Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies

To help local educational agencies (LEAs) improve teaching and learning in high-poverty schools in particular for children failing, or most at-risk of failing, to meet challenging State academic standards.

To help local educational agencies (LEAs) improve teaching and learning in high-poverty schools in particular for children failing, or most at-risk of failing, to meet challenging State academic standards.

SEAs including for the Outlying Areas and the Secretary of the Interior. Local educational agencies (LEAs) and Indian tribal schools are subgrantees.

In a targeted assistance program, children who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet challenging State academic standards. In a schoolwide program, all children in the school.

Use of funds varies, depending on whether a school is operating a schoolwide program under Section 1114 of the ESEA or a targeted assistance program under Section 1115 of the ESEA. A school with at least a 40 percent poverty rate may choose to operate a schoolwide program under Section 1114, which allows Title I funds to be combined with other Federal, State, and local funds to upgrade the school's overall instructional program in order to raise the achievement of the lowest-achieving students; a school that does not meet the 40 percent poverty threshold may also operate a schoolwide program if it receives a waiver to do so from the State educational agency (SEA). All other participating schools must operate a targeted assistance program, which provides extra instruction to those children failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet challenging State academic standards. Title I funds must be used only to supplement the State and local funds that would, in the absence of Title I funds, be made available for the education of participating students, and not to supplant such funds. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 76.564-76.569. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on (202) 708-7770.

Generally, awards to SEAs are made on July 1 and October 1 of the following fiscal year. In addition, funds remain available to SEAs and LEAs for an additional fiscal year for obligation and expenditure under section 421(b) of GEPA, subject to the carryover limitation of section 1127 of the ESEA.

The Department of Education (ED) makes grants through SEAs to LEAs using four statutory formulas based primarily on Census Bureau estimates of the number of children from low-income families in each LEA and State per pupil expenditures. Agency establishes procedures for submitting plan and required documents. Awards made via formula as described below.

If an LEA's plan is disapproved by the SEA, the LEA may appeal to the SEA and then to the Department of Education under Section 432 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA).