Title I, Part A Authorized Use of Funds

The California Department of Education (CDE) recommends that local educational agencies (LEAs), County Offices of Education, and direct funded charter schools consider the following general criteria when approving activities or expenditures supported with Title I, Part A funds:

1. The activity/expenditure is aligned to meet the challenging State academic content standards (Every Student Succeeds Act [ESSA] sections 1112[a][3][B][i], and 1112[b]);
   
   
2. The activity/expenditure is an evidenced-based educational strategy (ESSA sections 1003[b][1][B], 1114[d], and 1115[h]);
   
   
3. The activity/expenditure is reasonable, necessary, and allocable cost to the program (Title 2 Code of Federal Regulations sections 200.404, and 200.405);
   
   
4. Title I, Part A funds used supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such funds, be made available from State and local sources, and do not supplant such funds (ESSA Section 1118[b][1]);
   
   
5. Title I, Part A funds used are current Federal fiscal year or the subsequent fiscal year (ESSA Section 1127[a]).

Title I Schoolwide Programs (SWP) should consider the following general criteria when approving activities or expenditures supported with Title I, Part A funds:

6. The activity/expenditure meets a need identified in the comprehensive needs assessment (ESSA Section 1114[b][6]);
   
   
7. The activity/expenditure is included in the School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) (Education Code [EC] Section 64001[g][3][C]);
   
   
8. The SPSA has been approved by the local governing board (EC Section 64001[i]);
   
   
9. The Schoolsite Council (SSC) annually evaluates and monitors the implementation of the SPSA and progress towards accomplishing the goals (EC Section 64001[g][2][B], and [i]); and
   
   
10. The activity/expenditure has been reviewed, approved, and recommended by the SSC to the local governing board (EC Section 64001[d]).

Title I Targeted Assistance Schools (TAS) should consider the following general criteria when approving activities or expenditures supported with Title I, Part A funds:

11. The activity/expenditure serves the needs of students that are identified as failing, or most at risk of failing to meet challenging State academic standards on the basis of multiple, educational related, objective criteria established by the LEA and supplemented by the school (ESSA Section 1115[c][1][B]);
    
    
12. The activity/expenditure is included on an ongoing basis, review of the progress of eligible children and revise the TAS program, if necessary, to provide additional assistance, to enable such children to meet the challenging State academic standards (ESSA Section 1115[b][2][G][iii]).
    
    
13. Staff members paid with Title I funds may assume limited duties that are assigned to similar personnel who are not so paid, including duties beyond classroom instruction or that do not benefit participating children, so long as the amount of time spent on such duties is the same proportion of total work time as prevails with respect to similar personnel at the same school (ESSA Section 1115[d][2]).
    

If an expenditure/activity does not meet all of the above rationale, it is not likely to be an authorized use of Title I, Part A funds.

Resources

ESSA
The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) ESSA informational web page.

Non-Regulatory Guidance - Supporting School Reform by Leveraging Federal Funds in a SWP (PDF)
ED discussing aligning Title I and School Reform. Title I helps State educational agencies, LEAs, and schools meet the educational needs of low-achieving students in schools with high concentrations of students from low-income families.

Within-District Allocations Under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended (PDF)
ED addresses required and authorized reservations of Title I funds by an LEA. Outlines how an LEA, with the Title I funds that remain after the reservations, identifies eligible Title I school attendance areas and allocates Title I funds to public schools.