COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

February 15, 2013

TO:  Division Superintendents

FROM:  Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:  Serving Preschool Children Under Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)

In October 2012, the U.S. Department of Education updated the Serving Preschool Children Through Title I, Part A, Non-Regulatory Guidance (ESEA).  The guidance provides clarity regarding the use of Title I, Part A, funds to implement high-quality preschool programs for eligible children.

The updated guidance includes examples on navigating the supplement/not supplant requirements; clarification on criteria to select students for services; use of Title I funds to support other preschool programs such as Head Start; and resources to support early learning programs.  The nonregulatory guidance is available at the following link: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/preschoolguidance2012.pdf.

Questions may be directed to Mrs. Becky Marable, Title I coordinator, at rebecca.marable@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 371-0044, or to your Title I, Part A, regional specialist:

• Regions I, II, and VIII: Mr. Chris McLaughlin at
  Chris.McLaughlin@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-2901
• Regions III and VII: Mrs. Doris (Gabie) Frazier at
  Gabie.Frazier@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-2907
• Regions IV, V, and VI: Dr. Philip Iovino at
  Philip.Iovino@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 371-2934

PIW/RLM