The Department of Education has completed the allocations for federal entitlement grant programs authorized under No Child Left Behind. The attached Excel spreadsheet includes a “sheet” for each program. Arkansas’ authority for administration of these programs has been approved under a State consolidated plan. In keeping with that plan, local school district applications for these programs will be through the Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Planning Process (ACSIP). Most schools submitted those plans that included Title I and Title V on or before the July 1 deadline. Applications for the remaining programs along with any option for transferability will be by revision/amendment to the School improvement plan. An updated version of the ACSIP software is available for download. This new version has budget tabs for the additional federal programs.
Program guidance for each of these Titles is being completed and will be distributed via Director’s Memo in the near future. A video teleconference is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m. to present additional information and guidance concerning the transferability options within and across these Titles.
Major changes in programs as adopted in No Child Left Behind are briefly summarized.
Title I – Improving Achievement of Disadvantaged Children. There are only minor changes in the guidelines for programs serving these special populations. The allocations in this Table are final and are slightly different from the earlier estimates. Program manager for this Title is Arlen Jones
Title II A – Improving Teacher Quality. This is a new program that includes eligible activities from Eisenhower Professional Development Programs and Class Size Reduction. The new and expanded guidelines make additional activities eligible under this program title. Program manager for this Title is Roy Barnes
Title II D – Enhancing Education Through Technology. A portion of the funds awarded to the state for technology is now distributed through a formula to all eligible schools. An additional component of this Title is competitive grants, which will be announced at a later time. Program manager for this Title is Jim Boardman
Title IV A – Safe and Drug Free Schools. There are few program changes from previous years in the requirements for this Title. Previous requirements to allocate 70% on a formula grant basis and 30% by competitive grants was eliminated and all available funds are allocated based on the formula grant. Program manager for this Title is Otistene Smith.
Title V – This program providing for innovative programs was previously Title VI. Program guidelines are very similar to the old Title VI program. The allocations in this Table are final and are slightly different from the earlier estimates. Program manage for this Title is Glenda Peyton
Title VI – Provides funding to a select group of districts designated as rural schools based on population and location and based on a high poverty designation. These criteria limit the participation in this program to 100 eligible districts in Arkansas. Program manager for this Title is Charles D. Watson.