Joliet Township High School board reviews federal grant allocations including nearly $1.9 million in Title I funding

Joliet Township High School Board of Education members received an annual presentation on the district's federal grants Wednesday, including a Title I allocation described by staff as "close to $1,900,000." The presentation covered Title I, Title II, Title IV, IDEA, Perkins and CTI (CTE) grants, Title 1-D, Title III and the district's ESSER3 closeout reporting.

The presentation outlined how most Title I funds are allocated to salaries and benefits for literacy teachers, double-block math positions and family engagement liaisons. A grant manager told the board, "This year, we are awarded 1 close to $1,900,000," and said the majority of that funding supports staffing. The board also heard that ESSER3 funding has ended and staff must still report out on spending; staff said ESSER3 funds were spent on after-school programs and learning-loss interventions.

Board members were shown that IDEA funding primarily covers salaries and benefits for special-education paraprofessionals and related services, with new professional-development supports intended to help teachers pursue LBS1 endorsements. The CTE section noted a Perkins allocation of about $250,000 for the year and an additional CTI award that increased by roughly $110,000, funding supplies, noncapital equipment and stipends for SkillsUSA coordinators.

District staff described Title 1-D support for River Valley programming (an initial allocation around $43,000 plus carryover) and summarized Title III and a $10,000 planning-year grant to convene a teacher team focused on students with disabilities. The presentation said the district blends and braids federal funds to align with its strategic plan and that grant managers meet monthly with district leadership to monitor expenditures.

After the presentation, the board approved the district's Title I plan for 2025-26 by roll call. (Motion and mover/second were not identified on the record.)