Introduction

The Office of Federal and State Accountability will host its annual ESSA Academy on March 23-24, 2026, at the Lexington Two Performing Arts Center (3205 Platts Springs Road, West Columbia, SC). Each morning will begin with a phenomenal keynote speaker, followed by breakout sessions to support the successful implementation of ESSA programs. CEU credits will be awarded to attendees upon completion. All school and district-level personnel who work with ESSA programs, including but not limited to Title I Principals, Federal Programs Coordinators, Academic Officers, and Finance Directors, are encouraged to attend.

Day 2 - Tuesday March 24th (current page)

Link to to Monday, March 23rd
 

Welcome - 9:00 AM to 10:20 AM

9:10 AM  - 9:20 AM - EDPlan SC: Supporting the Whole Student Across South Carolina

​​​​​​​General Session 2: Federal Updates / ESEA Hot Topics

10:20 AM - 10:30 AM - Future-Proof Your Classrooms (Seesaw) -Learn how language becomes a teaching tool to empower educators and drive action through data.
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Breakout Session 1 - 10:35 AM to 11:35 AM

ESSA Compliance - 2026 ESSA Academy session on EDGAR and UGG compliance​​​​​​​​​​​​

Empowering Families and Communities: Effective Engagement Strategies for Multilingual Learners - This session explores practical, research‑informed strategies for strengthening parent, family, and community engagement within the ML Program. Participants will examine federal requirements, learn how to build home–school partnerships, and discover tools that support meaningful two‑way communication across languages. The session also highlights effective enrollment practices, the use of translation and interpretation services, and ways districts can leverage community resources to empower multilingual families. Attendees will leave with actionable approaches and ready‑to‑use strategies to enhance collaboration and support positive outcomes for MLs.
Equitable Services: Compliance Essentials Made Clear - This session will provide information on the required forms each district should submit for the private schools in the Title I, Title II, and Title IV applications. We will focus on the steps to secure the information and provide clear instructions for LEAs to ensure their districts are compliant.
Got Fluency? Bridging Decoding and Comprehension - Benchmark Education Company: Explicit phonics instruction is essential—it's how students learn to “unlock the code” of reading. But what happens after decoding? How do we help students make the critical leap from sounding out words to understanding what they read? The answer lies in fluency—the often misunderstood but essential bridge between decoding and comprehension. In this interactive session, we’ll unlock the power of fluency and show how it fuels comprehension, builds confidence, and motivates students to become lifelong readers.
 

Breakout Session 2 - 11:40 AM to 12:40 PM

Beginning Anew with Title II - This session will allow districts to not only understand the compliance of the Title II program but will focus on flexibility (strategic staffing) and annual reviews for best use of funds.
Stability by Design: Building School Systems That Support Students in Foster Care - Maintaining school stability is one of the best ways to prevent students in foster care from falling behind academically, minimizing their stress, and helping them build supportive relationships. In this session, participants will learn how educational stability works in real-life situations, identify common barriers, and work together to develop effective solutions.

Title III, Part A: Multilingual Learner and Immigrant Subgrants and MLP Initiatives - Are you new to Title III, Part A, or need a refresher? This session will provide an overview of the Title III, Part A Multilingual Learner and Immigrant subgrants, including key requirements and allowable activities. Participants will also explore current MLP initiatives along with resources designed to support LEAs in sustaining high-quality services for multilingual learners.
Using Evidence of Student Thinking to Inform Instructional Decision Making - BW Walch: Participants will learn how a deeper understanding of content will increase teacher capacity and ultimately student achievement. Through the use of learning progressions and analysis of student work, participants will experience the benefits of looking beyond right and wrong answers to more deeply explore evidence of student understanding. When teachers more deeply understand common student misconceptions, evidence of understanding, and content they can more confidently make informed instructional decisions. This session will leave mathematics instructional leaders with tangible next steps for supporting teachers and students.
 

COP Meeting 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

 

Breakout Session 3 - 1:50 PM to 2:50 PM

Monitoring: A View from the Other Side of the Table - This session will be a panel/roundtable discussion with Federal Program Directors from a few districts on their monitoring experience and key takeaways from the process, to share with the field. From preparation to handling any follow-up post visit.
Parent Involvement v. Parent Engagement - Does your district engage families or involve families? Join us as we discuss the difference between parent involvement and family engagement. Richland 2 will share creative ways to engage families and how they access family events to achieve Return on Investment. Attendees will learn best practices, collaborate with other district leaders, and leave with a vision for a successful school year.
Neglected and Delinquent Program Alignment and Updates - This session will provide updates on the eligibility review process and key program alignment expectations. We will focus on GEMS applications, evidence-based justification of needs, and the development of clear, logical budget narratives that directly connect to student outcomes.
Building Pathways Towards Proficiency for Your ML Students - Flashlight Learning: Have you ever wondered what it really takes for our multilingual students to make progress/exit program on WIDA ACCESS? In this session, we will explore the insights gained from a national data set on how to increase proficiency in Speaking and Writing (traditionally the most challenging domains for ML students to make progress in). We will explore ACCESS standards and rubrics and look at data from a national dataset on student WIDA ACCESS growth. Participants will leave with practical insights on how to increase proficiency on WIDA ACCESS Speaking and Writing domains. (i.e., length of recording and number of words produced to increase a student's chance to demonstrate proficiency).
 

Breakout Session 4 - 2:55 PM to 3:55 PM

One Story: Aligning CNA, Strategic Planning, and Title I - A strong Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) is the foundation of effective strategic planning—but only when each component is intentionally aligned. Participants will examine common strengths and gaps, learn how to move from data to action, and ensure plans are focused, aligned, and impactful for student outcomes.
Show Me the Money: Understanding Title Allocations - This session discusses how Title allocations are derived and calculated. It also discusses the importance of specific data sets that drive districts' allocation results.
Getting the Most out of Title V - This session will encourage tracking outcomes to improve return on investment through impactful planning.
Essential Routines to Accelerate Language Development - HMH: In this session, educators will practice essential routines that work across content areas to build metalinguistic awareness and expand multilingual learners' language skills. Participants will explore the features of effective response frames, implement practical strategies for diverse responses, and ensure all students are flexing their language muscles every day.