Charter School Success is now inSchools
District Improvement Planning (DIP/LEA Plan) for Charter Districts
GRANTS MANAGEMENT
5/29/2026
Famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin once said, “Shoot for the moon; you might get there!” Space travel takes planning, and so does having really great schools! Having a well-designed DIP (aka LEA Plan per TEA) can help your organization have focus and reach its goals, but in some cases, it is also required by law.
According to the federal law, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) guidelines, every LEA who receives Title I, Part A funds MUST have a DIP/LEA Plan. Your draft DIP/LEA Plan must be in place for the 2026-2027 school year BEFORE you submit the 2026-2027 ESSA Grant application. TEA conducts random validations to ensure compliance. Do you feel like you need some guidance on how to get the DIP/LEA Plan done and in compliance? If so, this Tip will provide you with helpful information.
The inSchools Federal team offers excellent training and guidance in the process for developing Charter District Improvement Plans. Our staff experts have experience with TEA auditing expectations and more!
Action Steps:
Identify the necessary people for the DIP/LEA Plan development team (see #1 below).
Review the list of required components below.
Review the DIP/LEA Plan template linked in this tip. The template includes all required components based on our current understanding of the ESSA
guidelines.
Develop your charter’s DIP/LEA Plan WITH the assistance of all DIP/LEA Plan team members.
Obtain Board approval of your DIP/LEA Plan Goals and Performance Objectives (entire DIP/LEA Plan does not have to be approved).
Once complete, send a copy to your inSchools Federal team representative (if a client) for review and post your DIP/LEA Plan on your school website.
According to the updated Title I Program Guide on the TEA website (Title I, Part A--Improving Basic Programs (texas.gov), the DIP/LEA Plan is a requirement: “…all LEAs that receive Title I, Part A funds are required to have an LEA Plan..”Pg.11
DIP/LEA Plan Requirements
DIP/LEA Plan was developed with timely and meaningful consultation with:
Teachers, principals, other school leaders (must have day to day responsibilities for managing the campus), paraprofessionals, specialized instructional support personnel
Charter school leaders (in an ISD that has partner charter schools)
Administrators (including admins of programs described in other parts of this title)
Parents of children in schools served under this part
Members of the community
NOTE: This will be documented by listing DIP/LEA Plan team member by name, title, and role using same labels as TEA guidance (such as “parent”) in the DIP/LEA Plan. Complete list to be found at Title I, Part A--Improving Basic Programs (texas.gov) Pg.11. In addition, each DIP/LEA Plan Planning meeting must have a sign-in sheet, agenda and minutes.
As appropriate, the DIP/LEA Plan was coordinated with other programs under the ESSA law including IDEA B, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Carl Perkins CTE Act, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Head Start Act, McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, and other Acts as appropriate.
Note: This will be documented in the strategies themselves and in the Resource column as appropriate. It is also documented by sign in sheet of representatives from these programs at the DIP/LEA Plan Planning meetings, if appropriate.
The LEA shall periodically review and, as necessary, revise the DIP. This must be done at least annually.
Note: This is typically done quarterly and is documented in evaluation column of the Plan. It is also documented by sign-in sheet of LEA leadership team at the review meetings, if appropriate.
The Title I, Part A requirements that must be addressed in the LEA Plan are addressed in the Program Description section of this document. Title I, Part A LEA Plan 13 Descriptions
