Board reviews consolidated district plan needed to apply for ISBE grants, details Title I–III and special education uses

Elmwood Park CUSD 401 trustees on May 20 reviewed a consolidated district plan (CDP) that the district must submit to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) before applying for federal and state grant funds that would take effect July 1.

"This is a plan — the planning portion of our grant application," said a district presenter during the CDP segment, describing Title I and Title II allocations. Staff said Title I funds would support K–8 instruction, family math nights and consultative services with private schools in the district boundary. Title II funds were described as supporting professional learning, consultants, memberships and two instructional coaches employed by the district.

Title III oversight was attributed to Mrs. Gomez, who described the district’s limited-English-proficient programming, summer EL-specific camps at the high school, bilingual parent advisory outreach, dual-language curriculum supplements and an English-language acquisition screener used to determine private-school eligibility for a proportionate share of services.

Special education and preschool grant funds were described as covering paraprofessional salaries and stipends, specialized equipment, and tuition for outplaced students; staff said a proportionate share is provided to Saint Celestine (private school) for eligible students. Presenters also noted the CDP must include a foster-care transportation plan even though, at the time of the meeting, the district did not have foster students requiring transportation.

Board members asked about languages supported in parent engagement; staff listed Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, Albanian and Arabic among those served this year.

District staff said the CDP approval would enable submission of Title grant applications to ISBE so funds could be available starting July 1.