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RSU 26 reviews ESEA allocations, says net change is negligible; reports testing timelines
Summary
Director of Learning told the board Title II allocations declined under a federal formula change but increases in Title I and IV offset most of the loss, leaving a net change of about -$122; the district plans to use Title I to fund three ed tech positions and Title II for professional development.
The RSU 26 board heard a presentation on the district’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) plan and preliminary federal allocations for the coming year. Susan, the director of learning, told trustees a change in how Title II professional development funds are calculated statewide threatened a larger loss in funding, but the district’s preliminary allocation ultimately resulted in a negligible net change.
"We were concerned early this spring when we received a letter from the state saying that the federal government...came down with a ruling that Title II professional development funds needed to be based on census data," Susan said, explaining that formula changes could have cost the district about $12,000 in Title II funds. Still, preliminary numbers showed offsetting increases to Title I and Title IV that left the district about $122 short of last year’s total allocation.
Susan described how the district plans to use the federal funds: Title I will continue to support three educational technicians at ASSA, books and supplies for those programs and required Title I projects; Title II will be reallocated to preserve professional development work tied to the strategic plan and to cover a portion of the director-of-learning salary that comes from federal funds. She also said the district has been using Title II funds for DEI-related projects and plans to broaden that work while ensuring federal funds do not supplant local budgets.
On assessments, Susan said NWEA growth reports will be mailed to parents along with report cards and the state-scored versions will arrive in July or August; science testing results (grades 5, 8 and 11) are not anticipated until October. When asked about the McKinney-Vento set-aside, Susan confirmed the $500 is a required minimum but said it does not represent the total support available for students experiencing housing instability; the district has additional grant funds to supplement those services.
Board members clarified that some initiatives (for example, math coaching from an external center) are funded from the local budget and cannot be supplanted by Title funds; Susan reiterated the federal requirement to supplement rather than supplant local spending.
