An Understanding of Federal Programs

By Randy Wilkes

Federal Programs

Federal Programs for public schools encompass all facets of federal funding support. The federal government annually budgets billions of dollars to be issued directly to states for the purpose of providing support to various at-risk and struggling students (low-income students, EL, homeless, migrants, immigrants, previously incarcerated, etc). The states in turn distribute these funds to various school systems on a competitive and noncompetitive basis.

Title I Part A

The purpose of Title I, Part A is to ensure that all children have a fair, equitable, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards. Title I is the largest federal aid package for schools in America. A school can qualify for targeted or schoolwide TI assistance, depending on F/R numbers.

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• Title I Funds
• Federal funds
• Provides financial assistance based on need
• Supplements programs
• Improve student achievement
• Targeted Assistance
• Based on criteria of need
• Restrictive usage
• Serving Orange Beach Elementary

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Federal Programs

How are Title I Funds Used in the District?

• Certified Teachers’ and Selected Administrators’ Salaries
• Various evidence-based instructional resources
• Technology and Software Programs
• Certified PT/FT Intervention Teachers

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What cannot be purchased with TI funds?

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• Parental Involvement
• Parent and Family Engagement policy
• Barriers to involvement
• Parent education and training
• Budgets
• Personnel

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Federal Programs

Other Federal Programs

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Title II

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Preschool

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Special Education

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Title IV

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Perkins

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Federal Programs

9.15 PARENT INVOLVEMENT: FAMILY AND SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

The Orange Beach School System and each school principal are encouraged to strengthen family involvement and family empowerment in the school. The Orange Beach School System will coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies with school improvement, Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, Title VI, community involvement programs, business partnerships, and other community involvement activities. Parents will be afforded substantial and meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children.

The Orange Beach School System will provide the coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist schools in planning and implementing effective and comprehensive parent involvement programs which include the following:

• Communication between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful.
• Communication between home and school includes conferences, telephone conversations, parent involvement meetings, written resource materials, community and system-wide surveys and needs assessments. Educators shall maintain accurate records of home-school communications.
• Responsible parenting is promoted and supported.
• Family literacy and parenting skills are emphasized.
• Parents play an integral role in assisting student learning.
• Parents help their children meet challenging state and local content and achievement standards.
• Parents are welcome in school and their support and assistance are sought.
• Opportunities to volunteer are frequently communicated.
• Parent participation on advisory committees strengthens program review, planning and improvement.
• Parents are full partners in the decisions that affect children and families.
• Community resources are utilized to strengthen school programs, family practices and student learning.

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Federal Programs - Current Board Policy

The Orange Beach School System will communicate parental choices and responsibilities to parents.

The Orange Beach School System will provide professional development opportunities for staff members to enhance understanding of effective parent involvement strategies through the professional development plan.

The Orange Beach School System will conduct, with the involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of this policy:

• To determine the effectiveness of increasing parent participation;
• To identify barriers to greater parent participation; and,
• To report the findings to the State Department of Education.

The Orange Beach School System will use the findings of the evaluations in designing strategies for school improvement and revising, if necessary, the parent involvement policies.

References: Code of Alabama 16-11-9, 16-12-3, Alabama Administrative Code §290-3-1-.02(2)(A), No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

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Current Board Policy Continued

Title II Part A

The purpose of Title II funds is to:

• Increase student achievement consistent with state standards
• Improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders
• Increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools
• Provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders.

How are Title II Funds Calculated?

The amount of Title II, Part A funds allocated to LEAs is calculated using the same US census data that is used to calculate Title I, Part A. Eighty percent of the LEA’s Title II, Part A allocation is based on poverty and the remaining twenty percent is based on total population.

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How are Title II Funds used in the District?

• Class Size Reduction
• Professional Development
• Sign-on Bonuses

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So how are TI and TII funds similar? Different?

Title III

The purpose of Title III is to ensure that Limited English Proficient (LEP) students, including immigrant children and youth, develop English proficiency and meet the same academic content and academic achievement standards that other children are expected to meet. Schools use these funds to implement language instruction and educational programs designed to help LEP students achieve these standards.��We have about 10 EL students in our school system.

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How are Title III Funds Calculated?

The federal government disperses T III funds to the states based on the number of ELs and immigrants residing in each state. The states in turn distribute the funds to LEAs based on EL and immigrant headcounts as well.

How are Title III Funds Used in the District?

• EL Instructional Material and Programs
• EL PD
• Family Outreach
• Tutoring
• Technology

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Can these items be covered by Title I funds?

Title IV Part A

The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant is designed to help meet the needs of students by

1. Providing all students with access to a well-rounded education
2. Improve school conditions for learning
3. Improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students

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How are Title IV Part A Funds Allocated?

An LEA must have received TI funds the previous year in order to be eligible to receive TIV Part A funds. The states use a similar formula to TI allocation in calculating TIV Part A allocations to LEAs.

Guidance on T IV Part A Expenditures

Funds must be used in the following categories:

• Well-rounded Education
• Safe and Healthy Students
• Effective Use of Technology

At least 20% of TIV Part A funds must be spent in the first two categories. Only 15% of funds can be spent on software or hardware for the third category.