Rockland Public Schools: federal grants account for roughly $1.21 million of recurring revenue, district staff tell committee

A district staff member summarized federal grant funding and uses to the Rockland School Committee, saying about $1,210,510 of the district’s revenue comes from five federal grants. The staff member described two broad grant categories: IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and ESSA/Title grants (Every Student Succeeds Act), and outlined how the money is spent.

Under IDEA the staff member said the main grant — described in the presentation as the approximately $700,000 entitlement — funds a part-time out-of-district coordinator, the extended school year program and pays roughly $500,000 of out-of-district tuition costs. An early childhood special education grant was said to provide about $30,000 toward a preschool teacher salary. The presenter also described savings in retirement-contribution costs (MTRS) from using grant funds for tuition rather than salary.

ESSA/Title funds were described as Title I, Title II-A and Title IV contributions that support interventionists, reading specialists, a coordinator stipend, paraprofessional salaries, contracted services and the Bridges site coordinator. The staff member explained that interventionists are used for early, preemptive work — for example, targeted reading or speech supports — to avoid more expensive special education placements later.

Committee members asked whether the grants are stable year to year. The staff member said amounts fluctuate by demographic formula, but noted the district has increased recent expenditures and has timely reporting and no federal findings for misuse.

The committee received the informational update; there was no action requested to change grant uses at this meeting.