The United States Department of Education provides states federal educational funds that are allocated through complex formulas. Funding formulas can be based upon a state’s population, unemployment rate, poverty rates, low-income families, etc. The Abilene Independent School District participates primarily in six formulary federal entitlement grants: Title I, Part A; Title I, Part C; Title I, Part D, Subpart 2; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A; and Title IV, Part A.

Title I, Part A – Improving Basic Programs 

Title I, Part A – Improving Basic Programs Operated By Local Educational Agencies—of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, provides supplemental funding to state and local educational agencies to acquire additional education resources at schools serving high concentrations of students from low-income homes. These resources are used to improve the quality of education programs and ensure students from low-income families have opportunities to meet challenging state assessments.The act contains four basic principles: stronger accountability for results; increased flexibility and local control; more choices for parents and students; and an emphasis on research-based instructional strategies. Individual public schools with elevated low socio-economic rates use Title I funds to operate educational programs that supplement and upgrade the instructional program. These programs are based on improving student achievement and include strategies to support parental involvement. Title I offers a variety of services for participating schools, which may include: additional teachers and support staff, extra time for instruction, a variety of teaching methods and materials, smaller classes, and additional training and professional development for staff.

Title I, Part C – Migrant Services – Education of Migratory Children

The Texas Migrant Education Program (MEP) enrolls approximately 31,000 eligible migrant students out of a total Texas public school enrollment of approximately five million students. The state’s migrant program is the fourth largest in the country and is administered at the local level through local educational agencies (LEAs) and educational service centers (ESCs). Texas migrant students and their families migrate annually to 48 other states in the country, making Texas home to the largest interstate migrant student population in the United States. Texas also welcomes workers to the state to perform temporary and seasonal work in its agriculture and fishing industries.

The purpose of the Migrant Education Program is to design and support programs that help migrant students overcome the challenges of mobility, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, and other difficulties associated with a migratory lifestyle. These efforts are aimed at helping migrant students succeed in school and successfully transition to post-secondary education and/or employment. 

Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 – Neglected and Delinquent Students

The Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 federal funds support programs to improve the educational services to children residing in facilities for neglected or delinquent children. The programs under this entitlement help students to acquire the knowledge and skills in the state content standards and state student performance standards. 

Title II, Part A – Improving Teacher and Principal Quality

The Title II, Part A federal funds help increase student achievement through improving teacher and principal quality. These funds are also utilized to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in classrooms and provide schools assistance to help improve teaching, learning, and supervision.

Title III, Part A – English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement 

Title III, Part A aims to ensure that English learners (ELs) and immigrant students attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English. Title III will also assist all English learners meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children are expected to meet.

Title IV, Part A –  Student Support and Academic Enrichment 

The overarching goal of Title IV, Part A, is to increase the capacity of state education agencies, local education agencies, campuses, and communities to meet the following three goals:

1. Provide all students access to a well-rounded education

2. Improve academic outcomes by maintaining safe and healthy students

3. Improve the use of technology to advance student academic achievement