2025-2026 Program and Budget Handbook

it were not receiving Title I funds. The allocation must be done without regard for a school’s Title I status (i.e., neutrally). A Title I neutral methodology ensures that State and local funds to a Title I school are not reduced based on the school receiving Title I, Part A funds because the methodology for allocating State and local funds to schools does not consider Title I status. Other federal funds still adhere to the following three guidelines to ensure they do not violate this key fiscal rule: • Provide services that are required under other federal, state or local laws. • Provide services that were provided with non federal funds in the prior year. • Provide services for participating children when the same services are being provided with non-federal funds for nonparticipating children. Schoolwide Program Schools Under Section 1114 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) legislation , Title I schools can elect to operate a Schoolwide program (SWP). To receive SWP certification, schools must complete a year of planning with a technical assistance provider unless a local educational agency determines that less time is needed to develop and implement the SWP plan. The development of the SWP plan is the responsibility of the SSC and includes input from the advisory committees. Together they must develop a comprehensive plan for reforming the academic program. The Targeted Assistance Schools Under Section 1115 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) legislation, Title I Targeted Assistance Schools (TAS) use funds received only for programs that provide services to eligible students

Additionally, the following cost principles must be considered for all proposed expenditures of federal funds by schools and central office: • Must be “necessary” (i.e., expenditure is necessary to address an identified need and achieve one or more of the goals in the school plan). • Must be “reasonable” (i.e., the cost does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the cost). • Must be “allocable” (i.e., the goods or services are chargeable to the program in accordance with relative benefits received). • Must be authorized or not prohibited under state or local laws or regulations. • Must be adequately documented. reform requires that evidence-based intervention strategies are implemented to ensure all students achieve at proficient or advanced levels on state assessments. SWP planned improvements are a framework for ensuring that everything in the school supports student achievement as measured by adequate yearly progress in the four core areas – Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and History/Social Sciences. Schools are accountable for the academic achievement of all students under these reform efforts, but especially for low achieving students.

identified as having the greatest need for special assistance. Eligible children are identified by the school as failing to meet the state’s challenging academic achievement standards.

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