District staff told the budget committee that the district’s Title I after-bypass allocation declined from about $13.6 million in FY25 to about $12.5 million in FY26, a roughly $1 million decrease that reduces the amount available for building-level discretionary spending.

Nichelle Hunter, director of the Financial Management Office, explained the federal allocation methodology and local impacts: federal Title I allocations flow from Census poverty and population measures, are adjusted at the state level, and the district receives a per-building allocation based on the Community Eligibility Provision and economic-deprivation metrics. "From that perspective... our poverty ratio went from a 33% down to 24%," Hunter said, linking the drop to lower allocation amounts.

Hunter said Title I funds support about 176.5 FTE positions that are primarily school-facing (teacher or TA positions) and also fund central supports, set-asides for parental involvement and required services to nonpublic schools through the federal bypass rule. She explained several set-aside categories: foster-care transportation, homeless/student-in-transition supports, neglected and delinquent services, parental involvement activities and early childhood positions. The presentation noted that the district typically provides $2.5–$3.0 million of services to nonpublic schools under the federal ESEA requirements.

Hunter told committee members the district ended FY24 with a Title I carryover of roughly $13 million and that after carryover and FY26 allocation the district expects about $16 million available to cover FY26 Title I activities; final carryover will be confirmed when DESE approves the district’s expenditure report.

Committee members asked for written responses to previously submitted questions and requested greater detail at the building level on how reductions have been applied. Hunter said staff had begun conversations with principals and would present building-level implications during quarterly reviews and community forums.

The committee heard the Title I update after the budget presentation and then returned to business, ultimately voting to forward the proposed budget amendments to the full board.