Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (ESEA Sections 4101-4111)

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as authorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, established Title IV, Part A, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program (SSAE). The overarching goal of Title IV, Part A, is to increase the capacity of state education agencies, local education agencies, campuses, and communities to meet the following three goals:

1. Provide all students access to a well-rounded education
2. Improve academic outcomes by maintaining safe and healthy students
3. Improve the use of technology to advance student academic achievement

Local Education Agency Requirements

1. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) must complete and submit a Federal Grant Application in Indistar to receive ESEA Title IV, Part A, program allocations. (4105(a)(1)and 4106(a)
2. Engages in consultation with stakeholders in the area served by the LEA during the design and development of their application (section 4106(c) of the ESEA)
3. An LEA may, if it chooses, apply for funds in consortium with one or more surrounding LEAs and combine funds each LEA receives. (ESEA section4106(b))
4.  LEAs receiving $30,000 or more shall conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of the access to, and opportunities for, a well-rounded education for all students; school conditions for student learning to create a healthy and safe school environment; and access to personalized learning experiences supported by technology.  ESEA section 4106(d)
5. LEAs receiving less than $30,000 are NOT required to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment
6. LEAs may transfer Title IV, Part A, funds to another federal program.  An LEA may not transfer funds to a particular program solely to provide equitable services for private school students or teachers.  Rather, an LEA, after consulting with appropriate private school officials, must provide equitable services to private school students and teachers based on the rules of each program and the total amount of funds available to each program, after a transfer (Section 5103( e) ).  For guidance, see Non-Regulatory Guidance: Fiscal Changes and Equitable Services Requirements.

Distribution of Funds

Prioritize the distribution of funds to schools served by the LEA based on one or more of the following criteria—

• Are among the schools with the greatest needs;
• Have the highest percentages or numbers of children counted under section 1124(c) (i.e., children counted for purposes of basic grants to LEAs under Title I, Part A of the ESEA);
• Are identified for comprehensive support and improvement under section 1111(c)(4)(D)(i) (i.e., are among the lowest-achieving schools);
• Are implementing targeted support and improvement plans as described in section 1111(d)(2) (i.e., have consistently underperforming student subgroups); or
• Are identified as a persistently dangerous public elementary school or secondary school under section 8532. (ESEA section 4106(e)(2)(A)).

Supplement not Supplant Requirement

Supplement, not supplant provisions require an LEA to use state or local funds for all services required by state law, or local policy and prohibit those funds from being diverted for other purposes when federal funds are available. (ESEA section 4110)

• Title IV, Part A, funds must supplement—add to, enhance, expand, increase, extend—the programs and services offered with state and local funds;
• Cannot be used to supplant—take the place of, replace—the state and local funds used to offer those programs and services; and
• Are expended to benefit the intended population defined in the authorizing statute, rather than being diverted to cover expenses that an LEA would have paid out of other funds in the event the federal funds were not available.
  

Preliminary Checklist for Allowable Activities and Use of Funds

• Each LEA must be able to respond appropriately to and maintain documentation of the following:  How is the expenditure reasonable and necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of the program and content area(s) of Title IV, Part A? 
• What specific need identified in the comprehensive needs assessment does the expenditure address? 
• How will the expenditure be evaluated to measure a positive impact on student achievement? 
• How is the expenditure supplemental to funds that would be otherwise available for activities authorized under Title IV, Part A program (ESEA section 4110).

General Resources

U.S. Department of Education Resources

• Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) , Title IV, Part A
• U.S. Department of Education Non-Regulatory Guidance: SSAE Grants
• U.S. Department of Education Non-Regulatory Guidance Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments
• U.S. Department of Education Office of Non-Public Education
• U.S. Department of Education Office of Safe and Healthy Students
• U.S. Department of Education ESSA Title IV Student Support Academic Enrichment Webinar Series

National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments 

• National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments Website
• Needs Assessment
• Guides and Toolkits
• Training Products

Other Resources 

•  Federal Funding Allocations
•  Supporting and Responding to Behaviors
•  Safer Campuses and Communities: Tools for Implementing Evidence-based Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Problems 

For more information, please contact:

Eric James, Program Advisor
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Federal Programs
1401 W. Capitol, Suite 430
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-5295
E-mail: eric.james@ade.arkansas.gov