What is Title I?
Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, redefined by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA), is a federal program aimed at providing supplemental financial assistance to school districts. The primary goal of Title I is to ensure that all children have a significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. By doing so, it seeks to close the educational achievement gaps that exist between students from different socio-economic backgrounds.
How Are Title I Funds Distributed?
Title I funds are allocated to state education agencies and local education agencies (LEAs) based on poverty estimates produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. Within these LEAs, the funds are further distributed to schools based on school poverty rates. A common measure used by LEAs to determine these rates is the number of public school children eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (FRPL).
However, not all Title I-eligible schools participate in Title I programs. This is due to rules governing within-LEA allocations and the flexibility that states and districts have in allocating Title I funds. Consequently, the per-pupil allocations for schools can vary significantly within LEAs, across LEAs within a state, and across different states.
Participation and Program Types
In the 2021-22 school year, approximately 63% of traditional public schools and 62% of public charter schools were Title I eligible. A Title I-eligible school could implement one of the following:
- A schoolwide program
- A targeted assistance program
- No Title I program at all
Traditional public schools had a lower percentage of participation in schoolwide Title I programs compared to public charter schools (42% vs. 50%). Both types of schools operated targeted assistance programs at a rate of 9%. However, a higher percentage of traditional public schools had no Title I program despite being eligible (12% vs. 4% for public charter schools).
Financial Insights
For fiscal years 2021 and 2022, Title I appropriations showed a steady increase. In FY 2022, the total appropriations for Title I programs amounted to $17,278,668,000. Current expenditures from FY 2021 federal Title I grants for economically disadvantaged students accounted for $15.6 billion, representing 2.0% of current expenditures for public elementary and secondary education. Title I expenditures per pupil were $316 on a national level, with variations from $126 in Utah to $547 in Mississippi.
Conclusion
Title I funding plays a crucial role in supporting schools, particularly those serving low-income families, by providing additional resources to help students succeed. Understanding the distribution and impact of these funds is essential for ensuring they are used effectively to enhance educational opportunities for all children.
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