Questions and Answers about ESEA of 1965 as Amended Webinar

Transcription

1 Questions and Answers about ESEA of 1965 as Amended Webinar The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 as Amended, Title I Updates, Title IIA, and Title IVA webinar that was presented August 25, 2017, is at The ESEA of 1965 as Amended, Title I Updates, Title IIA, and Title IVA PowerPoint presentation made available August 25, 2017, is at pdf. Illinois Association of Title I Directors Fall Conference September 11 13, 2017, registration information is at Q: How do I find my consultant? The Title Grants Regional Principal Consultants list is at Q: Why are we not seeing this year s grant application in IWAS? The fiscal year 2018 ESEA of 1965 as Amended application was released August 18, As a result, the deadline to submit the application has been extended to September 30, Any substantially approvable application submitted to ISBE for approval by September 30, 2017, will allow for qualified expense reimbursement incurred as of July 1, To request access for the FY 2018 ESEA of 1965 as Amended application, please follow the directions below. Sign into IWAS. Click System Listing. (Contact person might not have this as an option.) 1

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3 Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Want to Signup for Other Systems? Under Active Grants, locate ESEA of 1965 As Amended. 3

4 Click Sign Up Now. This generates an and IWAS notification to the district superintendent. The district superintendent must approve. 4

5 Q: Where can we find the amount of Title funds allocated to our district? FY 2018 ESSA Title allocations are on the Grants webpage at under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), ESSA Title Allocations accordion, FY 2018 header. (See screen shot below.) Also, click on the Allotment tab (fourth tab) within the ESEA of 1965 as Amended consolidated application to find district amounts for Titles I, IIA, and IVA. 5

6 Q: When will Title I District Plans be approved? The Title I District Plans are reviewed and approved within approximately 30 days of submission. Q: What is the process for submission of the Title I District Plan and ESEA of 1965 as Amended application? Both the Title I District Plan and the ESEA of 1965 as Amended application are accessible and submitted through IWAS. A districts must receive official approval from its board before submitting its Title I District Plan to ISBE. The Title I District Plan must be approved prior to your ESEA of 1965 as Amended application being approved. However, that application may be submitted any time. Q: Where is the application tool kit? How do we fill out the new application? The ESEA of 1965 as Amended application tool kit is currently being updated. There are specific instructions on how to fill out the page on most tabs within the grant application. The instructions link is located in the upper right hand corner of the page. Q: Is information from the Title plan automatically populated into the Title I grant application? Yes, the Title District Plan is prepopulated into the ESEA of 1965 as Amended application. Find it on the ESEA of 1965 as Amended application by clicking on Title I-ESSA and then clicking on the Program Specific Pages tab (fifth tab); the Title I Plan tab should open. This tab displays the responses from the Title I Plan submitted separately to ISBE. Changes to the Title I Plan cannot be made in the application. Amend the Title I District Plan application and resubmit to ISBE if changes are required. Q: It states on the assurances pages that you should check a box indicating that you have reviewed the information and that it is correct. I do not have boxes to check in my application. The application has been tested and edited and the boxes are now displaying. Q: Are the needs assessments something that should already have been done or do we do them now? 6

7 A district may use a recently completed needs assessment on the FY 2018 application. A needs assessment is required if the district has not recently conducted one that includes ESSA requirements. Q: Can one needs assessment be used as long as it covers all areas of the grants (i.e., I, IIA, and IVA) you are applying for? Yes. Q: What percentage of Title II funds can be transferred to Title I? One hundred percent of funds may be transferred between Title II and Title IV and may be transferred from Titles II and IV into Title I. ONLY current fiscal year funds are transferable. Funds may not be transferred out of Title I. Transfers can be made between programs. However, all funds transferred are subject to the rules and requirements applicable to the program that received the funds. NOTE: Hold harmless has been eliminated and the formula is strictly based on 20 percent enrollment and 80 percent poverty. Q: What are the disadvantages to transferring funds to Title I? The downside of transferring funds into Title I is that the funds cannot be rescinded. Q: If I transfer my Title II and IV funds to Title I, does this mean I only complete the ESSA and Title I portions of the grant? If the district transfers all funds out of Titles IIA and/or IVA, the district will need to click the radio button that states District is NOT applying for this grant on the Applicant Information tab (second tab to the right) for both Title IIA and Title IVA. Q: When will schoolwide waivers be approved? As soon as possible. Q: Where do we indicate that we are transitioning to the schoolwide model? 7

