Title I News

March 2024

Volume 8, Issue 3

“Our life is March weather, savage and serene in one hour.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

As we step into the vibrant month of March, we find ourselves in the midst of a dynamic and bustling time for educators.

This season brings a unique juxtaposition of the stress associated with testing and the culmination of the school year, alongside the hopefulness of celebrating our collective successes. In the whirlwind of activity, let us find solace in the resilience of our educators, the achievements of our students and the anticipation of a well-deserved spring break on the horizon.

Open Title I, Part A Projects and Associated Deadlines

Now is a great time to review all open Title I, Part A projects and work to align the application and MUNIS spending. If any open applications are in revision status, make sure that they get submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) for review. The following table will help you to keep track of timelines for each open project.

It’s important to note that we are currently at the halfway mark for the spending down of 85% of the FY2024 project (project 310K). Take the time now to review your spending and ensure that you are on track to meet the 85% obligation requirement by Sept. 30, 2024.

In Case You Missed It: 'Know the Rules: Meaningful Consultation'

ESEA Now, a publication containing resources related to educational programs in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), published an article on Jan. 18 entitled "Know the Rules: Meaningful Consultation."

Before a district can make any decisions about the expenditures and services for private schools, timely and meaningful consultation must occur. The article provides a handy checklist for consultation topics that should be addressed when meeting with the private school.

It is also recommended to review Question A-9 of Providing Equitable Services to Eligible Private School Children, Teachers, and Families (October, 2019) for topics for consultation, including:

• How the children’s needs will be identified;
• What services will be offered;
• How, where and by whom the services will be provided;
• How the services will be academically assessed and how the results of that assessment will be used to improve those services;
• The size and scope of the equitable services to be provided to the eligible private school children, the proportion of funds that is allocated for such services and how that proportion of funds is determined;
• The method or sources of data that are used to determine the number of children from low-income families in participating school attendance areas who attend private schools, including whether the local educational agency (LEA) will extrapolate data if it uses a survey;
• How and when the LEA will make decisions about the delivery of services to eligible children, including a thorough consideration and analysis of the views of the private school officials on the provision of services through a contract with potential third-party providers;
• How, if the LEA disagrees with the views of the private school officials on the provision of services through a contract, it will provide in writing to such private school officials an analysis of the reasons why it has chosen not to use a contractor;
• Whether the LEA will provide services directly or through a separate government agency, consortium, entity or third-party contractor;
• Whether to provide equitable services to eligible private school children by creating a pool or pools of funds with all of the funds allocated based on all the children from low-income families in a participating school attendance area who attend private schools, or based on the children in the LEAs participating school attendance area who attend private schools with the proportion of funds allocated based on the number of children from low-income families who attend private schools (see B-8 and B-9);
• When, including the approximate time of day, services will be provided; and
• Whether to consolidate and use funds in coordination with eligible funds available for services to private school children under applicable programs, as defined in ESEA section 8501(b)(1), to provide services to eligible private school children participating in those programs (see C-13).

(ESEA section 1117(b)(1); 34 C.F.R. § 200.63).

For more information, please reference the related resources section in the Non-Public School Ombudsman webpage.

Get Ready to Streamline Administration of Your District’s Title I Program

Opt-In Period II is Opening Soon!

KDE has contracted with Public Consulting Group (PCG) to provide Title1Next™, a Title I, Part A document management solution, at no cost to all Kentucky school districts. School districts may register to get started with Title1Next March 18-29. Additional opportunities to register later in 2024 also will be available.

Districts interested in opting in should have the Title I coordinator complete the Title1Next Information form. Please note that the form should only be completed once per district. Districts that have already opted in do not need to complete the form.

Benefits of Title1Next include:

• Increased operational efficiency.  From streamlined data and documentation to built-in program management and communication tools, Title1Next encourages more efficient, collaborative and productive Title I operations within districts and schools.  
• Improved compliance and accountability. The integrated monitoring and alert system within Title1Next helps ensure that Kentucky schools submit documentation for monitoring on time. This documentation is also stored in the cloud for multiple academic years, which is pivotal for meeting record retention and preparing for monitoring.

The Title 1 Next informational video also provides an exciting summary of the Title1Next program.

For more information, feel free to contact the following individuals:

• KDE contacts: Erin Sudduth or David Millanti
• PCG contact: Jennifer Jones

In This Issue

• Open Title I, Part A Projects and Associated Deadlines
• Title I Data Collection and Reporting for 2023-2024
• Final FY2024 Allocations in GMAP
• Get Ready to Streamline Administration of Your District’s Title I Program!
• In Case You Missed It: Know the Rules: Meaningful Consultation
• Coordinator’s Year at a Glance

Title I Data Collection and Reporting for 2023-2024

Title I status in Infinite Campus must be updated to match the Title I status submitted on the district Consolidated Application in the Grant Management Application and Planning (GMAP) system. Reference the Title I Data Standards, Section A for guidance to verify and update school Title I status in Infinite Campus.

On July 1, the 2023-2024 Title I data will be extracted from the Infinite Campus reporting warehouse for state and federal reporting and funding purposes. The 2023-2024 Title I status also will be published on the Kentucky School Report Card in the school summary section.

In addition, schools designated as a Title I Targeted Assistance School (TAS) must complete a record on the student Title I Services tab for each student receiving Title I services during the current school year. Reference the Title I Data Standards, Section B for guidance to complete student records for Title I services.

For additional information or questions, email Margalee Conlee.

Final FY24 Allocations in GMAP

Final FY2024 allocations are now uploaded in the Grant Management Application and Planning (GMAP) system for districts whose original FY2024 applications have received consolidated consultant approval. Please review your application as soon as possible and make the appropriate adjustments.

As discussed in the January Title I, Part A Webinar, this final allocation is what you can use to figure out your hold harmless percentage amount for the purpose of planning your FY2025 application.

Coordinator's Year at a Glance – Suggested Tasks for March

• Prepare notification for participation letter for private/home schools to be sent out in the spring.
• Meet with school principals to collect information on use of funds to support Title I programs for the next funding application.
• Use available data (e.g., economically disadvantaged, other low-income data or a combination of poverty indicators) to determine eligible schools for Title I services (for next school year).

Monthly Title I Webinar

The February webinar and accompanying PowerPoint are available on the Title I, Part A Documents and Resources webpage. During the webinar, information centered around monitoring the obligation of 310K funds and monitoring all open projects.

The March webinar will be held at 10 a.m. ET March 28. A reminder email will be sent before the webinar.

We value your feedback and would like to learn more about what is helpful and what you would like to see more of in the monthly webinars.

We are keeping the webinar feedback survey open so you can continue to submit comments, ideas and questions. The Title I Monthly Webinar Feedback Survey can be accessed online. The survey is optional and responses are anonymous. The feedback will be used to help ensure the monthly webinars meet your needs.

CONTACTS

Title I District Consultant List