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Board reviews federal Title I'IV grant uses; staff outline supports for students experiencing homelessness and English learners
Summary
District staff gave a first read on the applications for Title I, II, III and IV federal grants, describing how each grant is used to fund interventions, professional development, ESL supports and career/STEAM programming; staff noted limited totals and local contributions supplement federal dollars.
At the May 5 meeting, New Kent County School District staff presented a first read of federal program grants and how the division plans to use Title I, II, III and IV funds in 2025.
Staff described Title I as the largest of the four, funding intervention services (largely through salaries and benefits for reading and math specialists), parent-engagement events and some supports for students experiencing homelessness. "We currently have two of our elementary schools who are eligible for Title I," the presenter said. Staff said they expected to receive roughly in the low hundreds of thousands for Title I this year.
Title II funds were described as supporting teacher quality: tuition assistance, mentor stipends for new-teacher mentors, conference expenses and endorsement support. Staff said Title II funding this past year totaled about $65,390.
Title III, the smallest, supports English learners: staff said the district receives about $4,100 and uses the money for instructional materials, progress-monitoring assessments and ESL professional development. Staff told the board the number of English-learner (EL) students has grown; roughly 44'55 students are currently identified as ESL or in monitoring status, and many arrive with low English proficiency.
Title IV funds (roughly $22,500 in the presenter's estimate) support career and college planning software that links to the district scheduling system, welding course enrollments for students to earn credentials, and STEAM materials at the elementary level.
Board members pressed staff for more detail on spending formulas, private-school allocations and how Title I supports students who are homeless. The presenter said the district serves an estimated 15'30 students experiencing homelessness in a given year and uses federal and division funds to provide items such as backpacks, school supplies and, when needed, transportation under McKinney-Vento requirements.
The first read covered required services to private schools in the geographic area; staff said they contacted 43 private schools this year and none requested funds.
The board received the items as a first read. The applications will return for a second read in June and a vote before the July 1 application deadlines.