8 The district cannot indicate transitioning to schoolwide. A district must indicate current status -- schoolwide or target -- at the time the application is submitted. Districts that are transitioning during a fiscal year may amend their Title I District Plan and ESEA of 1965 as Amended application after the schoolwide status is approved. Schoolwide Programming (at or above 40 percent low income) - ESSA requires three actions that are essential for effective implementation of a schoolwide program: A. Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment. A sample can be found at B. Prepare a comprehensive Schoolwide Plan. C. Annually evaluate the Schoolwide Plan. Please review the schoolwide template to guide the process. The template is also at Once on this page, click on What s New? and then click on Schoolwide Template (Word document). Q: Are we allowed to use Title II funds for high school teacher professional development activities in the same unit district if we are schoolwide at the elementary level, but do not accept Title funds for the high school? Yes, Title II, Part A, Supporting Effective Instruction is a federal categorical program contained in the ESEA of 1965 as Amended consolidated application. The purpose of Title II, Part A is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts (1) improve teacher and principal quality through professional development and other activities and (2) provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders. Title II, Part A provides services in preparation, training, and recruiting of highquality teachers and principals for grade range of K-12. Nonpublic school teachers, principals, and other educational personnel are eligible to participate in professional development activities. Q: Can you please explain the "salary differential" box in Title I Targeting Step 4? A salary differential is an increase based on earned academic credits, coursework, or degrees beyond the bachelor's degree and/or salary comparison based on similar duties or performance. Thus, if the district has continuing education or professional development built into the program and/or staff are receiving such services and credits, the salary may increase mid-year. 8

9 Q: We do not see the old Targeting Step 4 school list page in the FY 2018 application? How does this information get calculated/presented/ included/reported? The school list portion in Targeting Step 5 has replaced the previous Targeting Step 4. Q: Are administrative costs (i.e., salary of staff who manage Title programs) the same as indirect costs? No, administrative and indirect costs are not the same. Indirect cost are any expense incurred as a result of grant award activities that provide a benefit to the grant project, but cannot be allocated directly to a grant. Indirect costs may include costs relating to facilities, utilities, accounting and bookkeeping services, legal services, grant administration systems, procurement systems, general operating expenses, etc. Q: How do we locate students in private schools for Title I? Registered nonpublic school information is at Click on the Consultation tab for drop-down information. The Nonpublic School Enrollment data can be located under the Nonpublic School Enrollment Data. The data represents nonpublic schools that choose to register with ISBE. Note: Students of nonregistered nonpublic schools are still eligible for ESEA services. Q: How do we determine if private schools are participating in Title programs? Timely and meaningful consultation must occur between the Local Education Agency (LEA) and private school officials prior to any decision that affects the opportunities of eligible private school children, teachers, and other educational personnel to participate in the Title program(s). The private school(s) may choose to participate in Title IA, and/or Title IIA, and/or Title IVA programs by checking the corresponding box on the ISBE Private School Participation form. Each district should make a "good faith" effort to contact private schools where district students might attend. Title IA - A nonpublic school must have low-income students who would otherwise attend a Title I school in your district. You need the following to determine Title I eligibility: address(es) of students who reside within district boundaries, grade level(s) of the student(s), and low-income status of the student(s). Title IIA and Title IVA - The nonpublic school building must be within the district boundaries to be eligible for services. 9

10 Q: If you only serve Title I students K-8 but have high school students in private schools, do those schools need to be contacted also as part of your grant process? Yes, private schools might have K-12 students so in this case they would need to be contacted. However, you would only service private students in the same grades that you serve public students. Q: Do nonpublic schools get the Title I per pupil amount for the attendance center in addition to the proportional percentage? No, expenditures for equitable services to eligible private school children, teachers, other educational personnel, and families must be equal to the proportion of funds allocated to participating public school attendance areas based on the number of children from low-income families who reside in those attendance areas and attend private schools. An LEA must determine the proportionate share of Title I funds available for equitable services based on the total amount of Title I funds received by the LEA prior to any allowable expenditures or transfers of funds. (See ESEA section 1117(a)(4)(A).) An LEA may reserve an amount from the proportionate share of Title I funds available to provide equitable services that is reasonable and necessary to administer equitable services. An LEA determines this amount separately from the funds needed to administer the Title I program for students in public schools. The LEA should discuss administrative costs for implementing equitable services during consultation with appropriate private school officials. Q: I have a private school that checked yes for Title IVA. I am transferring the Title IVA money to Title IIA. How do I handle the private school information since I transferred the funds out? The private school would not receive services through Title IVA since the district transferred all of the funds; however, if participating in Title II,it would receive a share in that grant. Q: Are there changes to the nonpublic carryover for FY 2017 to FY 2018? Title IA: An LEA is obligated to provide Title I services on an equitable basis. The expectation is that Title I services start at the beginning of each school year. If the LEA begins the Title I program late in the school year, the LEA should provide additional services during the remainder of the year and carry over any unspent funds in order to comply with applicable requirements. Any carryover funds for 10

