Neglected Delinquent and Students at Risk Title I, Part A
Purpose
The main purpose of Title I, Part A funding is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. Other uses of Title I, Part A are:
- 1) to ensure a high quality education system is in place by providing supplemental services;
- 2) to meet the educational needs of low-achieving students in high poverty schools;
- 3) to close the achievement gap between high and low-performing students-especially between minority & nonminority groups and disadvantaged & more advantaged;
- 4) to improve and strengthen the accountability, teaching, and learning in local educational agencies (LEAs) systems;
- 5) to promote schoolwide reform; and 6) to afford parents an opportunity to participate in the educational process of students.
THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY APPLICABLE TO DISTRICTS THAT HAVE A NEGLECTED FACILITY LOCATED IN THEIR ATTENDANCE ZONE OR TO THOSE DISTRICTS WHO SERVE AS A CONDUIT FOR NEGLECTED – TITLE I, PART A FUNDS.
In Arkansas, ONLY eligible neglected facilities receive Title I, Part A funding. Title I Part A (Neglected) funding supports students who have been placed in these facilities by the courts due to abandonment, abuse, or parental neglect. Title I, Part A (Neglected) funds are used to provide education and services for students who reside in these neglected programs. The nature of their placement dictates whether they attend school in a public or secured, in-house setting.
Arkansas Department of Education’s (ADE) Responsibilities regarding Title I, Part A (Neglected) funds:
- Provide technical assistance-mainly to district, but to the facility as needed
- Answer questions regarding use of funds
- Monitor district
- Serve as liaison between district & facility
- Determines amount of allocation for neglected facilities in Arkansas
Facilities responsibilities regarding Title I, Part A funds:
- Complete the Annual Neglected & Delinquent Survey
- Complete the evaluation (needs assessment) for the program
- Submit reports, data, & other information as requested by the district or ADE
- Communicate at least annually, but consistently with district
District responsibilities regarding Title I, Part A funds:
- Complete Annual Needs Assessment
- Have a consultation with the facility & document expectations
- Submit all reports, data, and other information in timely manner
- Provide technical assistance to facility
- Provide a copy of the Title I Complaint Procedure from ADE
- Provide information regarding contract/agreement between district & facility
- Complete “Neglected Checklist” for Title I, Part A funds via ACSIP through consultation with the facility
- Complete updates in ACSIP and provide notice of changes to Federal Programs office
- Maintains record of services provided and funds expended with Title I, Part A (Neglected) funds
Eligibility
- Must be licensed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services (ADHS) and be listed on their approved LICENSED AGENCY LIST;
- Must be defined as a neglected facility based on original charter or mission statement approved by facility board;
- Must be in “good standing” with DHS’s monitoring office and ADE;
- Must have at least ten (10) students who are eligible for services during the reporting period; all students must be between the ages of 5 – 17; for exceptions, contact the state Title I, Part A Neglected coordinator for exceptions; and
- Must have completed the Neglected and Delinquent Survey by the appropriate deadline.
Funding
Title I, Part A (Neglected) funds, in Arkansas, are available to residential neglected facilities ONLY. Funding generated for Title I, Part A is determined through a formula based on census counts and data collected from the facility. This is called the Annual Count. The Title I, Part A coordinator will work with both current and potentially funded agencies to identify children and youth who are neglected. A report is required annually for all States. No sampling or estimating is allowed in preparation of the report. Since these data will generate federal funds, they are subject to audit and must be supportable from documented records.
In the Annual Count, only students who meet the following are eligible to be counted:
- (1) Must be between ages 5 and 17; and
- (2) Must be one for whom a free public education is being provided; OR
- (3) Must be enrolled in a regular program of instruction supported by non-federal funds for at least 20 hours per week;
Title I funds generated by children in eligible facilities must supplement the number of hours of instruction they receive from state resources. The Annual Count is due from the facility the first Thursday in December. Facility counts are submitted to ADE; ADE collects this data and submits a report to the United States Department of Education (USED). USED then uses these counts to determine state allocations.
Preliminary amounts for each state are released by the USED by May of each year and the ADE completes final allocations by the beginning of September. The allocation notifications usually follow in the form of a Commissioner’s Memo issued by. The Commissioner’s Memo includes a list of eligible facilities, the school district of which the institution is located or the district for which funds will flow, and the amount set aside for services for children in the facility. This school district will be the entity that takes fiduciary responsibility and is responsible for “reserving” this amount out of their total Title I, Part A allotment.
Remember, current year grant amounts are based on data submitted the previous year. Grant awards are effective up to 27 months following the award date; however, funds may be reallocated for non-response, not meeting initial deadline, not heeding deadlines for follow-up information or failing to submit reports in a timely manner.
Application
LEAs are required to meet application requirements each year once allocations have been made available via Commissioner’s Memo. The completion and submission of this information is the responsibility of the district; however, there is an expectation that there will be significant collaboration with the facility. This process is very similar to that for districts providing services to private schools. Final review requires an analysis of the use of funds with emphasis on the needs assessment and an assurance regarding compliance with policies and state and federal laws.
