The federal government has increased flexibility on use of Title I, IDEA, Title II and other federal funding, and your state can enable districts to take full advantage of this flexibility to better serve vulnerable students. For example, in the vast majority of schools receiving Title I funding, called schoolwide programs, the resources can be used to improve the overall quality of the school; they do not need to pay for discrete additional services for vulnerable students. Similarly, districts can use up to 15 percent of an IDEA grant for early intervention services for students who do not have Individual Education Plans (IEPs), and IDEA can also pay for a portion of comprehensive school improvement activities. Districts can fold Title II into overall professional development so teachers get intensive support rather than one-time workshops, which typically do not translate into changes in classroom practice.
Unfortunately, many states continue to impose restrictions that exceed federal requirements, resulting in poor uses of these funds. As state funding shrinks, districts need the flexibility to make the best use of federal funds.