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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).

Schools eligible for TSI and ATSI must collaborate with educational partners to develop and implement a school-level plan to improve student outcomes. TSI determinations will be made for the first time after the release of the 2024 California School Dashboard (Dashboard).

Public Release of the Data File for Schools that Meet Criteria for Support and Improvement in 2024–25 (Coming Soon)
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 2024–25.

Note: Archived Public Releases of the Data Files for Schools that Meet Criteria for Support and Improvement can be viewed on the Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Local Educational Agency Archives web page.

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.

Eligibility Cycle

CSI and ATSI determinations are made on a three-year cycle, that is, once every three years that began with the 2023 Dashboard. The next CSI and ATSI determinations will be made based on the results of the 2026 Dashboard.

TSI determinations will be made in non-CSI and non-ATSI entry years. The first TSI determinations will be made based on the results of the 2024 Dashboard. 

For more information about the ESSA school support eligibility cycle, please visit the CDE Every Student Succeeds Act web page and/or contact the Dashboard team at Dashboard@cde.ca.gov.

ATSI Eligibility and Exit Criteria

ATSI eligibility is based on school-level student group performance. In an ATSI entry year, 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. Two years of Dashboard results are used to make ATSI determinations.

ATSI-eligible schools have the opportunity to exit annually if exit criteria are met. To exit, an ATSI-eligible school must no longer meet ATSI entry criteria and meet specific improvement conditions.

More information on ATSI eligibility and exit criteria is available for reference in the 2024 California School Dashboard Technical Guide: ESSA School Support (DOCX) (Coming Soon).

Note: The California School Dashboard Technical Guides for previous school years can be viewed on the CSI LEA Archives web page.

TSI Eligibility

TSI eligibility is based on school-level student group performance. In a TSI entry year, 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 TSI. Two years of Dashboard results are used to make TSI determinations.

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.

More information on TSI eligibility criteria is available for reference in the 2024 California School Dashboard Technical Guide: ESSA School Support (DOCX) (Coming Soon).

School Eligibility Data Files

ESSA school support determinations are available on the ESSA Assistance Status Data Files web page.

For information related to CSI, please visit the CDE Comprehensive Support and Improvement 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 (EC) 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 CSI, TSI, 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 educational partner requirements established in subdivision (a) of Section 52062 External link opens in new window or tab..

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

TSI/ATSI

California will notify each local educational agency (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 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 targeted support and improvement 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.

Addressing TSI/ATSI Planning Requirements through the LCAP

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

Additional Information

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

ESSA school improvement funding is not available for LEAs that serve schools that meet the criteria for TSI or 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 and the Professional Learning Support and Monitoring Office using the School Support and Improvement (SSI) Program Instrument and the Supporting Effective Instruction (SEI) Program Instrument, respectively. 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

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.

Title II, Part A Monitoring and Support

The SEI Program Monitoring Instrument is inclusive of Title II, Part A federal and state legal requirements organized into statutory core items and supporting items arranged under seven general CDE dimensions. During monitoring reviews, the SEI Program Instrument is used to determine whether an LEA is meeting the requirements of program items during the CDE FPM process.

Title II, Part A funds must be prioritized to CSI and TSI-eligible schools and to those schools that have the highest percentage of children counted under Title I, Part A (20 U.S.C.Section 6612[b][2][C]). Please note, ATSI-eligible schools are not included in the federal requirement for LEAs to prioritize Title II, Part A funds.

Title II, Part A – Supporting Effective Instruction

SEI Instrument 2024–25 (DOCX)

Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Federal Addendum – Title II, Part A – Prioritizing Funding
Provides guidance and criteria for LEAs to address the LCAP Federal Addendum provision related to Title II funding being prioritized to CSI and TSI-eligible schools.

SEI 02 FPM Presentation (PPTX)
Webinar resource with instructions, criteria, and guidance for LEAs to meet federal program requirements.

For questions related to SEI compliance monitoring, please contact the Professional Learning Support and Monitoring Office at TitleII@cde.ca.gov.

Technical Assistance

For programmatic questions regarding TSI and ATSI, please see the Frequently Asked Questions below or contact the School Improvement and Support Office (SISO) by email at SISO@cde.ca.gov.

For questions regarding TSI or ATSI eligibility criteria and determinations, 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.

Webinars

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility Questions

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  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 began with the 2023 California School 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.

  2. Which schools are eligible for TSI?

    All schools (traditional, charter, Dashboard Alternative School Status, Title I, and non-Title I) with two consecutive years of California School Dashboard (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 beginning with the 2024 Dashboard. More eligibility information for ESSA school support determinations, including TSI, is available in the Dashboard Technical Guide which can be accessed on the Technical Information tab of the CDE Dashboard Resources web page.

  3. Which schools are eligible for ATSI?

    All schools (traditional, charter, Dashboard Alternative School Status, Title I, and non-Title I) with two consecutive years of California School Dashboard (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 2023 Dashboard. More eligibility information for ESSA school support determinations, including ATSI, is available in the Dashboard Technical Guide which can be accessed on the Technical Information tab of the CDE Dashboard Resources web page.

  4. How will the CDE determine school eligibility for TSI and ATSI?

    The CDE will use the California School Dashboard (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. TSI determinations are made in non-CSI/ATSI entry years beginning with the 2024 Dashboard. ATSI determinations are made on a three-year cycle beginning with the 2023 Dashboard.

    Local educational agencies, county offices of education, and charter schools can find information about their ESSA school support eligibility status on the most recent ESSA Assistance Status Data File. The file of school support determinations based on the 2024 Dashboard will be available in late 2024/early 2025. More information on 2024 TSI and ATSI eligibility and exit criteria is available for reference in the 2024 California School Dashboard Technical Guide: ESSA School Support (DOCX) (Coming Soon).

    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 most recent ATSI determinations were made based on the results of the 2023 California School Dashboard (Dashboard). As such, 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 will be made based on the results of the 2024 California School Dashboard (Dashboard). TSI determinations will be made again the following year, based on the results of the 2025 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

    TSI determinations are made in non-CSI/ATSI entry years beginning with the 2024 California School Dashboard. ATSI determinations are made on a three-year cycle beginning with the 2023 California School 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 Technical Information tab of the CDE Dashboard Resources web page.

Planning Questions

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

    California will notify each local educational agency (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 local educational agencies (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 Dashboard Alternative School Status (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 School Plan for Student Achievement, 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 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 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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Questions:   School Improvement and Support Office | SISO@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0833
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
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