1. Nancy Paprocki and Marie Nolen
Student Support & Academic Enrichment Grants (§4101)under ESSA, Title IV – Part A
Good morning/afternoon – Welcome to our session on Title IV – Part A. My name is ………………… and this is my colleague …………………… We are Principal Consultants in ISBE’s Grants Administration division.
Marie
Nancy Paprocki and Marie Nolen

2. We know you have questions for which we may not have answers!
Please use the colored sticky notes to post your question/s on one of the posters around the room by topic:
Well rounded learning
Technology
Safe and healthy students
Allocations
Funding
Application
On your tables, you will see sticky notes in several colors. You also see that we have poster paper, positioned around the room, for you to park your burning questions and ideas. If time allows, we will try to answer some of the questions. Otherwise, they will be used for future reference, such as in the creation of FAQs for Title IV Part – A.
Later in the presentation, we will be soliciting your ideas on how the Title IV application should look as part of the ESSA consolidated application. We ask that you use the blue sticky notes for those ideas.
We will also solicit your ideas on how reporting to the State should look and we ask that you use the yellow sticky notes for those ideas.
Any other ideas or questions can be written on the orange sticky notes.
Marie

3. Learning Outcomes What will we learn? Title IV – Part A under ESSA
Application Requirements
Specific Allowable Use of Funds
Our 3 main objectives for this session are that you leave here with an understanding of:
-Title IV – Part A under ESSA,
-the application requirements, and
-the activities that may be funded in the three focus areas with Part A funds.
Since we are still ’unwrapping’ the specifics of this grant program under ESSA, this session will be more informational than discussion-based (i.e. questions and answers).
Marie

4. Comparing Title IV: NCLB vs. ESSA
On this slide, you can see that Title IV is now divided into 6 parts as shown in the right column. However, today’s presentation will focus on Part A (those areas included are highlighted in the box) - The Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants.
ESSA eliminated 49 programs currently funded under ESEA, including many that support the comprehensive needs of students, such as:
Safe and drug free schools and communities state grants
National center for school and youth safety
Elementary and secondary school counseling programs
Some of these programs are now included in the Student Support & Academic Enrichment Grants (SSAEG) can provide support for students in the three specific areas starred on the slide:
Activities that support well-rounded educational opportunities,
activities that support safe and healthy students, and
activities to support the effective use of technology.
We will discuss these three focus areas of the grant in more detail later on in the presentation.
Marie

5. PURPOSE OF TITLE IV – Part A
The purpose of this subpart is to improve student academic achievement by increasing the capacity of States, local education agencies, schools, and local communities to—
provide all students with access to a well-rounded education;
improve school conditions for student learning; and
improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.
The purpose of Title IV -Part A is:
To improve student academic achievement by providing -
Activities that support well-rounded educational opportunities,
activities that support safe and healthy students, and
activities to support the effective use of technology.
And now Nancy will talking about program funding…………..
Marie

6. A Need for Program Funding
Students need access to health and safety programs, a diversity of academic programs, and modern technology.
Students need access to a well-rounded curriculum. Block grant funds will help schools expand health, physical education, music, art, STEM, computer science, accelerated learning, history, and civics courses.
Schools need technology-proficient educators, well equipped classrooms, sufficiently supported administrative structures, and a curriculum optimized to take advantage of the benefits technology offers to all students.
ESSA eliminated numerous programs that support the overall health of students, investments in education technology, as well as helping districts ensure access to a well-rounded education. A robust federal investment in support of these programs is absolutely essential through Title IV, Part A. Without the block grant, districts will be forced to choose which priorities to invest in - even though an investment in all three is necessary to a comprehensive education.
Evidence shows a direct correlation between physical and mental health and learning that is essential to academic success, school completion, and the development of healthy, resilient, and productive citizens. Schools help students acquire life-long knowledge and skills through health education, physical education, nutrition, school mental and behavioral health services, counseling, and integration among all education and health programs. Implementation of these programs helps close opportunity and learning gaps and provide students with essential modern workforce skills. Nancy

7. Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr
Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent
Funding
Title IV - Part A, (formerly known as the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities program under NCLB) has not been funded since 2007, when Congress appropriated $270 million.
ESSA reconstitutes Part A into the Student Support and Academic Enrichment program, and authorizes the new program at $1.6 billion annually through 2020.
The actual appropriations for the program differ as appropriations are a separate process in Congress.
Nancy

8. Funding cont’d Title IV is the 3rd largest authorized program in ESSA
Districts will receive a formula-driven amount of funds based on subpart 2 of part A of Title I for the preceding fiscal year
No allocation to an LEA under this subsection may be made in an amount less than $10,000
LEAs may form a consortium with other surrounding LEAs and combine the funds each agency receives to jointly carry out the activities described.
Consider whether, or not, and also how your state will encourage districts to form consortia to pool resources to address identified needs and priorities. In some situations, it could be particularly beneficial for districts to work in regional partnerships to increase the impact of limited federal dollars.
nancy

9. Title IV-A Current Appropriations
President Obama’s budget currently funds Title IV at only $500 million much less than appropriated in the bill. If that appropriation remains, Illinois will receive only 22,048,000 which all 852 districts will take an equitable portion of, based on Title I allocation.
Nancy
Data taken from Congressional Research Service Figures 3/11/2016

10. What will your Title IV-A allocations be?
At the $500 million appropriation level, only 15% of districts nationwide will receive funding over $30,000.
Only the largest districts in Illinois will receive an allocation over $30,000
No allocation, by law, will be less than $10,000
Nancy

11. Title IV-A Allocations to LEAs of less than $30,000
Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent
Title IV-A Allocations to LEAs of less than $30,000
A Needs Assessment is not required.
Specific allocations for safe and healthy students or well rounded education are not required.
An annual report to the state is not required.
MUST spend money in at least one of the three categories.
15% technology cap still applies.
No more than 2% allowed for administrative costs
A district receiving a formula allocation less than $30,000 is largely free to spend that money on any allowable activity related to well-rounded education initiatives, safety/welfare programs, or educational technology needs (although, the 15 percent cap on infrastructure, device, and software spending appears to remain in place).
In this way, Title IV, Part A creates a two-tier system of districts that will shortchange small and rural districts and states that have relatively large numbers of districts compared to their student populations. In fact, some districts may refuse these federal dollars – especially those above, but near the $30,000 threshold – because the cost of carrying out the administrative mandates will exceed the value of the program funds that can be used for administrative purposes.
Nancy

12. Title IV–A Allocations to LEAs of more than $30,000
A Needs Assessment is required.
Specific allocations for safe and healthy students or well rounded education must be met
20% for well-rounded education
20% for safe and healthy students
60% can be spent in any way, but a portion must be spent on technology
An annual report to the state is required.
15% technology equipment cap applies.
No more than 2% allowed for administrative costs
Nancy

13. Transferability of Funds
ESSA allows 100% transferability of Title IV-A funds:
Between Title II Title IV
From Titles II and IV Title I
May not transfer funds out of Title I
State or district may transfer funds
May transfer only for current fiscal year
The Title IV application will be included in the ESSA consolidated application.
In this way, transferability is simplified and transfers can be made between programs
With the low allocations as currently appropriated, it is highly likely that many districts will transfer and recategorize their Title IV funds.
This was not the original intention of the law as written and appropriated. IF increased appropriations aren’t realized through the legislative process, this will functionally ruin the program.
Nancy

14. Opportunities for Innovation
Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent
Opportunities for Innovation
By not being limited to a specific subject area for which to apply for grant funding, LEAs are:
free to emphasize any of the multiple subjects listed in ESSA, and
free to integrate across subjects.
Outside of funding concerns, the possibilities are endless in how states can utilize this program to make a meaningful investment in their students.
The purpose of rolling large numbers of individual grant programs supporting a well-rounded education into a single block grant was to offer flexibility to states in how and where they spend the money, thereby creating opportunities for experimentation and innovation.
Nancy

