Service Improvement Agreements

Upon completion of a monitoring visit, the Assessor will input scores into CLI Engage. If the results of a monitoring visit determine that the ELP is unable to maintain their certified star level and calculate a drop in overall star level, an SIA will go into effect. SIAs (Service Improvement Agreement) are six-month mandatory agreements designed to assist ELPs in maintaining their current star level. SIAs begin on the day that the ELP is notified of the monitoring assessment results. Technical assistance through the SIA, in collaboration with the ELP’s CQIP, will focus on the categories that resulted in the lower overall star level calculated at the monitoring visit.  

The Texas Rising Star–certified ELP retains its current star level while on the SIA. The Assessor will complete the applicable sections of the Texas Rising Star Impacts Notice form (located within Section 5 of the Guidelines), and the ELP will be instructed to sign for understanding. (Note: Refusal to sign does not change the implementation of the SIA.) The Assessor will record in the Engage event log the initiation of the SIA (specific to dates and categories covered) per the guidance provided in the EUG. 

During those six months, the ELP is to be offered access to mentoring services in coordination with its CQIP. The ELP may refuse mentoring services; however, it should be made aware that the SIA will still be in place with an SIA assessment scheduled at its completion. Within 30 days after the end date of the six-month SIA time frame, an assessment of the categories originally observed as deficient is conducted for all classrooms and staff, as applicable to the category. The ELP is provided a two-week window for the assessment and is allowed to block out up to three dates within the window for the Assessor to consider when scheduling the visit.  

This visit is entered into Engage as an SIA Assessment (with the non-assessed categories’ star levels being retained).  

If those categories score result in an overall star level at the originally assessed star level, the SIA ends, and the ELP remains at the verified star level.  

If, based on the observations at the end of the SIA assessment, the ELP scores at a lower calculated star level, this new star level will be verified and effective the first day of the following month. This does not reset the certification cycle for the ELP, unless all four categories were included in the SIA assessment regardless of whether the star level changed. 

An event log should be added to document this visit, the results of the assessment (maintained star level or change in star level), and the completion of the SIA. Please see the EUG for additional guidance. Additionally, the Assessor will complete the bottom portion of the Texas Rising Star Impacts Notice form. 

If during an SIA assessment, an ELP fails to meet a structural measure within the category being assessed, the ELP loses its Texas Rising Star certification, and is placed in suspension status. (See the Losing a Star Level and Suspension Status in the Guidelines for the timeline for returning to the Texas Rising Star program.) 

Best practice is to input the events into TWIST comments as well, especially if an SIA results in a lower star level or suspension status.  

SIA assessment visits can receive reconsideration requests but do not meet the requirements for a category reassessment request unless all categories were assessed at the SIA assessment. 

Example Timeline and SIA situation:  

• The ELP is monitored on May 16, 2022.  

• The ELP is notified of the results on May 21, 2022.  

• The SIA is for Category 2 for the period May 21, 2022–November 21, 2022.  

• The SIA assessment is completed before December 21, 2022.  

• Category 2 is the only category assessed for all classrooms. 

If an ELP is closed for a prolonged period of time (such as summer closure) during its SIA time frame, the full six months of technical assistance support is to be given to the ELP before conducting the SIA assessment. Special situations like this are to be noted in the event log. Example: An ELP is placed on an SIA from April 2023 through September 2023 but is closed for two months in the summer. The SIA is extended for the two months the ELP was closed, therefore changing the time frame to April 2023 through November 2023.  

(Source CAE) An event log will be created when an ELP is placed on a SIA – refer to EUG. The following information will be included in the event log: Categories causing the provider to be placed on the SIA, effective date of the SIA. A notification will be sent to the Mentor. A reminder will be set at the end of the 6-month period to notify the Mentor and CAE logistics team.