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Board hears Title II, III and IV grant plans; staff clarifies Title II cannot fill classroom vacancies
Summary
District staff presented proposed Title II, III and IV grant applications for 2025-26 (Title II ~ $1.7M, Title III ~$190K, Title IV ~$1.2M), described funded positions and programs, and clarified that Title II funds cannot be used to fill required classroom vacancies but can support professional development and instructional coaches.
Norfolk staff presented the proposed 2025-26 Title II, III and IV applications, describing personnel and programs the grants would support and answering board questions about allowable uses and transfers among grants.
The district said the preliminary Title II Part A (teacher and principal training) application is for just over $1.7 million and supports reading and math specialists, core content teacher specialists, response-to-intervention specialists, mentor-program staffing and division-level instructional coaching. Title III funding, described as just over $190,000, supports English learner programming, ESL teacher specialists and professional development. Title IV Part A was listed at more than $1.2 million and supports well-rounded education initiatives, technology, safe-schools positions and services such as advanced-placement exam supports and online tutoring.
Staff explained that some Title IV funds historically have been transferred to other titles to sustain positions; the practice of transferability was discussed and staff said transfers have been used consistently across recent years to support positions listed in the Title II budget. During questions, a board member asked whether Title II money could be used to fill classroom teacher vacancies at high-need schools; staff responded explicitly: "Title 2 funds cannot be used to fill classroom vacancies. That's seen as an obligation of the school division. Title 2 funds can fund above and beyond. We can't supplement or supplant." Staff added that Title II can be used to provide professional development to associate teachers and less-experienced staff, and that Title II supported Saturday and evening training sessions this past year for associate teachers and provisionally licensed staff.
Board members asked about changes to particular services: staff noted that tutor.com will replace FEV tutors for online tutoring and that private-school equitable-service allocations are included in each grant's set-asides. The presentation closed with an invitation for questions and no formal vote during the work session; grant applications proceed through the administrative approval and board-signature steps as required.
