Crandall ISD

CRANDALL ISD

400 West Lewis Street, Crandall, TX 75114

Phone: (972) 427-6000

Crandall Independent School District offers career and technical education programs in General Employability Skills, College & Career Exploration, Animal Science, Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems, Plant Science, Architectural Drafting and Design, Graphic Design and Interactive Media, Digital Communications, Printing and Imaging, Business Management, Teaching and Training, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, Culinary Arts, Cosmetology and Personal Care Services, Information Technology Support and Services, Law Enforcement, Engineering Foundations. Admission to these programs is based on enrollment in CISD secondary schools.

It is the policy of Crandall ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in its vocational programs, services or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Crandall ISD will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs.

For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX Coordinator at hkeown@crandall-isd.net and/or the Section 504 Coordinator at lchism@crandall-isd.net or 400 W. Lewis St., Crandall, TX 75114, 972-427-6000.

Tex. Educ. Code § 39.362
19 Tex. Admin. Code § 97.1055(f)(3)(A)

Texas provides annual academic accountability ratings to its public school districts, charters and schools. The ratings are based largely on performance on state standardized tests and graduation rates. The ratings examine student achievement, student progress, efforts to close the achievement gap and postsecondary readiness. A video available in English and Spanish provides a quick overview of the system.

TEA accredits public schools in Texas at the district level for grades K-12. The Accreditation Status, Standards, and Sanctions section of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) states how accreditation statuses will be determined and assigned to school districts. Those statuses are defined as Accredited, Accredited-Warned, Accredited-Probation, and Not Accredited-Revoked. The TAC rules also establish accreditation standards and sanctions, including definitions, purpose and oversight appointments. 

Crandall ISD is an Accredited School District. 

Crandall ISD administers a wide variety of assessments. Information on each assessment and the assessment team for each campus can be located on the Accountability and Assessments page.

Tex. Educ. Code § 39.362

• 2023-24 District Report Card

2023-24 Campus Report Cards

• Crandall High School
• Crandall Middle School
• Dietz Elementary
• Martin Elementary
• Noble-Reed Elementary
• Opal Smith Elementary
• Walker Elementary
• Wilson Elementary

Crandall ISD reviews and revises improvement plans on an annual basis. The revisions are made by the staff at each campus and the central administrative staff of the district. Site based committee members are involved in the development and revision of the plans. The plans are presented to the Board of Trustees for approval.

• Improvement Plans

Tex. Educ. Code § 12A.005(a)(1) 
Tex. Educ. Code § 12A.0071(a); 19 Tex. Admin. Code §§ 102.1305(e), .1307(f)

H.B. 1842 (84th Session of the Texas Legislature) in part amended Chapter 12 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) to create Districts of Innovations. Districts are eligible for designation if certain performance requirements are met and the district follows certain procedures for adoption as outlined in Statute. The designation provides the district will be exempt from certain sections of the TEC that inhibit the goals of the district as outlined in the locally adopted Innovation Plan.

The term of the designation as a district of innovation may not exceed 5 years.

Amendment

Certification:

Exemption From:

TEC §21.003(a), TEC §21.055

TEC §21.003(a) states that a person may not be employed as a teacher by a school district unless the person holds an appropriate certificate or permit issued by the appropriate state agency. In the event a district cannot locate a certified teacher for a position or a teacher is teaching subject outside of their certification, the district must request emergency certification from the Texas Education Agency and/or State Board of Educator Certification.

TEC §21.055 states that if a teacher is not certified, the district may issue a teaching permit to employ the individual. This process requires notice to the Commissioner and its usefulness is extremely limited. Additionally, the language of this section could be construed to prohibit the employment of a teacher without a teaching certificate or a school district teaching permit obtained under this section.

Proposal: The district will maintain its current expectations for employee certification and will make every attempt to hire individuals with appropriate certifications for the position in question. However, when that is not reasonably possible, the district will have the flexibility to hire individuals who are knowledgeable in the area and equipped to effectively perform the duties of the position in question. Crandall ISD would like the ability to locally certify teachers in areas of high demand, to better meet the educational needs of our students. These areas would include, but are not limited to CTE, bilingual education, and languages other than English. Teachers with industry certifications and native speakers with qualified experience could be eligible to teach a course through a local teaching certification. Additionally, Crandall ISD will notify parents if a locally certified teacher is employed for their child's class. This process will allow more flexibility in our scheduling, and provide more options for our students in class offerings leading to industry recognized certifications.

District of Innovation Timeline: 

Overview presentation of District of Innovation

August 4, 2016 – Board update regarding District of Innovation via Friday Report

November 29, 2016 – Board update regarding District of Innovation via Friday Report

December 12, 2016 - Board adopts Resolution; public hearing; votes to develop Local Innovation Plan, Board of Trustees allows Superintendent to appoint Committee similar to AEC committees

January 13, 2017-Superintendent reports names of Local Innovation Committee Members

January 17, 2017 – Presenters meeting at 1:45 In Training room

January 19, 2017 12:30 Local Innovation Committee Members meeting to identify possible areas of exemptions and have the Local Innovation Committee meet to approve and pass Local Innovation Plan by majority vote

January 23, 2017 - Presentation to Board of Trustees from Local Innovation Committee member to provide update and gather board input Board meeting LIC presents LIP to Board: board votes to notify commissioner of intention to vote on adopting LIP (Approved Innovation Plan attached) – same meeting that we declare there will be a board election – place this on the agenda in order to get to 30 days for the posting.

January 24, 2017 post for 30 days on district website

February 27, 2017 – Board of Trustees votes on Local Innovation Plan

First and Last Day of Instruction:

Exemption From:

TEC §25.0811, TEC §25.0812

TEC §25.0811 states that a school district may not begin student instruction before the 4th Monday of August. For many years this was the rule; however, districts had the option of applying for a waiver to start earlier, even as early as the 2nd Monday in August.

TEC §25.0812 states that a school district may not schedule the last day of school before May 15.

Proposal: These laws restrict flexibility in the design of annual calendars to fit the needs of the school district and community. The flexibility to begin instruction earlier in August will enable the district to develop a calendar that best meets the needs of the students in CISD. An earlier start date allows a better balance between semesters, more instructional days prior to mandatory testing, and a school end date prior to June. Without the restriction of t a mandatory last day of school date, the school district would have the flexibility to set a calendar fitting to the completion of required minutes.

Minimum Minutes of Instruction

Exemption From:

TEC §25.081

TEC Code 25.081 For each school year, each school district must operate so that the district provides for at least 75,600 minutes of instruction, including intermissions and recess.

Proposal: Pre-K and PPCD are required to attend 37,800 minutes for half day. In order for the teacher of record to attain these minutes of instruction, our employees must cover the conference periods and lunch times of Pre-K teachers. The preference of the district is to have the flexibility of minutes in order for the teacher of record to have their conference and lunch times when students are not on campus. This allows the freedom of the strained personnel to be able to complete their jobs.

Pre-K schedule consisting of two three-hour sessions of 155 minutes, which allows each teacher to teach two groups of students while still having the required conference period and 30-minute duty free lunch.

Discipline for Use or Possession of an E-Cigarette

Crandall ISD has determined an amendment to its current District of Innovation Plan is necessary based on the passage of HB 114 during the 88^th Regular Legislative Session.

Discipline for Use or Possession of an E-Cigarette

Texas Education Code § 37.006(a)(2)(C-2) requires that a student be removed from class and placed in a disciplinary alternative education placement (DAEP) if the student possesses, uses, sells, gives, or delivers to another person an e-cigarette, as defined by Section 161.081 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.

Rationale for Exemption

·        An exemption from this requirement allows Crandall ISD to distinguish between a student’s possession of an e-cigarette or vape product that contains nicotine from one that contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). An exemption allows for the District to determine appropriate local consequences for the possession of such devices.

Benefit of Exemption for CISD

·        While Crandall ISD remains committed to addressing the possession or use of e-cigarettes or vape devices, the exemption will provide CISD the benefit of addressing possession of e-cigarettes or vape products that contain nicotine through progressive consequences and required awareness programs before removing a student from class and placing the student in a DAEP. 

