The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has been awarded funding under Title I, Section 1003(g) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as the School Improvement Fund. The ADE is authorized to make these funds available through competitive grants to eligible school districts to assist schools identified in School Improvement Year 3 or beyond. In conjunction with funds reserved under Section 1003(a), School Improvement funds are to be used to leverage change and improve technical assistance activities towards measurable outcomes, as described in the attached School Improvement Fund Grant application document.
Eligibility will be limited to Title I recipient schools in School Improvement Year 3 or beyond that are also participating in the state’s selected corrective action program. Greatest need will be based on the largest number of subpopulations identified as having failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as a subpopulation, regardless of the School Improvement status Year.
Approximately $1.9 million is available for funding grant awards. A local education agency (LEA) that receives funding in the first year of the grant may apply for grant funds for two subsequent years after the initial award, based upon the availability of applicable funds and the determination that the school has met goals for improvement under Section 1116(b) and 1116(c).
Please return all documents to: Ms. Annette Barnes, ACSIP Coordinator, #4 Capitol Mall, Room 302-B, Little Rock, AR 72201. The deadline is 4:00 pm on March 3, 2008.