Moving from Compliance to Collaboration As district leaders, our mission is anchored in the belief that every child deserves the best possible path to academic success. While much of our daily work focuses on the students within our public school buildings, the heart of Title I, Part A is its commitment to all eligible children […]
Building Bridges: Meaningful Consultation with Non-Public Schools Read More »
As the new school year kicks off, classrooms are filled with enthusiasm. Principals and teachers are eager to welcome their students and inspire them to learn! This excitement coincides with an important reminder —CSI, TSI, and ATS accountability designations. If you’re a district or school leader facing a school improvement designation, it’s natural to feel
Navigating Accountability Designations: Turning Challenges into Opportunities Read More »
Here’s a thought experiment: imagine you’re sitting in your school’s site-based committee meeting. Someone has printed an agenda. There are bottled waters. The same five people are talking. The same three people are checking their phones. Sound familiar? Most schools have some version of this — a site-based committee or school site council, staffed by
Beyond the Committee: Multi-Generational Micro Communities Read More »
Have you ever visited a country where they spoke a language you did not understand? It feels frightening and vulnerable. Sure, you may have memorized the most important words and phrases. You can get by and survive a quick trip. You know how to find the restroom, how to order a beverage, you have a
IEP Translations: A Tool for Parent and Student Success Read More »
An August–September reset for leaders entering, inheriting, or improving a district federal programs process. Congratulations! You’ve been promoted to the title of Federal Programs Director (FPD), and you are ready to begin your first full school year in the new position. This is an exciting time of the year! The smell of freshly waxed floors
Syllabus for Success: The Federal Programs Director’s Guide to the First Quarter Read More »
Have you ever looked at your ESSA allocations and thought to yourself, “If only I could have a little more money here and a little less money there, I could accomplish the goals and objectives of the improvement plan with meaningful and impactful strategies”? If this is you, there is good news to share. You
Transferability: The Ins and Outs Read More »
If your district or school uses federal funds to pay staff—even partially—time and effort documentation is not optional. Time and Effort is one of the most frequently reviewed (and most misunderstood) compliance requirements in federally funded programs. While it can seem like just another piece of paperwork, these records are essential for protecting your district,
It’s About the Time: A Simple Guide to Federal Time and Effort Reporting Read More »
Mid-year is more than a milestone for instruction—it’s a critical checkpoint for federal program compliance. A quick mid-year review can help you catch gaps early, refresh documentation, and confirm that implementation is happening as planned. A mid-year compliance check not only prevents last-minute scrambling but also strengthens the quality and integrity of your programs and
Mid-Year Monitoring Check-In: Are You on Track with ESSA Requirements? Read More »
School funding is never just about the money—it’s about how you use it to amplify outcomes for students. Whether you’re navigating federal programs or juggling state and local grants, the goal remains the same: maximize efficiency and impact. In this post, we will walk through practical strategies district leaders can use to optimize their funding
Optimizing Funding: Maximizing Efficiency and Impact Read More »
“Title I can pay for that.” These words sound like nails on a chalkboard to every Federal Programs Director across the nation. Teaching colleagues and administrators that Title I funds have specific allowable uses can be challenging. It is especially difficult to make our non-federal friends understand the Supplement, Not Supplant methodology we follow. How
“Title I Can Pay for That!” Read More »