Michelle Doyle offers some great tips to help you think about what new services you can access through the Title I program under ESSA. Here is what Michelle says:
ESSA provides a great deal more flexibility in the use of Title I funds thanwas previously allowed under No Child Left Behind. As you enter intoconsultation with your public school counterparts, take a good look at theneeds of your students to determine if additional services would be mostbeneficial to them. Keep in mind that there has been an entire year of the lawprior to implementation of the new equitable service requirements, includingthe new services. Districts should be prepared to implement these for the2017-18 school year and not suggest putting them off because they are not yetprepared to offer the new options. Also, if the district cannot provide theseoptions that best meet the needs of your students, there are many third partyproviders that can do so and help ensure that the services your studentsreceive as really equitable and meet their needs.
Services in reading/language arts of mathematics are of coursestill an integral part of the Title I program. There is a new emphasis onscience, and an acknowledgement that all core subjects can be part of the TitleI program. Counseling, mentoring, and one-on-one tutoring are specificallymentioned as part of the equitable services offerings. ESSA also makes clearthat these services can be provided individually or in combination. As apractical example, this means that a student who needs Title I counseling mayor may not be receiving Title I instruction in reading or math.
Another focus of Title I is on blended learning and distancelearning. While allowed in the past, this new focus within the language of ESSAmeans that it is a topic definitely on the table for consultation about thebest services for your students.
Remember that the needs of your students are the foundation ofany program design for Title I (and all federal programs providing equitableservices). In order to have a meaningful discussion about service options, cometo consultation prepared to talk about your students' needs and why certainservices best meet those needs.
Finally, there is a provision in Title I that allows funds fromother programs to meet the needs of your Title I students. The funds cannot betransferred, nor can they be used for purposes not supporting the programs fromwhich they came. But, for example, your Title IIA professional developmentfunds could be focused on your at-risk students instead of your generalpopulation of students. In this way, your services to your Title I students canincrease because other programs support those same student needs.
To receive Michelle's weekly consultation tips, email Michelle and ask to be added to her list: michelle.doyle.essa@gmail.com.
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New Title I Services under ESSA
byPublished on Apr-04-2017 11:53 AM0 Comments
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