11 services would be considered additional funds to be used for private school instructional services in subsequent years. See Title I Services to Eligible Private School Students Guidance Title IIA and Title IVA: Per Title IX, Part E: Uniform Provisions Subpart 1 Private Schools Equitable Services for Eligible Private School Students, Teacher, and Other Educational Personnel Non-Regulatory Guidance states that, in general, if an LEA provided equitable services for private school students in any given year, any carryover funds for services to private school students would be considered additional funds for that program for public and private school students in the subsequent year. Those funds then would be used, along with any other carryover funds, for both public and private school students on an equitable basis. This situation might occur, for example, if private school students and teachers did not fully participate in the ESEA program (e.g., private school teachers opted out of a proposed professional development activity), even though an equitable program was planned and offered for those students and teachers. However, if the LEA did not provide equitable services for private school students in a given year and, as a result, there are funds remaining that should have been expended for equitable services for private school students, the LEA should use those carryover funds for private school students in the subsequent year. Those funds would be in addition to the funds that the LEA uses for private school students out of the subsequent year s allocation. This situation might occur, for example, if the LEA failed to notify or consult with private school officials about the availability of the ESEA program or if there was a delay in the implementation of an equitable program. Title IX, Part E Subpart 1-Private Schools: Equitable Services to Eligible Private School Students, Teachers, and Other Educational Personnel Non-Regulatory Guidance is at Q: How can Title II funds be utilized? Acceptable LEA Use of Fund Activities under ESSA shall address the learning needs of all students, including children with disabilities, English Learners, and gifted and talented students include the following areas: - New teacher residency programs to enhance clinical training opportunities for teachers. - New STEM Master Teachers Corps to help train, recruit, and retain teachers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. - New American history and civics programs to provide enhanced learning opportunities for teachers of those disciplines. 11

12 - Evaluation and support systems and working conditions feedback. - Professional development. - Recruitment, hiring, and retention, including recruitment from other fields. - Teaching children with disabilities. - Assessment development and assessment data review. - Teaching early learners. - School library services, STEM, and computer science. - Gifted and talented learners. - At-risk youth in-services and child abuse. - Class-size reduction. Professional development programs and activities under ESSA must be evidence based, as opposed to the more demanding scientifically based requirement under No Child Left Behind. This means these programs have demonstrated a record of success and there is reliable, trustworthy, and valid evidence to suggest the program is effective. The Non-Regulatory Guidance for Title II, Part A: Building Systems of Support for Excellent Teaching and Leading (September 27, 2016) is at Q: What Title II programs does ESSA maintain? - Teacher Quality Partnership Grants: Provide competitive funding to states. Intended to improve the quality of new teachers by creating partnerships among institutions of higher education and high-need districts. - Teacher and School Leader Incentive Grants (formerly the Teacher Incentive Fund): Provide competitive grants to states, districts, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Focus on funding performance-based programs or human capital management systems. - Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Grants: Provide competitive funding to national nonprofit organizations and districts for projects to recruit, select, prepare, and provide professional development for teachers or school leaders. - School Leader Recruitment and Support Program (formerly the School Leadership Program): Provides competitive grants to districts. Designed to enhance educator preparation programs and encourage collaboration between schools of educator preparation and high-need districts. Q: What is the advantage to using Title IV? Here are some examples of activities that districts can choose to fund under the law. 12

13 - Safe and healthy activities: Mental health awareness training, school-based counseling, student safety and violence prevention, professional development for specialized instructional support personnel, nutrition education, physical education, bullying and harassment prevention, and integrated systems of student and family supports. - Well-rounded activities: College and career guidance programs, using music and the arts to promote student engagement, STEM and computer science programs, increasing access to accelerated coursework, foreign languages, environmental education, and almost anything else that supports a wellrounded educational experience. - Technology activities: Educator professional development in the use of technology, building technology infrastructure, using blended learning projects, and providing students in rural communities with resources for digital learning experiences. Q: Do all districts qualify for Title IV? Is Title IV allotment aligned with Title I? Is it certain percentage of Title I? Funds are allocated to each LEA via an approved application in an amount that bears the same relationship to the total amount that the LEA received under subpart 2 of part A of Title I for the preceding fiscal year. LEAs in a state may form a consortium with other surrounding LEAs and combine the funds each such agency in the consortium receives under this section to jointly carry out the local activities described in this subpart. NOTE: Allocations to a LEA under this subsection may not be made in an amount that is less than $10,000. However, if the amount reserved by the state is insufficient to make allocations to LEAs in an amount equal to the minimum allocation, such allocations shall be ratably reduced. Q: Are PE and health and the other academic programs highlighted as part of Title IV under ESSA also allowed in Title I (per school or district programs) and Title II (under reduced class size)? In various ways, yes. For example, PE and health, etc., would certainly be covered in a schoolwide program in Title I. The statute below [Sec. 1115(b)(2)(A) and Sec. 2103(b)(2)] indicates these courses would be covered in a targeted assistance building as well, but I can t imagine a district passing the reasonable and necessary test if it targeted a student at risk of failing PE ahead of a student at risk of failing reading. Similarly, you can see in the statute even further below that Title II is very broad it covers the learning needs (unspecified subject matter) of all students. SEC [20 U.S.C. 6315] TARGETED ASSISTANCE SCHOOLS. (a) IN GENERAL. In all schools selected to receive funds under section 1113(c) that are ineligible for a schoolwide program under section 1114, 13