15. Funding Advanced Placement
Title IV-A is available to fund AP Exams in 2017 and beyond.
Because ESSA implementation will take place primarily in the school year, Congress included a special rule under Title IV to allow states and districts to use fiscal year 2017 Title IV funds to cover all or part of AP Exams taken by low-income students in both May 2017 ( school year) and in May 2018 ( school year). Therefore, for fiscal year 2017, states and districts will need to use one year of federal funding to cover two years’ worth of AP Exams.
Using a single year’s federal award to subsidize both years’ worth of low-income students’ AP Exams creates two challenges that you will need to plan now to handle:
Districts and schools will need to find room in Title IV dollars for two years of low-income students’ AP Exam fees: the upcoming May 2017 exams and also the May 2018 exams.
Payment for the May 2017 exams is due June 15. Schools using their Title IV funding toward 2017 exams will need to pay for those exams in full by the June deadline and then await release of the Title IV funding later that summer in order to reimburse themselves for that expenditure.
Nancy

16. Application Requirements
Consultations
Needs Assessments
Descriptions
ESSA legislation requires the Title IV application have 3 main components:
Consultations with both stakeholders and private schools
Needs assessments
Descriptions of programs to be funded
We will go over each of these sections in the following slides.
Marie

17. Consultations Consultation is required with involved stakeholders:
Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent
Consultations
Consultation is required with involved stakeholders:
parents,
teachers,
principals,
other school leaders,
specialized instructional support personnel, students,
community-based organizations, and
local government representatives.
Consultation is also required with private schools in order to ensure equitable participation.
Consultation on the use of funds under this subpart is required with stakeholders, such as (read from slide) and others with relevant and demonstrated expertise in programs and activities designed to meet the purpose in this subpart.
Consultation should be continued in order to improve activities in order to meet the purpose of this subpart.
Additionally, consultation with private/non-public schools is required to ensure their equitable participation in the Title IV Part-A program.
Marie

18. Needs Assessments A Comprehensive Needs Assessment should:
Address all 3 focus areas-
Safe and healthy learning environment
Access to well-rounded education
Personalized learning experiences supported by technology
Be conducted every 3 years
Include language that is very broad and provides flexibility in the assessments districts may use
Identify specific subjects, activities, and programs necessary to ensure students have access to a well-rounded education.
REMINDER: Districts with allotments of less than $30,000 are exempt from the Needs Assessment requirement.
ESSA requires districts to conduct a COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT to identify the needs of their unique populations and make investments using federal dollars to address those needs. Through the needs assessment process, LEAs have the flexibility to spend federal dollars to meet the needs of their unique student populations, particularly for minority groups including women, English language learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students.
Programs and activities states may consider include any subject, as determined by the state or LEA, with the purpose of providing all students access to an enriched curriculum and educational experience. Nancy will provide examples later on in the presentation.
Marie

19. Needs Assessment Resources
Districts may select a needs assessment that addresses their unique needs or use one of the following:
EDSCLS (ED’s School Climate Surveys)
surveys.nces.ed.gov/edscls3/
CDC School Health Index
National School Climate Center
ASCD’s School Improvement Tool
sitool.ascd.org  
There are many other options available!
Here is a few resources we came across in our research that districts may use to conduct their Needs Assessments……………………………
Marie

20. Descriptions
Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent
A description of the activities and programs that the LEA or consortium will carry out shall include the following:
Any partnership with a higher education institution, business, non-profit or community organization, or other private or public entity.
How funds will be used to support well-rounded education.
How funds will be used to support safe and healthy students.
How funds will be used to support the effective use of technology.
The program objectives and intended outcomes for the activities and how they will be periodically evaluated.
A description of programs and activities that the LEA or consortium will carry out shall include the following:
Any partnership it has with other entities, organizations, or institutions with demonstrated success in implementing activities under this subpart;
If applicable*, how funds will be used to support the 3 main focus areas (well-rounded education, safe and healthy students, and effective use of technology); and
The program objectives and intended outcomes, including the plan for evaluating the program(s).
*Under $30,000 must spend money in at least one of the 3 focus areas and still has the 15% technology cap. Allotments over $30,000 must spend at least 20% for well-rounded education and safe and healthy school activities with a 15% cap on technology.
Marie

21. What should the application look like?
Title IV –Part A will be a part of the NCLB consolidated application. This is necessary due to the transferability of funds.
Here is where we solicit ideas from you, the audience……………..
Marie

