must collaborate with educational partners to develop and implement a school-level plan to improve student outcomes.

Public Release of the Data File for Schools that Meet Criteria for Support and Improvement in 2023–24

California Department of Education (CDE) correspondence sent to County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators regarding the eligibility of schools for support and improvement in 2023–24. Note: Public Releases of the Data Files for Schools that Meet Criteria for Support and Improvement in 2022–2023, 2019–20 and 2018–19 can be viewed on the Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Local Educational Agency Archives. The Public Release letters address both CSI and ATSI school support categories.

School Eligibility and Exit

The CDE will use the California School Dashboard (Dashboard) to determine school eligibility for and exit from TSI and ATSI. Title I and non-Title I schools are eligible for TSI and ATSI.

ATSI Eligibility and Exit Criteria

Schools that are not eligible for CSI and have one or more student group(s) that meet(s) any of the criteria used to determine CSI Low Performing, will be eligible for ATSI using two years of Dashboard results.

The student groups used for ATSI determinations are:

  • Race/ethnicity (i.e., Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American, Filipino, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, White, and Two or More Races)
  • Homeless Students
  • English Learner Students
  • Foster Youth Students
  • Student with Disabilities
  • Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Students

Additionally, the same exit criteria for CSI Low Performing applies for ATSI, but at the student group level.

The CDE first determined school eligibility for ATSI in the 2018–19 school year using the 2017 and 2018 Dashboards. School eligibility was then determined in the 2019–20 school year using the 2018 and 2019 Dashboards. School eligibility for the 2022–23 school year was based on only one year of Dashboard results (i.e., 2022 Dashboard) per California’s COVID-19 Addendum, however, it is returning to being based on two years of Dashboard results in the 2023–24 school year (i.e., 2022 Dashboard and 2023 Dashboard).

For specific ATSI eligibility and exit criteria, please reference the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Dashboard Technical Guides:

Note: The 2022, 2020, and 2019, California School Dashboard Technical Guides can be viewed on the CSI LEA Archives web page.

School Eligibility Data Files

ESSA Assistance Status Data Files

For information related to eligibility criteria of the lowest-performing 5 percent of Title I schools for CSI, visit the CSI web page.

Planning Requirements

School Plans

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

  • Allows the SPSA to meet ESSA requirements for comprehensive or ATSI planning

  • Allows single school districts and charter schools to utilize the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) to serve as the SPSA, provided that the LCAP meets the ESSA school planning requirements and the stakeholder requirements established in subdivision (a) of Section 52062 External link opens in new window or tab..

Federal planning requirements are established in the California Education Code Section 64001 External link opens in new window or tab..

Additional Targeted Support and Improvement

California will notify each local educational agency (LEA) in the State of any school served by the LEA, in which any subgroup of students is consistently underperforming.

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

  • Provide notification to such school with respect to which student group or student groups in such school are consistently underperforming

  • Approve and monitor implementation of each school plan

  • Take additional action following unsuccessful implementation of such school plan after a number of years determined by the LEA

Upon notification by the LEA, the school is required to collaborate with educational partners to:

  • Develop and implement a school-level plan to improve student outcomes

    The school plan must:

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

    • include evidence-based interventions; and

    • identify resource inequities, which may include a review of LEA- and school-level budgeting, to be addressed through implementation of the school improvement plan.

Addressing ATSI Planning Requirements through the LCAP

To support single school districts and charter schools with ATSI planning efforts, the CDE developed an ATSI Planning Summary that explains how to use the LCAP to meet ATSI planning requirements.

Additional Information

LCAP and SPSA instructions for ATSI are located on the LCAP web page.

ESSA funding is not available for LEAs that serve schools that meet the criteria for ATSI.

Monitoring

The CDE is responsible for conducting compliance monitoring for local educational agencies (LEAs) with schools eligible for improvement under the ESSA through the Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) process. Such compliance monitoring is conducted by the Title I, Part A Monitoring and Support Office using the School Support and Improvement (SSI) Program Instrument. Additionally, the CDE provides focused compliance monitoring technical assistance and support for LEAs selected for FPM reviews.

Title I, Part A Monitoring and Support

Provides compliance monitoring technical assistance and support for LEAs with Title I, Part A programs and offers information to prepare for reviews, with links to training materials and other relevant topics.

Title I, Part A Monitoring and Support

Compliance Monitoring Information and Resources

Compliance Monitoring Information and Resources

SSI Program Instrument (DOCX)

SSI Program Instrument Checklist (DOCX)

For questions related to compliance monitoring, please contact the Title I Monitoring and Support Office at TIMSO@cde.ca.gov.

 

Technical Assistance

For questions regarding the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on ATSI, please contact the School Improvement and Support Office (SISO) by email at SISO@cde.ca.gov or by phone at 916-319-0833.

For general questions regarding ATSI, please see the FAQs located below or contact the SISO by email at SISO@cde.ca.gov or by phone at 916-319-0833.

