Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2010
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) - Title I
Fund Code: 770
ARRA Purpose: The overall purposes of the ARRA federal grant programs are to stimulate the economy in the short term and invest in education and other public services to ensure the long-term economic health of the nation. ARRA funds must be spent quickly to save and create jobs, and at the same time must be invested wisely in activities designed to strengthen education, drive reforms, and improve results for students.
ARRA Reporting Requirements: To ensure transparency and accountability, school districts will be required to report on how the ARRA funds are being spent and the results of the expenditures. Districts must maintain accurate, complete, and reliable documentation of all ARRA expenditures and be prepared to submit required quarterly reports to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department). Detailed reporting requirements will be announced as they become available.
Economies of Scale: The Department encourages districts to coordinate decisions regarding the use of ARRA funds across ARRA funding streams, including Title I, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF). In addition, districts should consider using ARRA-Title I funds to support and strengthen regional and collaborative approaches in order to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale that will last beyond the life of ARRA funding. This could include partnering with other districts, educational collaboratives, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and professional associations in making strategic investments.
| ARRA - Title I Purpose: |
Title I, as reauthorized under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, provides supplemental resources to local school districts in order to help improve teaching and learning for students in high poverty schools most at risk of failing to meet the state's academic achievement standards. Activities funded through the ARRA-Title I grants must be designed to help improve education for at-risk students and close achievement gaps. Districts are expected to focus ARRA-Title I funds on strategic investments that will yield outcomes extending beyond the grant period. |
| Priorities: |
Recovery (up to 50% of total two-year allocation)
Funds used to support or expand existing Title I programming. Investment (at least 50% of total two-year allocation)
Strategic investments that will yield benefits and/or cost savings beyond the length of the grant period in one or more of the following areas.
Educator Quality and Effectiveness - Activities that will result in increased educator effectiveness and equitable distribution of qualified teachers, para-educators, administrators, and other personnel working with Title I-eligible students.
Support and Intervention - Activities that will result in improved implementation of intensive and effective systems, supports, and programming for the district's lowest performing schools and students.
Assessment and Data Systems - Activities that will result in increased or improved implementation of high-quality assessment and data systems to track progress and foster continuous improvement in Title I schools.
College and Career Readiness - Activities that will result in greater numbers of students prepared effectively for college and careers.
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| Eligibility: | A district is eligible to receive ARRA Title I funds if it meets the March 2009 eligibility criteria for Targeted Grants and Education Finance Incentive Grants (EFIG) under Title I, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Grants are awarded to local school districts after Department review and approval of the local plan. |
| Funding: |
Allocations for the first installment of funds are posted on the Grants Management website. Allocations for the second installment will be posted when they become available. http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/grants/ |
| Fund Use: |
Funds may be used in accordance with existing Title I, Part A rules and regulations under NCLB to provide supplemental academic, instructional, and support services for eligible students, professional development activities for staff, support for parent involvement activities, and for the purchase of appropriate supplies and materials.
Districts should coordinate the use of these funds with other federal, state, and local funds, while ensuring that all Title I funds are used to provide services that are supplemental to those that the district would otherwise provide through state or local sources.
Districts should focus at least 50% of their ARRA Title I funds on strategic investments that will help further progress toward the goals listed under investment in the priority section above and that will provide ongoing benefits and/or cost savings beyond the expiration of ARRA funding. |
| Project Duration: | 7/1/2009 - 6/30/2010 *
*(All Department grants are awarded for one fiscal year at a time. The ARRA grants have been awarded to the state as part of the FY2010 budget appropriation. As with other federal entitlement grants, they are subject to the Federal Tydings Amendment, which allows any funds not expended in the year of appropriation to be carried over for obligation during an additional 15 month period. This makes the effective end date for use of these funds September 30, 2011. The Department is working currently on specific carryover procedures for these funds and this information will be provided as soon as it is available.) |
| Program Unit: | School Improvement Grant Programs |
| Contact: | TitleI@doe.mass.edu |
| Phone Number: | (781) 338-6230 |
| Date Due: |
For districts seeking a July 1, 2009 start date, the recommended date due is June 1, 2009. |
| Required Forms: | All required forms and submission instructions are posted at: www.doe.mass.edu/nclb/grant/. |
| Additional Information: |
Budget Detail - Description of Line Item Information
The Department's Title I website contains additional resources to assist districts in their submission of Title I grant applications: www.doe.mass.edu/nclb/grant/.
Applicants can legally claim expenses to the grant only from the date of final Department approval. It is essential to have district contact staff who can be reached in July and August to respond to questions, as needed.
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last updated: May 1, 2009
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