2024-2025 Fall Calendar Due September 15!

Fall Submission

• You must complete a calendar for each school
• Enter the start and end date at the top of the calendar
• Enter your total instructional minutes per day minus lunch
• Enter exception days for any day that deviates from a regular instruction day
• Complete the Notification information

Please read the detailed guidance below to assist you with completing the fall calendar. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Thomas at (701) 328-2597.

Title I 15% Limitation of Funds and Waiver

Under federal regulations, districts are entitled to access Title I funds for 15 months (until September 30) before a limitation on remaining funds applies. For districts with allocations greater than $50,000, only 15% of funds can be utilized beyond the 15 months. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) may waive the limitation once every three years. Since the September 30 date is approaching, districts are reminded to plan accordingly to meet this regulation by reviewing current balances, obligating any remaining funds, and ensuring that they expend and claim the entire Title I allocation in a timely manner. If a district is not eligible for a waiver of the carryover limitation, the excess funds become available under criteria established by the NDDPI to reallocate unspent funds. A deadline of October 20, 2024, is set for districts to submit claims for reimbursement of funds to meet this Title I regulation.

Please note that the percentage limitation is applied to the amount of Title I funds allocated to the district, plus any funds transferred into Title I from other ESEA programs (also known as Transfer Title I). In addition, the regulation protects any unspent Title I funds required to be set aside for a specific activity, including parent and family engagement and nonpublic equitable services, to remain for those specific purposes in the subsequent fiscal year. If the district has more than 15% of funds remaining and is eligible to apply for a Title I waiver, a notification via WebGrants will be sent. Upon issue of a notice, the district will be assigned a Title I Excess Waiver to complete in WebGrants as a Status Report with the amount of excess funds populated. If a waiver is unavailable, a Status Report will be assigned to release Title I funds.

Title I Paraprofessional Certification

The new school year will begin in a few weeks, and the NDDPI is receiving many questions about the Title I paraprofessional certification requirements.

Federal requirement 34 CFR 200.58 and North Dakota Administrative Code 67-11-14-01 define the Title I paraprofessional requirements.

• In a Title I targeted assistance program, these requirements pertain to all Title I-paid instructional paraprofessionals.
• In a Title I schoolwide program, Title I funds support all teachers and paraprofessionals, and the Title I paraprofessional requirements apply to all paraprofessionals with instructional duties, regardless of whether the position is supported with Title I funds. This includes all instructional paraprofessionals paid with the district, Title I, school improvement, Special Education, BIA, or other funding sources.
• Title I instructional paraprofessionals must have the certificate before their first day of work.

The Title I paraprofessional application is now available in ND Teach. For additional information, visit the Paraprofessional Certificates webpage.

It is important to note that even though districts are struggling to find and hire paraprofessionals, there has been no indication that there will be any relief from the Title I paraprofessional requirements. At least one state (Vermont) has applied for a waiver of this Title I regulation, which the US Department of Education (USED) has denied. Read USED’s response.

If you have questions regarding Title I paraprofessional certification, please contact Lauri Nord.

Final Title Allocations/Consolidated Applications Posted

Titles I, II, III, and IV

Final allocations have been posted on the Consolidated Application webpage under the Federal Allocations for Title I, II, III, and IV accordion.

The NDDPI staff are reviewing the Consolidated Application narrative sections. During this review period, districts should review their needs assessment, data, and strategic plan to ensure activities align with their plan and choose the funding stream that allows those activities. Within 5-7 business days of approval of the Consolidated Application narrative, NDDPI staff will create a budget(s) for the associated federal Title program(s) with all funds represented in the unobligated object code (950).

Budgets are due by August 29, 2024. Guidance and training videos are available here:

• Consolidated Application Budget Training 
• Title IV Creating an Initial Budget Micro Training 
• Funding Your Plan: Best Practices to Sustain Investments 
• Return on Investment Planning Tool Instructions 
• Return on Investment Planning Tool Worksheet

Additional training resources will be posted on the Consolidated Application webpage. If you have questions, please contact any of the Consolidated Application contacts.

Title I Schoolwide and Targeted Assistance Training

New Title I personnel and anyone needing a refresher on Schoolwide or Targeted plans are strongly encouraged to attend. Attendance is required for any school currently in its Schoolwide Planning Year.

This training will include information regarding Title I Schoolwide and Targeted Assistance requirements and best practices and will offer resources.

• What: Title I Schoolwide and Targeted Assistance Training
• When: Thursday, September 26, 2024
• Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM CT
• Location: North Dakota State Capitol 600 E Boulevard Ave, Bismarck, ND - Brynhild Haugland Room

Note: Please watch for future notifications, information, and registration

MIS01 LEA Directory and MIS02 School Directory Now Open for 2024-2025 School Year

This report is due September 9, and it is crucial as it provides updated and accurate personnel information. The NDDPI uses the data to update our listserv. You can email Jill Frohlich now to be added to the listserv as soon as possible to ensure you receive critical information before the report's due date.

Cybersecurity Education Webinars for K-12 Teachers and Students

North Dakota State University and EduTech are offering free webinars this summer on cybersecurity. The instruction will include presentations on cybersecurity concepts and principles and how to apply them to the classroom. Students will learn concepts and be walked through various lessons/activities. The webinars are 60 minutes long and offered online from 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM CT.

• Introductory Informational Session (August 9)
• Teacher Session 1: Fundamentals of Cybersecurity (August 13) Key Concepts, Threats, and Hygiene Practices
• Teacher Session 2: Safe Internet Practices for Teachers and Students (August 15) Digital Footprint, Safe Browsing, Phishing, and Social Media Safety
• Student Session 1: Introduction to Radio Activity (August 16)
• Teacher Session 3: Cybersecurity in the Classroom (August 20) Lesson Integration, Activities, Resources, and Hands-On Planning
• Teacher Session 4: Responding to Cyber Incidents (August 22) Incident Understanding, Response Planning, Communication, and Reporting
• Student Session 2: Introduction to Electronics Activity (August 23)