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

For information regarding the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) and school planning processes, please contact the Local Agency Systems Support Office by email at LCFF@cde.ca.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

ATSI Eligibility Questions

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  1. Which schools are eligible for ATSI?

    All schools (traditional, charter, Dashboard Alternative School Status, Title I, and non-Title I) with two years of California School Dashboard (Dashboard) outcomes that meet the ATSI criteria are eligible for support from the local educational agency. It is important to note that schools must be active in the year that eligibility is determined for ATSI. Results from the 2022 and 2023 Dashboard will be used to make 2023–24 ATSI determinations.

  2. How will the CDE determine school eligibility and exit for ATSI?

    The CDE will use the California School Dashboard (Dashboard) state indicators to determine school eligibility and exit for ATSI. Schools with one or more student group/s/ that meet the same criteria used to determine CSI Low Performing will be eligible for ATSI.

    Local educational agencies, county offices of education, and charter schools can find information about their ATSI eligibility status on the most recent ESSA Assistance Status Data File.

    For more specific ATSI eligibility and exit criteria, please reference the 2023 California School Dashboard Technical Guide: ESSA School Support (DOCX).

    Note: The 2022, 2020, and 2019 California School Dashboard Technical Guides can be viewed on the CSI LEA Archives.

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

    Support categories are hierarchical; therefore, schools can only be eligible for one support category at a time.

    • For example, 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.

  4. How often is school eligibility determined for ATSI?

    The CDE first determined school eligibility for ATSI in the 2018–19 school year using the 2017 and 2018 California School Dashboards (Dashboard). School eligibility was then determined in the 2019–20 school year using the 2018 and 2019 Dashboards. School eligibility for the 2022–23 school year was based on only one year of Dashboard results (i.e., 2022 Dashboard) per California’s COVID-19 Addendum, however, it is returning to being based on two years of Dashboard results in the 2023–24 school year (i.e., 2022 Dashboard and 2023 Dashboard).

    As the timeline to determine school eligibility for ATSI evolves, additional information will be provided.

  5. Which student groups and indicators will the CDE use to determine school eligibility for ATSI?

    The following student groups will be used to determine school eligibility for ATSI based on student group performance:

    • 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


    State indicators from the California School Dashboard are used to determine school assistance eligibility and exit determinations. Refer to the 2023 Dashboard Technical Guide: ESSA School Support (DOCX) to identify the current indicators.

    Note: The 2022, 2020, and 2019 California School Dashboard Technical Guides can be viewed on the CSI LEA Archives.

ATSI Planning Questions

  1. How will a school be notified that it is eligible for ATSI?

    California will notify each local educational agency (LEA) in the State of any school served by the LEA, in which any student group, on its own, would lead to identification for CSI Low Performing status.

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

    • Provide notification to such school, in which any student group, on its own, would lead to identification for CSI.

  2. What requirements apply to local educational agencies (LEAs) with schools eligible for ATSI?

    Upon receiving notification from the CDE, the LEA shall, for each school eligible for ATSI, provide notification to such school with respect to which student group/s/ in such school are consistently underperforming.

    Each school receiving a notification of eligibility for ATSI shall develop and implement a plan to improve student outcomes for each student group that was the subject of notification. For more information, please see the Planning Requirements tab on this web page.

  3. What planning options are available to 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 ATSI federal planning requirements using one of three options. Options for addressing the ATSI planning requirements include:

    • Option 1: Use the CDE’s SPSA template and instructions to address ATSI planning requirements. If the SPSA template is completed according to the provided instructions, and the SPSA is implemented with fidelity, 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 ATSI planning requirements. If there are areas the SELPA does not address, additional information regarding the ATSI planning requirements can be provided.

    • Option 3: Develop an ATSI plan using a format of choice to address the 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 ATSI, as applicable.

  4. Are Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) schools with less than 100 students enrolled exempted from implementation of ATSI activities?

    DASS schools with less than 100 students enrolled are not exempted from implementation of ATSI activities.

  5. How do eligible single school districts and charter schools integrate the ATSI plan into the LCAP?

    The ATSI Planning Summary may serve as a resource for single school districts and charter schools using the LCAP as their ATSI plan.

  6. When must the ATSI plan be approved?

    There is no statutory requirement for approval/implementation of the ATSI plan or the School Plan for Student Achievement, however, the U.S. Department of Education has set the expectation for ATSI plans to be developed and approved at the local level (school and local educational agency [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 ATSI plan for that school.

  7. Are ESSA, Section 1003 funds available to support schools eligible for ATSI?

    ESSA, Section 1003 funds are not available to support ATSI activities.

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Webinars

Webinar slides to provide information and resources around the eligibility and planning requirements for ATSI.

Resources

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Other Resources

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Questions:   School Improvement and Support Office | SISO@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0833
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, April 10, 2024
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