Using ESSA Funds for Professional Learning
Using Title I and ESSA Funds for Professional Learning
The most powerful tool at our disposal for our students is to ensure they have well-prepared and confident teachers who can support all their needs, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides funding for schools to facilitate essential professional development opportunities for their educators.
Title I provides financial assistance through State Education Agencies (SEA) to districts and public schools with high numbers or percentages of children from lower-income families to help ensure that all children meet state academic content and student academic achievement standards.
Through Intentional Schools' Workshops, 1:1 Coaching, Professional Development, and Strategy Planning, you can help your teachers set all students up for success. Many of Intentional Schools’ services and resources can be covered through ESSA Title I funding. Learn more about how to get the most out of your Title I funding with Intentional Schools and give your educators the personalized support they need to have success in the classroom.
If 40% or more of your school’s students come from low-income families, Title I funds must be used on schoolwide initiatives. These are known as Title I schools.
If less than 40% of your school’s students come from low-income families, Title I funds must be used for programming that targets low-income students.
A Guide to Using Title I Funds
for Professional Development
Title I: Local Education Agency (LEA) Administrative Funds
These funds are allocated to support administrative staff, supplies, equipment, travel, and other expenses at the district level for Title I administrative purposes.
Supporting Learning Experiences from Intentional Schools
For schools designated Priority, Focus, or Support:
- 1:1 Coaching
- Inclusive and Responsive Practices
- Flexible Instructional Models
- Curriculum
- Job-embedded Professional Development for Title I schools or a subset with identified needs.
- Instructional Leadership
- Principalship
- Executive Coaching
- Coaching
- SEL for Leaders
- Trauma-Informed Practices for Leaders
- Other areas (including other professional development)
- Summer school, preschool programs, intersession programs
- Additional professional development
- School improvement, etc.
Title I: Parent Engagement
Funding supports training for school staff to enhance collaboration with parents.
Supporting Learning Experiences from Intentional Schools
- 1:1 Coaching
- Workshops
- Curriculum
Title I: Professional Development
These funds cover conferences, including registration, room, food, travel, stipends, and/or substitute pay for educators attending professional development activities.
Supporting Learning Experiences from Intentional Schools
- 1:1 Coaching
- Learning Labs
- Workshops
Title I: Student Success and Achievement
Funding is dedicated to the development and use of formative and interim assessments to monitor the progress of low-achieving students.
Supporting Learning Experiences from Intentional Schools
- 1:1 Coaching
- Learning Labs
Title II, Part A: Allowable Activities
The Title II, Part A grant aims to support teachers, principals, other school leaders, and paraprofessionals in enhancing the overall quality of instruction and ensuring educational equity for all students. Professional development activities funded under Title II, Part A should be sustained, intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, personalized, or based on information from an evaluation and support system, and classroom-focused. It cannot support isolated, standalone professional development. LEAs retain control over federal funds, materials, equipment, and property purchased using Title II, Part A funds. Specific requirements may vary by state.
Allowable activities include:
- Providing training in core academic subjects that teachers teach.
- Improving teaching practices and student academic achievement through effective instructional strategies, methods, and skills, aligned with state academic content and achievement standards.
- Enhancing teachers' and principals' knowledge regarding effective instructional practices.
- Encouraging collaborative groups of teachers and administrators.
- Addressing the needs of students with diverse learning styles, including those with disabilities, special needs, and limited English proficiency.
- Training on improving student behavior and implementing early and appropriate interventions for students with special needs.
- Involving parents, especially those of limited English proficient and immigrant children, in their children's education.
- Training on using data and assessments to improve classroom practice and student learning.
- Implementing programs to improve the teaching force, such as innovative professional development programs focusing on technology literacy, tenure reform, testing teachers in their subject areas, and merit pay programs.
- Enhancing the quality of principals and superintendents through professional development programs and academies.
Private Schools
LEAs may use Title II, Part A funds for various teacher-quality activities, which may include professional development. However, services for private school teachers must specifically be for professional development.