22. Please take 3 minutes to write your ideas, on the BLUE sticky notes, for what the application should look like. Consider: -What forms should be uploaded? -What should stay the same from NCLB? -What definitely needs to change from NCLB?
3 minutes
USE the BLUE sticky notes!!!
So, please take about 3 minutes to write down your ideas for how the Title IV – Part A application should look. Please consider the following:
What forms should be uploaded?
What should stay the same from NCLB?
What definitely needs to change from NCLB?
Marie
End

23. Application Assurances
Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent
Application Assurances
As with Titles I and II-A, ESSA requires that specific assurances be agreed to in Title IV applications.
As stated in the beginning of this presentation, the purpose of Title IV – Part A is to improve students’ academic achievement. So, districts must continuously Monitor and Evaluate their program and activities, Report their findings, and then use their findings to improve programming and then start the process over again………………………………..
Marie

24. Title IV: Part A— Application Assurances
Similar to Title I, Prioritize the distribution of funds to schools that:
are among the schools with the greatest needs
have the highest percentages or numbers of children counted under concentration grants;
are identified for comprehensive support and improvement
are implementing targeted support and improvement plans; or
are identified as a persistently dangerous public school
Comply with equitable participation requirements for private school children
Use not less than 20 percent of funds to support well rounded education opportunities;
Use not less than 20 percent of funds support safe and healthy students;
Use a portion of funds to support the effective use of technology to improve the academic achievements, academic growth, and digital literacy for all students;
Annually Report on use of funds to the State.
Each application shall ensure that the LEA:
-Prioritizes the distributions of funds where they are most needed,
-complies with the equitable participation requirement for private/non-public schools,
-complies with the, at least, 20% requirement for well-round education and activities for safe and healthy students,
-Use a portion of funds for improving the use of technology (15% cap on purchase of technology infrastructure), and
-Report annually to the State (exception for allotments under $30,000).
Note to self: The funding info. above applies to allotments over $30,000. Under $30,000 must spend money in at least one of the 3 focus areas and still has the 15% technology cap.
Marie

25. How can we ensure compliance and improved student achievement?
Solicit ideas from the audience……………..

26. What forms should be submitted to the state to ensure compliance?
Please take 3 minutes to write your ideas for how reporting to the State should be accomplished.
Consider:
What forms should be submitted to the state to ensure compliance?
How can we (ISBE) offer effective technical assistance for new and existing programs?
How can we coordinate between Title I, Title II and Title IV?
How can we ensure the programs/activities are making a difference?
USE the Yellow sticky notes!!!
Outside of fiscal monitoring and the filing of expenditure reports, please take about 3 minutes to write down your ideas for how we can ensure compliance and improved student achievement. Please consider the following:
What forms should be submitted to the state to ensure compliance?
How can we (ISBE) offer effective technical assistance for new and existing programs?
How can we coordinate between Title I, Title II and Title IV?
How can we ensure these programs/activities are making a difference?
Okay, thank you for your ideas and now, I’ll turn it back over to Nancy……………
Marie

27. Supplement not Supplant
Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent
All Title IV, Part A funds are subject to a supplement not supplant requirement.
What is supplanting?
Supplanting means substituting or replacing funds from non-federal sources (state/local) for existing or previously existing instructional programs or non- instructional services or
Substituting or replacing funds from other federal/state programs required by law for specific categories of students 
As with all Federal programs, supplanting is prohibited in Title IV-a.
On this slide you see 2 examples that define supplanting.
First….
Read the bullets
Nancy

28. Programming has 3 Categories
Well-rounded educational opportunities
Safe and Healthy Students
Technology
Title IV is grounded in 3 categories of programming
Read the bullets
Each category has its own definition and specific requirements for use of funds that we will go over individually
Nancy

29. Activities that Support Well-rounded Educational Opportunities
First we have activities that support well rounded educational opportunities
Nancy

30. NCLB Core Academic Subjects
Originally, NLCB defined core academic subjects as including these specific subjects which limited spending in Title I. They included:
Read the slide
© 2016 by the Education Commission of the States. All rights reserved. Education Commission of the States encourages its readers to share our information with others.

