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“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
― William Butler Yates
Don’t lose sight of your “why.” Education is about igniting curiosity, passion and critical thinking skills in students. By paving the way for a dynamic and engaging learning environment, you can inspire students to become lifelong learners and send them off into the world to reach their full potential. Your work has value!
Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated GMAP Application
The Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Consolidated Application is open in the Grant Management Application and Planning (GMAP) system and is due Aug. 11.
Allocations in GMAP are preliminary for the 2023-2024 school year. FY24 allocations are available on the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Federal Grants webpage. Final allocations will be released in the fall upon receipt of final notification from the U.S. Department of Education.
The release of FY24 funds is based on the following:
- An approved FY24 Consolidated Application;
- Submission of FY24 District Funding Assurances;
- Submission of FY24 Superintendent District Funding Assurances and Statement; and
- Submission of FY24 Federal Cash Request Statement of Assurance.
For step-by-step instructions on completing the GMAP application, please consult the GMAP Training Video Series. If you have questions, please contact your Title I, Part A consultant.
USED Releases Updated Title I Equitable Services Guidance
The U.S. Department of Education (USED) has published updates to the document, Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act: Providing Equitable Services to Eligible Private School Children, Teachers, and Families.
The updated guidance, as well as a summary of USED’s responses to comments that it received on the draft update to the guidance, are available on the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
The updates focus on long-standing requirements concerning consultation and extrapolation of survey data. Questions A-9, B-11 and B-13 were revised; questions B-11a and B-11b are new.
The purpose of the updates is to provide clarification about these requirements to support their implementation. Please review the revised and new questions and contact your Title I, Part A consultant with any questions.
In Case You Missed It – 'Be mindful of Title I requirements and duties for paraprofessionals'
On May 24, Title1Admin published "Be mindful of Title I requirements and duties for paraprofessionals," which emphasized the statutory requirements and types of duties performed by paraeducators (also called paraprofessionals) working in schools operating Title I schoolwide programs, or paraeducators paid fully or in-part with Title I funds working in schools operating targeted assistance programs.
An overview of paraeducator requirements as they relate to House Bill 32 is available in the May 2023 Title I Newsletter.
Recently, local educational agencies in various states have considered using paraeducators to help address staffing shortages. It is important to remember that in addition to meeting the qualification requirements of 34 CFR 200.58(b), paraeducators working in Title I programs must also perform duties related to instructional support.
According to the Title I Paraprofessionals Non-Regulatory Guidance, paraeducators in Title I programs may perform only certain instructional support duties, including:
- One-on-one tutoring (if the tutoring is scheduled at a time when a student would not otherwise receive instruction from a teacher).
- Assisting in classroom management.
- Assisting in computer instruction.
- Conducting parent involvement activities.
- Providing instructional support in a library or media center.
- Acting as a translator.
- Providing instructional support services.
Question D-2 of the non-regulatory guidance also explains that paraeducators must work under the direct supervision of a teacher. The U.S. Department of Education (USED) considers a paraeducator to be working under direct supervision of a teacher if:
- The teacher prepares the lessons and plans of the instructional activities that the paraeducator carries out;
- The teacher evaluates the achievement of the students with whom the paraeducator is working; and
- The paraeducator works in close and frequent proximity with the teacher.
Paraeducators should not provide planned direct instruction or introduce new academic skills, concepts or academic content per Question A-2 of the non-regulatory guidance.
USED's guidance adds that paraeducator qualification requirements do not apply to those hired to provide food services, cafeteria or playground supervision, personal care services, non-instructional computer assistance and similar positions.
Visit KDE’s Paraeducator Requirements in Title I Schools webpage or contact Emily Meade with further questions.
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