Federal Programs & Testing
Overview of Federal Programs
The purpose of federal education program funding under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is to provide LEAs and their schools with supplemental financial resources and assistance in order to ensure equitable access to a high quality education, regardless of student economic status or other equity factors. Federal program funds in Georgia supplement and support the programs and strategies that help all students thrive through these existing LEA flexibility structures and systems.
Title I, Part A: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
Title I, Part A funds provide supplemental funding to support educators in improving the academic achievement of students who are economically and educationally disadvantaged. The United States Department of Education awards Title I, Part A funds to state education agencies (SEAs), which subgrant funds to local education agencies (LEAs) on a federal formula based on the US Census Bureau counts of school-age children from low-income families residing in each district.
The Title I, Part A division at the Georgia Department of Education provides technical assistance, resources, and program monitoring to local education agencies (LEAs) in order to ensure all children have a “significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps" (ESSA, Section 1001).
Title I, Part A Family & Community Engagement
The Georgia Department of Education’s Family-School Partnership Program ensures that Title I, Part A parent and family engagement regulations are met with meaningful and strategic actions to build parent and school staff capacity as mandated by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. Schools and districts must ensure that strong strategies are in place to: 1) build capacity to engage parents/stakeholders in an effective partnership with the school; and 2) share and support high student academic achievement.
Title I, Part A Foster Care Provisions
The Foster Care Program focuses on school access, improved educational outcomes, and enhanced academic stability for children and youth in foster care. The provisions derived from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) establish guidelines for recognizing and addressing the unique needs of foster care children and youth. The Foster Care Program has the responsibility of working closely with local child welfare agencies and local educational agencies to identify children and youth in foster care and to ensure the successful implementation of ESSA provisions.
Title I, Part C: Education of Migratory Children
The Migrant Education Program (MEP) is a federally-funded program designed to support comprehensive educational programs for migrant children to help reduce the educational disruption and other problems that result from repeated moves.
Documents
Additional Program Information
Staff
Tammy McFadden, Federal Programs Director
912-537-3088 x 2011
Brenda McLain, Family Engagement Coordinator
912-537-3088 x 2025
Gwen Warren, Title III/ESOL Coordinator
912-537-3088 x 2019