14 have not received a waiver under section 1114(a)(1)(B) to operate such a schoolwide program, or choose not to operate such a schoolwide program, a local educational agency serving such school may use funds received under this part only for programs that provide services to eligible children under subsection (c) identified as having the greatest need for special assistance. (b) TARGETED ASSISTANCE SCHOOL PROGRAM. To assist targeted assistance schools and local educational agencies to meet their responsibility to provide for all their students served under this part the opportunity to meet the challenging State academic standards, each targeted assistance program under this section shall (1) determine which students will be served; (2) serve participating students identified as eligible children under subsection (c), including by (A) using resources under this part to help eligible children meet the challenging State academic standards, which may include programs, activities, and academic courses necessary to provide a well-rounded education; SEC [20 U.S.C. 6613] LOCAL USES OF FUNDS. (a) IN GENERAL. A local educational agency that receives a subgrant under section 2102 shall use the funds made available through the subgrant to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive programs and activities described in subsection (b), which may be carried out (1) through a grant or contract with a for-profit or nonprofit entity; or (2) in partnership with an institution of higher education or an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as such terms are defined under section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)). (b) TYPES OF ACTIVITIES. The programs and activities described in this subsection (1) shall be in accordance with the purpose of this title; (2) shall address the learning needs of all students, including children with disabilities, English learners, and gifted and talented students; and Q: The maximum amount received under Title IV is $30,000. Are there schools that will receive more? At the $500 million appropriation level, only 15 percent of districts nationwide will receive funding of more than $30,000. Illinois largest districts receive an allocation of more than $30,000. By law, districts must receive at least $10,000. Q: If you transfer money from Title IVA and then have less than $30,000, do you still need expenditures in all three areas? 14

15 No, if a district transfers funds from Title IVA and the allocation is less than $30,000, the law does not require a needs assessment or specific allocations for safe and healthy students or well-rounded education. However, if funds less than $30,000 remain in Title IV-A, the district must spend the money on activities in at least one of the three categories, and the 15 percent technology spending cap still applies. This is per FAQ_Mar32016.pdf and Q: Title IV: Is there a 15 percent cap on technology or is 15 percent required? There is a 15 percent cap is on devices, equipment, software applications, platforms, digital instructional resources, and/or other one-time IT purchases (Title IV Non-Regulatory Guidance: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants, p. 31). Q: Do the percentage caps in Title IV apply to the allocation in the aggregate across public and nonpublic or are they based on the allocations for each group? A Special Rule in the Student Support and Academic Enrichment program states that no more than 15 percent of funds for activities to support the effective use of technology may be used "for purchasing technology infrastructure as described in subsection (a)(2)(b), which includes technology infrastructure purchased for the activities under subsection (a)(4)(a)." To clarify, LEAs or consortiums of LEAs may not spend more than 15 percent of funding in this content area on devices, equipment, software applications, platforms, digital instructional resources. and/or other one-time IT purchases (ESEA section 4109(b)). Districts that receive $30,000 or more must use a portion of funds to support one or more activities authorized under section 4109(a) pertaining to the effective use of technology, including an assurance that it will not use more than 15 percent of the remaining portion for purchasing technology infrastructure as described in section 4109(b). For more information about Title IV, please review Title IV, Part A: Non-Regulatory Guidance Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants at Sections of the ESEA specify that LEAs and State Education Agencies receiving funds under Title IV, Part A must provide for the equitable participation of private school students, teachers, and other educational personnel in areas these agencies serve, including by engaging in timely and meaningful consultation with private school officials during the design and development of their Title IV, Part A 15

16 programs. New or changed requirements that affect the equitable participation of private school students, teachers, and other educational personnel under the ESEA will be addressed in forthcoming guidance. Otherwise, the existing nonregulatory Title IX, Part E Uniform Provisions, Subpart 1 Private Schools (Revised March 2009) will remain applicable. See pdf. Q: Will rural and low-income grants be available? Districts already have been notified of Rural Education Achievement Program allocations. 16