Title I, Part A
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides new funding for programs under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Specifically, ARRA provides $10 billion in additional fiscal year (FY) 2009 Title I, Part A funds to local education agencies for schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students at risk of failing to meet state academic achievement standards. These federal stimulus funds create an opportunity for educators to implement innovative strategies in Title I schools that improve education for at-risk students and close achievement gaps.
Uses of ARRA Title I, Part A, Funds
USED encourages local school divisions to focus use of funds on short-term investments with the potential for long-term benefit rather than making unsustainable, ongoing commitments. Some Title I, Part A, funds may be used for early childhood education programs.
- July 30, 2009 (Office of the Governor) – Executive Order 85 (PDF) requires employers to post recruitment notices for positions fully or partially funded by ARRA on the Virginia Workforce Connection.
- April 24, 2009 (VDOE) – REVISED ARRA Use of Funds Summary (PDF). This document replaces the summary issued March 27.
Examples of allowable uses of AARA Title I funds include:
- Establishing a system for identifying and training highly effective teachers to serve as instructional leaders in Title I schoolwide programs and modifying the school schedule to facilitate collaboration among instructional staff.
- Yearlong training for all teachers and the principal in a Title I school in corrective action or restructuring focused on an intensive academic instructional program or building teachers’ capacity to address academic achievement problems that caused the school to be identified as in need of improvement.
- Providing resources to align early-childhood education with elementary-school standards and, subject to a plan for sustainability, expanding Title I early-childhood education programs; developing core infrastructure in technology in Title I schoolwide programs, including obtaining software and equipment and providing teacher training in the use of technology.
- Providing opportunities for Title I secondary-school programs to use high quality on-line coursework as supplemental learning materials for meeting math and science curriculum requirements.
- Using longitudinal data systems to drive continuous improvement efforts focused on achievement in Title I schools and training teachers in Title I schools on the use of data to inform and improve instruction.
- Using reading or math coaches to provide professional development for teachers in Title I schools.
- Establishing or expanding extended-learning activities for Title I-eligible students, including before or after school, summer, and extended school years, with consideration of how to sustain these activities beyond the two years of ARRA funding.
Suggested Uses of Funds for Early Childhood Programs
- April 30, 2009 (VDOE) – Suggested Uses of American Recovery and Reinvest Act (ARRA) Education Funds for Early Childhood Programs (PDF)
Application Process
The deadline for all federal applications was July 1, 2009.
Waiver Requests
- August 29, 2009 (VDOE) – A request to waive certain requirements (PDF) under ARRA Title I, Part A for the 2009-2010 school year has been submitted to USED.
- August 19, 2009 (Request to USED) – A request to waive the 14 day notice for Public School Choice (PDF) for the 2009-2010 school year has been submitted to USED.
Technical Assistance
Details for the full application process along with Web-based, technical-assistance training modules and information on optional follow-up audio conferences on May 6, 2009 are available in the memorandum below.
- April 24, 2009 (Superintendent's Memorandum) – Submission and Online Technical Assistance for the 2009-2010 Federal Program Applications under Public Law 107-110, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and Public Law 111-5, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
Maintenance of Effort
School divisions have met the maintenance of effort requirement to receive funds under Title I, Part A, for federal fiscal year 2009 only if the combined fiscal effort per pupil or the aggregate expenditure from local and state funds in fiscal year 2008 was at least 90 percent of the combined per pupil effort or aggregate local and state expenditure during fiscal year 2007. The information in this spreadsheet applies to both regular and ARRA Title I, Part A, funds for federal fiscal year 2009.
- April 29, 2009 (VDOE Division of Finance) – Federal Title I Programs Calculation for Federal Maintenance of Effort, Fiscal Year 2009 (XLS)
Fund Allocations
- May 8, 2009 (Superintendent's Memorandum) – Allocations for Divisions that Quality for Funds - FFY 09 ARRA Title I, Part A and ARRA Title I, Part D.
- FY 2009 Title I, Part A Allocations By Local Education Agencies (Based on 2007 Census Data, The FY 2009 Appropriation (Pl 111-8) and The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (Pl111-5)) (PDF)
Guidance Documents
- November 2010 (USED) – When to Treat Expenditures of Education Jobs Funds as State or Local Funds for Purposes of Fiscal Requirements Under Title I, Part A of ESEA (PDF)
- March 2010 (USED) – Guidance: Funds under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (PDF).
- April 3, 2009 (Superintendent's Memorandum) – Intent-to-Apply for Title I, Part A, Funds under ARRA (revised April 6, 2009)
- March 6, 2009 (USED) – American Recovery And Reinvestment Act of 2008, Title I, Part A Recovery Funds For Grants to Local Education Agencies (PDF).
This document provides states and LEAs with basic information regarding how and when Title I, Part A recovery funds will be awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.
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