Board approves 2025–26 school‑improvement plans, including turnaround plans for two CSI campuses

The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees voted Nov. 18 to approve the district’s 2025–26 federal and state school improvement plans for identified campuses, including turnaround plans that will be submitted to the Texas Education Agency where required.

Al Garcia, chief academic officer, and Monica Chavez, TEA district coordinator of school improvement, presented the plans during a public hearing that reviewed three identification labels used under state and federal accountability: Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), Additional Targeted Support (ATS) and Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI). Chavez said the district has 18 campuses in some form of school improvement action and described the plan structures — action steps, milestones and quarterly monitoring tied to student outcomes.

Chavez identified Murphree PreK‑8 and Guillen Middle School as CSI campuses preparing turnaround plans and described the ACE model being used at several schools. "The ACE model has five core pillars," she said, listing strategic staffing, instructional excellence, extended school day, targeted intervention and partnerships. Chavez recommended board approval so campuses can implement targeted actions to close achievement gaps and meet accountability standards.

Trustees asked for clarifications about identification triggers for subgroups, the length of required plans for CSI campuses, progress metrics and how ACE staffing components affect existing staff. After discussion, Trustee Cuellar moved to approve the submitted improvement plans and Trustee Leverage seconded; the motion carried 7–0.

The approval enables campuses to proceed with implementation and to submit required plans to TEA by the district’s stated timeline.