Reimagining Your District’s Federal Fund Spending for Greater Impact

As school districts nationwide finalize next year’s budgets, attentions turn to planning around longstanding federal grants. With much of their general fund predictably earmarked for personnel costs and basic operational needs, districts often rely on the “Title” funds to introduce new approaches to teaching and learning. During my time leading grant programs at the state level, I observed many districts evaluating the results of their grant-funded activities each year and adjusting spending accordingly. However, I also witnessed well-intentioned districts applying these grants to the same strategies again and again without considering the potential of a new direction to amplify improvement. This was never due to a lack of effort or caring but was often rooted in limited bandwidth for grants management or caution around what are and are not allowable uses of these grants.?

The approaching expiration of ESSER III funds is a critical occasion for educational leaders to rethink spending. Specifically, it is an opportunity to weigh how new or continued investment in educational technology can strengthen the impact of their Title I, Title II, and Title IV funds on meeting the unique needs of every student, supporting hardworking and effective educators, and engaging families and communities.? ?

Title I Part A?

Title I Part A funding is aimed at improving achievement for students most at-risk to not meet challenging state academic standards. Allowable uses of Title I include differentiating instruction, non-academic supports, and family engagement activities. While these funds have traditionally been leveraged towards small-group, in-person academic remediation, Title I can also be applied to modern, digital solutions that aide in personalizing learning, monitoring student growth, supporting student wellbeing, and increasing family involvement on a larger scale and at less cost than traditional approaches.?

Title II Part A??

The purpose of Title II Part A is to increase the?number of teachers, principals,?and other school?leaders who are effective in?improving student?academic achievement. Allowable uses include high-quality professional development, mentoring and coaching, effective teacher feedback systems, and recruitment and retention efforts. Often used for short-term, in-person teacher training, the depth and breadth of Title II’s impact on student outcomes can be maximized through digital solutions that amplify recruitment efforts, streamline hiring processes, personalize professional learning, and capture educator strengths and needs efficiently and effectively.?

Title IV Part A?

Title IV Part A funds are designed to promote a well-rounded education, support safe and healthy schools, and facilitate technology integration. Whether it's investing in software to bridge the digital divide and promote access to unique learning experiences, implementing learning management systems to support remote and hybrid environments, or deploying data-rich tools to inform decision-making around whole-student supports, educational technology can play a pivotal role in advancing the goals of Title IV.?

As districts seek to maximize impact of limited resources, strategic investments in educational technology can bring best practices in delivering data-informed instruction, creating engaging content, addressing whole-student needs, and supporting hardworking educators to every classroom. By thoughtfully leveraging Title I, Title II, and Title IV funds for the greatest effect, districts can set the stage for every student to succeed.