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Instruction committee forwards federal grants, migrant-program memorandum and proposed student fees to full board
Summary
The Instruction Committee voted unanimously June 8 to send Title I/II/III/IV grant recommendations, a Title I Part D allocation for Timber Ridge, a migrant-education MOU, and proposed 2026–27 student-fee and tuition adjustments to the full Frederick County School Board for approval.
The Instruction Committee of the Frederick County School Board unanimously moved several grant and fee items to the full board at its June 8 meeting.
The superintendent asked the committee to forward proposed Title I Part A, Title II Part A (with a Title IV transfer), Title III Part A and Title IV Part A grants. Sonja Sneddon, supervisor of professional learning and federal grants, said Title I supports 11 of the district's 12 elementary schools and that the division added a $7,500 increase to the homeless set-aside “to incentivize our homeless students to graduate.” She also described Title II funds (including the Title IV transfer) as supporting professional learning and a new teacher academy.
Joe Strong, director of student support services, described Title I Part D funding managed by the division for Timber Ridge School, a private placement located in Frederick County. Strong said the total Title I Part D allocation the division will manage is $120,931.15 and that the funds are proposed for professional learning, digital programs (STAR, Study Island), STEM and classroom materials, career and technical education, and curriculum updates.
Emily Headley, supervisor of English language learners, outlined Title III priorities including expanded summer programming (a virtual pilot expanding from 30 to 70 students this year), an in-person summer option for students who need academic-language support, and a tripling of professional-development funding for EL instruction. Headley said the district has “1700 students that have the EL flag here in Frederick County” and said the Title III application sets a goal of increasing EL growth toward 58% with an 8% target for exiting EL services.
The committee also moved a Regional Migrant Education Program Memorandum of Understanding and Certification—facilitated regionally by JMU and the Shenandoah Valley Migrant Education Program—to the full board. Staff described the regional program's role as tracking migrant families' records and coordinating enrollment and family supports; the district's role is to share pertinent student data so families receive services.
On student fees, staff said proposed changes for 2026–27 are minimal and concentrated at the middle-school level—a $2–$3 increase for select consumable or course fees—while tuition-rate adjustments reflected formula-based increases; presenters estimated the in-state tuition difference versus last year at about $900 and out-of-state at about $1,500. The committee voted to forward the proposed fees to the full board.
Each motion was approved by voice vote with all members saying "Aye." The full board will consider the grants, the migrant MOU, the student-fees schedule and the Title I Part D allocation at a future meeting.