Local Guidelines

·        Possession, use, selling, giving or delivering to another person an e-cigarette or vape device that contains any amount of THC will remain a mandatory DAEP offense.

·        The local guidelines for possession, use, selling, giving or delivering to another person an e-cigarette or vape device that contains nicotine will be addressed in the Crandall ISD Student Code of Conduct and approved by the Board of Trustees annually.

School Health Advisory Committee

Exemption from:

TEC §28.004

Current law states the board of trustees of each school district shall establish a local school health advisory council to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district's health education instruction. 

Crandall ISD seeks exemption from the statutory provision requiring the School Health Advisory Council to meet at least four times each year.  This innovation will be implemented by the District as follows: 

• The SHAC will meet once a year in the Spring.
• The Board will be kept informed following each SHAC meeting.
• This exemption directly supports the District’s commitment to health education and instruction without overburdening designated council members.

• High Quality Pre-Kindergarten District Results

House Bill 3: Early Childhood Literacy and Math Proficiency and College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) Goals

A component of House Bill 3 requires school boards to establish and adopt five-year goals in the three areas of early childhood literacy proficiency, early childhood mathematics proficiency, and college, career, and military readiness (CCMR). 

Specific requirements in the areas of early childhood include annual goals for aggregate student growth on 3^rd Grade Reading and Math STAAR at or above the Meets Grade Level performance level and for students in each group evaluated under the Closing the Gaps Domain (Domain III) under the current accountability system. 

Similarly, school districts shall adopt specific annual goals for five school years to reach quantifiable goals for measures of college, career, and military readiness.

The ratings and performance data currently displayed on TXschools.gov are from school year 2022-23. Later years have not been released.

• Crandall ISD Overall Rating & Performance
   

Campuses: 2022-23

• Crandall HS 
• Crandall MS
• Dietz Elementary
• Martin Elementary
• Noble-Reed Elementary
• Walker Elementary
• Wilson Elementary

.How is Overall Performance calculated?

Overall grades for districts and schools are calculated based on performance in three key areas, or domains. We take the higher score between how much students know (Student Achievement) or how much better students are doing than last year or than peers in similar schools (School Progress). We then consider whether performance gaps exist among different groups of students (Closing the Gaps).

This design reflects a commitment to recognizing high student achievement and the impact of highly effective educators while maintaining focus on the students most in need. Ratings options for the overall score out of 100 are as follows:

See an Overall Performance calculation example.

39.106(e-1)(2)

Within the state accountability system, campuses must engage in intervention requirements, including identifying members of the Campus Intervention Team, conducting a needs assessment, and developing an implementing a Targeted Improvement plan if:

• a campus received an overall rating of F;
• a campus receives an overall rating or a performance rating in any domain of D;
• a campus receives a Comprehensive Support and Improvement identification; 
• a campus receives a Targeted Support and Improvement identification; or
• a campus receives an Additional Targeted Support identification

Specific intervention requirements are outlined for each method of identification.

The school district is to provide a copy of the superintendent's contract EITHER as a disclosure in the financial management report provided to attendees at the Schools FIRST hearing OR by posting the contract on the district's Internet site. 

Title 19, Texas Administrative Code   109.1005(b)(2)(A)

• Current and Archived Adopted Budgets

Financial Transparency page

Federal programs offered at Crandall ISD cover a wide range of special population students. All elementary campuses in Crandall receive Title I services. Title I, in grades K-6 offers extra assistance in basic reading instruction for students identified as the most at risk.

Title II funds are utilized in the area of staff development for teacher and principal training and recruitment. The purpose of Title II, Part A, is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and school districts improve teacher and principal quality and ensure that all teachers are highly qualified. Through the program, local educational agencies (LEAs) receive funds on a formula basis.

Title III funds are implemented to increase the English proficiency of limited English proficient children. Our funds are used to provide high-quality language instruction educational programs that are based on scientifically based research demonstrating the effectiveness of the programs in increasing English proficiency and student academic achievement in the core academic subjects.

