Title I News

December 2024

Volume 8, Issue 12

"Nothing works unless you do.”

― Maya Angelou

As we settle into the winter months, it's the perfect time to reflect on our progress and make necessary adjustments to our Title I initiatives. Taking a moment to check in on our goals and strategies allows us to ensure that we’re on track to support our students and families effectively.

Together, we can use this mid-year pause for maintenance to fine-tune our efforts and inspire growth, setting the stage for a successful remainder of the school year.

Tentative 2025-2026 Census Poverty and Hold Harmless Rates Coming in January

Be on the lookout for an explanation of tentative census poverty data and tentative hold harmless rates.

The numbers are typically issued to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) in December by the U.S. Department of Education (USED). In turn, KDE analyzes and issues them in a notification posted in the Commissioner’s Weekly Message (formerly the Monday Message) and through direct email to district Title I coordinators in early January.

The hold harmless rates are set by USED and based on the tentative poverty percentages derived from U.S. Census Bureau data. Please note that tentative poverty percentages provided by the Census Bureau are not reflective of data available to the district or KDE (such as free- and reduced-price lunch data).

Districts can multiply the hold harmless rate by the current year’s Title I, Part A allocation to produce an estimate of their 2025-2026 school year Title I, Part A allocation for planning purposes. It is recommended that each district carefully review the information included in the document when it is issued.

When you receive the notification email, bear in mind that all data is tentative and is provided for planning purposes only. It does not represent your district’s final Title I, Part A allocation for the next school year.

An in-depth review of hold harmless rates is available in the Title I Coordinator Training Webinar available on KDE's Title I, Part A Documents and Resources webpage.

For more information, contact your Title I, Part A consultant.

Keep Your District's Contacts Up to Date in Person Role Manager

KDE emails information regarding the Title I, Part A program to all district Title I coordinators throughout the year. These communications include important announcements, deadlines for funding and programmatic needs, new and updated resources, newsletters, and professional learning and training opportunities.

The list of recipients for these emails is generated by a program called Person Role Manager. The district web apps admin point of contact (WAAPOC) can update the personnel listed in this program. The district contacts listed in Person Role Manager feed into the Open House website.

Districts must check and update, if necessary, the name of the Title I coordinator for their district to ensure the correct person receives communication from KDE in a timely manner. This process includes adding new coordinators, as well as removing coordinators no longer working with the Title I, Part A program.

To change or verify the Title I coordinator for your district, follow these instructions:

• Verify the Title I coordinator by selecting your district on Open House.
• If the role is blank or incorrect, the update must be made in Person Role Manager via KDE Web Applications.
• For Title I coordinators who are listed but no longer should be, their Role Status must be changed to “inactive” and a Role End Date entered via KDE Web Applications | Person Role Manager.
• To add a Title I coordinator, the Role Status must be set to “active” and a Role Start Date entered. Also ensure an email address is entered on the demographic screen. This should be done via KDE Web Applications | Person Role Manager as well.

To ensure important communications are received, update the contact information and list the correct point of contact as “active” in Person Role Manager for your Title I coordinator.

Principal's Perspective: Keep an Eye on Parent and Family Engagement Spending

Title I, Part A parent and family engagement funds are used to carry out intentional parent and family engagement (PFE) activities that contribute to two-way communication and building capacity in parents to be active participants in the education of their children. Although Title I, Part A funds are available for 27 months, the intention is to utilize the allocated parent and family engagement funds within the current academic year to support the existing students and families.

Now is an opportune time to check in with your district’s Title I coordinator and/or finance officer to review the remaining Title I funds allocated for parent and family engagement activities for the 2024-2025 school year. Have you begun spending funds yet? Don’t let the rest of the year go by without intentionally planning the resources needed for your activities.

By assessing your budget and identifying allowable activities that can be implemented before the year concludes, you can maximize the impact of these funds on your current school community. Engaging families is crucial, and this is your chance to create meaningful opportunities that foster collaboration and strengthen partnerships.

The August and September newsletters included tips on ensuring the activities and supports you provide are engaging parents.

Open Title I, Part A Projects and Associated Deadlines

Please review the table below and make note of the approaching deadlines regarding the obligation and expenditure of funds from all open Title I, Part A projects.

In This Issue

• Tentative Hold Harmless Rates Coming in January
• Kentucky Paraeducator Assessment Revision
• New Consultant Joins Division of School and Program Improvement
• Reminder: Make Plans to Participate in the 2025 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Conference
• Person Role Manager Updates
• Principal’s Perspective: Keep an Eye on PFE Spending
• Open Title I, Part A Projects and Associated Deadlines

Kentucky Paraeducator Assessment Revision

KDE has contracted with Evaluation Systems of Pearson to develop an updated paraeducator assessment to revise the current Kentucky Paraeducator Assessment. An updated study guide and practice tests are also in development.

The new assessment will be field-tested prior to its adoption. Districts received a survey last month that can be shared with paraeducators to gauge their interest in participating in the field-testing process. The paraeducator survey will remain open through Dec. 6.

New Consultant Joins Division of School and Program Improvement

KDE welcomed a new consultant, Bobbi Mayes, on Nov. 16.

Mayes will work with the Title I, Part C (migrant education) and Title I, Part A programs. She will begin transitioning into working with districts in the coming weeks and can be reached at (502) 564-3791, ext. 4048.

Reminder: Make Plans to Participate in the 2025 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Conference

There’s still time to register to attend the National ESEA Conference hosted by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) on Feb. 19-21, in Austin, Texas.

This year’s conference theme is “Focus on Improvement.” With more than a hundred sessions covering a wide array of education-related topics, attendees have plenty of opportunities to gain valuable insights into the newest educational trends and advancements, from local and state projects to federal education programs and policies.

Three inspiring keynote presentations offer unique perspectives from thought leaders and experts in their respective fields. The conference may be attended in person or virtually.

As stated in the November newsletter, KDE does not have the funds available to pay for district registrations this year. However, districts and/or schools may use Title I, Part A funds to pay for costs associated with program-related professional development (registration, travel, lodging, etc.).

For more information and to register, visit eseanetwork.org.

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

- Monitor implementation of schoolwide parent and family engagement activities to ensure they meet the intent and purpose of the Title I parent and family engagement program. As a reminder, entertainment/ social activities should not be paid for with Title I funds.

- Ensure that methodology regarding supplement not supplant is on file at the district office, if required for your district. Please note, some districts are exempt from the supplement, not supplant methodology. Please see the U.S. Department of Education informational document (question 26, p. 20) for information on exemptions.

Monthly Title I Webinar

The November webinar and accompanying PowerPoint are available on the Title I, Part A Documents and Resources webpage. During the webinar, information centered around testing transparency requirements and a related resource now available in the Title I, Part A Sample Documents folder.

The December webinar will be held at 10 a.m. ET Dec. 12. 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. Anonymous feedback and topic suggestions may be submitted through the optional Title I Monthly Webinar Feedback Survey. The feedback will be used to help ensure the monthly webinars meet your needs.

CONTACTS

Title I District Consultant List