31. ESSA Adds Core Academic Subjects
In ESSA, however, lawmakers expanded this definition by shifting from core academic subjects to a well-rounded education. This new well-rounded education definition includes the original 9 subjects covering the commonly tested subjects of English language arts and mathematics, as well as a wide variety of other subjects covering the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences.
These additional subjects ( while they’re not new to schools) are now included as “core subjects” as defined by the law
They include… Read the slide
As you can see, there are many exceptional programs that can be funded with Title IV-A dollars so that all students can be successful.
Nancy
© 2016 by the Education Commission of the States. All rights reserved. Education Commission of the States encourages its readers to share our information with others.

32. Activities to Support Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities
Illinois State Board of Education Gery J. Chico, Chairman Dr. Christopher Koch, State Superintendent
are coordinated with other schools and community based services and programs
may be conducted in partnership with an institution of higher education, business, nonprofit organization, community based organization, or other public or private entity with a demonstrated record of success in implementing activities under this section
may include programs and activities, such as…
college and career guidance and counseling programs
programs and activities that use music and the arts
programming and activities to improve instruction and student engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science, (referred to in this section as ‘‘STEM subjects’
efforts to raise student academic achievement through accelerated learning
foreign language instruction
20% of funds in districts with an allocation of over $30000 must be spent in this area.
Activities can now be coordinated with other schools and community organizations and services, higher ed, and other public and private entities…. Not just single school based programming
May also include those things on the list on the slide:
Counseling, college and career guidance,
Music and arts
Programming and activities to improve instruction. PD for teachers is an allowable and encouraged project under title IV
Accelerated learning, such as AP and IB programs
Foreign languages
PD in these areas is also encouraged and allowable

33. Activities to Support Safe and Healthy Students
The next category under title IV-A is activities to support safe and healthy students.
Nancy

34. Activities to Support Safe and Healthy Students
are coordinated with other schools and community based services and programs
foster safe, healthy, supportive, and drug-free environments that support student academic achievement
promote the involvement of parents in the activity or program;
may be conducted in partnership with an institution of higher education, business, nonprofit organization, community based organization, or other public or private entity with a demonstrated record of success in implementing activities described in this section
may include programs and activities, such as…
drug and violence prevention
mental health services
programs or activities that integrate health and safety practices into school or athletic programs
help prevent bullying and harassment
etc.
20% of funds in districts with an allocation of over $30000 must be spent in the area of safe and healthy schools.
Funding for PE and health courses are also an option here
Parents are encouraged to be included
Again a focus on partnerships with outside public and private agencies, as well as other schools
Nancy

35. Activities to Support the Effective Use of Technology
It is well known that schools are struggling to fund modern technology in the classroom as much as students would benefit from this type of learning. This is the reasoning for including technology in the grant. However, it was not intended as the main focus, necessitating the 15% cap.
Nancy

36. Activities to Support the Effective Use of Technology
Funds shall be used to improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement, academic growth, and digital literacy of all students by:
providing educators, school leaders, and administrators with the professional learning tools, devices, content, and resources to personalize learning to improve student academic achievement and other objectives;
building technological capacity and infrastructure;
developing or using effective or innovative strategies for the delivery of specialized or rigorous academic courses and curricula through the use of technology, including digital learning technologies and assistive technology;
carrying out blended learning projects;
providing professional development in the use of technology providing students in rural, remote, and underserved areas with the resources to take advantage of high-quality digital learning experiences, digital resources, and access to online courses taught by effective educators;
provide students in rural, remote, and underserved areas with digital learning resource.
Remember, there is a cap of 15% on equipment and software
USES OF FUNDS.—a district shall use a portion of these funds to improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement, academic growth, and digital literacy of all students, including by meeting the needs of such agency or consortium that are identified in the needs assessment), which may include—
Devices and software are obvious purchases
PD is allowed and encouraged here as well
emphasis on students in rural, remote and underserved areas with needed resources, such as internet and portable devices

37. Questions and/or Comments

38. Resources
1. ASCD: 2. Education Commission of the States 3. SHAPE America shapeamerica.org 4. ISBE.net/essa

39. Thank you! Questions/concerns, please contact:
Marie Nolen – ISBE Chicago office or
Nancy Paprocki – ISBE Chicago office