Title IV funds are  intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; improve school conditions for student learning; and improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. 

See more information here.

For more information, contact the Chief of Academics at 972-427-6000.

Crandall ISD is a Transparency Stars recipient.

• Financial Transparency CISD

Awardees are recognized by the Comptroller for achieving continued excellence in their public financial transparency efforts. More information here.

Financial Transparency page

• State & Federal Grants Manual

The proposed budget for can be found below. 

• Financial Transparency page

• Financial Transparency page

• Board meeting public Agenda notices

• Board Members Election Information

The information must be accessible without having to make more than two selections or view more than two network locations after accessing the district’s internet home page. Tex. Elec. Code § 65.016(b), (c).

View most recent results here.

• Board Meeting Public Calendar

(Government Code, §551.006)

Required if implemented by public school.

• Crandall ISD District Website

Required when members of board of trustees request 200 or more pages of material in a 90-day period. The number of requests and total costs to the school district during the preceding school year in responding to the requests is to be reported.

• Public Information Request

Section 38.001, Education Code. House Bill 1059, 80th Legislature, Regular Session

• Immunization Information

(Texas Education Code, §21.203 (a)-(b))

• Board Policy Online
• Employee Handbook

• Current Employment Openings

• Bullying Reporting information

Each campus has a campus behavior coordinator to apply discipline management techniques and administer consequences for certain student misconduct, as well as provide a point of contact for student misconduct. The contact information for each campus behavior coordinator is available on the district’s website at www.crandall-isd.net, and the coordinator for this campus is listed below:

• Dual Credit and AP Information

Learn more here. 

Physical Activity Requirements – see Student Handbook

Elementary School The district will ensure that students in full-day prekindergarten-grade 5 engage in moderate or vigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day or 135 minutes per week, in accordance with policies at EHAB, EHAC, EHBG, and FFA. For additional information on the district’s elementary school student physical activity programs and requirements, please see the principal.

Junior High/Middle School The district will ensure that students in middle or junior high school will engage in 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity per day for at least four semesters, in accordance with policies at EHAB, EHAC, EHBG, and FFA. For additional information on the district’s junior high and middle school student physical activity programs and requirements, please see the principal.

Temporary Restriction from Participation in Physical Education
Students who are temporarily restricted from participation in physical education will not actively participate in skill demonstration but will remain in class to learn the concepts of the lessons. Physical Fitness Assessment (Grades 3-12) Annually, the district will conduct a physical fitness assessment of students in grades 3-12 who are enrolled in a physical education course or a course for which physical education credit is awarded. At the end of the school year, a parent may submit a written request to obtain the results of their child’s physical fitness assessment conducted during the school year by contacting their campus principal.  

Physical Health Screenings/Examinations Athletics Participation (Secondary Grade Levels Only) For certain extracurricular activities, a student must submit certification from an authorized health-care provider. The certification must state that the student has been examined and is physically able to participate in the relevant program, including: • A district athletics program • District marching band • Any district extracurricular program identified by the superintendent This examination is required to be submitted annually to the district. Students should be aware of the rare possibility of sudden cardiac arrest, which in athletes is usually caused by a previously unsuspected heart disease or disorder. A student may request an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to screen for such disorders, in addition to the required physical examination. See the UIL’s explanation of sudden cardiac arrest (https://www.uiltexas.org/health/info/sudden-cardiac-death) for more information. Spinal Screening Program School-based spinal screening helps identify adolescents with abnormal spinal curvature at an early stage when the curve is mild and may go unnoticed. Early detection is key to controlling spinal deformities. Spinal screening is non-invasive and conducted in accordance with the most recent nationally accepted and peer-reviewed standards. All students who meet the Texas Department of State Health Services criteria will be screened for abnormal spinal curvature before the end of the school year. As appropriate, students will be referred for follow-up with their physician. For information on spinal screening by an outside professional or exemption from spinal screening based on religious beliefs, contact the superintendent or see policy FFAA(LEGAL).

Districts are to post the employment and transition guide developed by TEA in collaboration with HHS.

Learn more here.