Title I, Part A Preschool Program
The Title I preschool program is a preschool program forwhich a Local Education Agency (LEA) or school uses Title I funds, in whole or in part, to improve cognitive, health, and social-emotional outcomes for eligible children below the grade at which an LEA provides a free public elementary education. Such a program is designed to prepare eligible children with the prerequisite skills and dispositions for learning that will enable them to benefit from later school experiences.
As stated in ESEA reauthorization of 1965, LEAs may reserve funds to provide early childhood education programs for eligible children. However, LEAs are not required to reserve Title I, Part A funds for preschool programs. Section 1113(c)(5).”
LEAs must include in their district plans each provision to coordinate Title I programs with Head Start agencies and any other early childhood program. These coordinated efforts, should include the following: ESSA Section 1119(a)).
- Developing and implementing a systematic procedure for receiving records regarding such children, transferred with parental consent from a Head Start program or, where applicable, another early childhood education program;
- Establishing channels of communication between school staff and their counterparts (including teachers, social workers, and health staff) in such Head Start agencies or other entities carrying out early childhood education programs, as appropriate, to facilitate coordination of programs;
- Conducting meetings involving parents, kindergarten or elementary school teachers, and Head Start teachers or, if appropriate, teachers from other early childhood education programs, to discuss the developmental and other needs of individual children;
- Organizing and participating in joint transition-related training of school staff, Head Start program staff, and, where appropriate, other early childhood education program staff; and
- Linking the educational services provided by such LEA with the services provided by local Head Start agencies (ESSA Section 1119(b).
For more information, please contact:
Chante'le' Williams, Public School Program Coordinator
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Federal Programs
1401 W. Capitol, Suite 430
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone:501-682-1699
Related Files
- Non-Regulatory Guidance - Serving Preschool Children Through Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as Amended (Feb. 2024)
- 2024-2025 Title I Status
- USDOE Early Learning Resources
- Early Learning Guidance - ESSA
- Archived: Non-Regulatory Guidance - Serving Preschool Children Through Title I
- Arkansas Better Chance (ABC)