American Recovery & Reinvestment Act 2009
New Jersey K-12 Education
Educating the Disadvantaged (Title I Part A) » ARRA Home
Uses of ARRA Educating the Disadvantaged (Title I Part A) Funds
ARRA Title I funds offer an unprecedented opportunity to provide additional assistance to districts and schools that have high concentrations of students from families that live in poverty to help improve teaching and learning for students most at risk of failing to meet state standards and to close the achievement gap while also stimulating the economy. These funds are in addition to the annual Title I allocation. Districts must use their Title I, Part A ARRA funds consistent with the Title I, Part A statutory and regulatory requirements, including the requirements to provide equitable services to eligible nonpublic school students. Title I funds are supplemental to the regular classroom instruction and resources, intended to provide additional services, such as tutoring, to eligible students to help them achieve academic proficiency, and meet the Core Curriculum Content Standards. In targeted assistance programs, specific low-performing students must receive Title I supplemental services. In schoolwide programs, the LEA may use Title I funds for any activities that are part of the schoolwide program plan; however, the key elements listed below still apply. Title I includes the following key elements:
- Instructional programs must be scientifically based;
- Newly hired teachers must meet the definition of highly qualified;
- Paraprofessionals “working in a program supported with” Title I funds and hired after January 8, 2002, must meet requirements;
- Annual testing of reading and math in grades 3 through 8 and testing of science in elementary, middle and high school;
- Disaggregation of assessment data by subgroups;
- Adequate yearly progress (AYP) results for schools to reach 100 percent proficiency by 2014;
- Application of sanctions for schools and districts designated as in need of improvement;
Public school choice and supplemental educational services required for Title I schools designated as in need of improvement;
- Requirements for providing information to parents including the Parents’ Right-to-Know and parental involvement policy;
- Professional development required for teachers and other staff to address academic content and instructional strategies;
- Schoolwide programs for schools with at least forty percent (40%) poverty must contain required components as included in the Title I Unified Plan; and
- Participation in the biennial National Assessment of Education Progress assessments of grades 4 and 8 in reading and math, if selected for the sample.
» Uses of Funds Guidance
» Response to Intervention Guidance
For specific questions regarding the use of ARRA Title I funds please contact arratitle1@doe.state.nj.us.
ARRA Educating the Disadvantaged (Title I Part A) Application Process
ARRA Educating the Disadvantaged (Title I Part A) Fund Allocations
ARRA Educating the Disadvantaged (Title I Part A) Guidance Documents
Note: federal guidelines are subject to change and the department will post the most current information as soon as we receive it.
