Title 1
Title 1
Private School Support
Frequently Asked Questions and Resources
Timeframe:
You need to get your purchase requests into TUSD coordinator before March 31st. This will allow us to get the funds distributed by the end of June.
Needs assessments:
Q: What is a needs assessment?
A: Data that shows a relationship to needs you may have and is related to the funds you want to spend. You don't necessarily need a different Needs Assessment for each purchase you want, but you DO need to have a needs assessment with data on file with TUSD coordinator.
Q: Can I use the same needs assessment for Title 2d, and/or 2a?
A: Yes
Q: What data is needed to determine teacher needs?
A: Information such as:
- Student achievement data
- Information on national and state initiatives,
- Projections of the professional development necessary to ensure that all teachers of core academic subjects meet the highly qualified requirements in Section 9101(23),
- Scientifically based research on proposed programs and strategies,
- Projections of teacher supply in critical areas, student enrollment data, program assessment data, and community and business input.
Q: Must staff be involved with Needs Assessment?
A: Yes. The law states that the needs assessment must reflect the needs for professional development "as identified by the [LEA] and school staff," and requires the LEA to conduct its needs assessment "with the involvement of teachers, including teachers participating in programs under part A of Title I" [Section 2122(c)(1) and (2)].
Purchase orders:
Q: Can a purchase order be placed for training or coursework at a university or school district?
A: State regulations state that a state organization cannot create a purchase order for itself--i.e. TUSD cannot place a purchase order to Northern Arizona University nor can it place a purchase order for a TUSD activity.
Q: What happens if an organization will not take a purchase order?
A: Payment can be made through reimbursement to the teacher.
Travel expenses:
Q: Would travel expenses and hotel accommodations be included if we send teachers to a conference?
A: Travel expenses can be paid by these Grant Funds as a reimbursement to the teachers only (not school). The receipts must have the teacher's name on them.
Administrative Expenses:
Q: Can I use my Title funds to purchase a projector or something else for my administrative office?
A: No. The funds must be tied directly to student achievement in some way. Admin expenses will not qualify for this. If you are buying a projector that someone will take around to different classes for training, then that would probably be ok.
Professional Development: (http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherqual/guidance.doc)
Q: What is meant by "high-quality professional development"?
A: Professional development includes, but is not limited to, activities that
- Improve and increase teachers' knowledge of academic subjects and enable teachers to become highly qualified
- Are an integral part of broad school wide and district wide educational improvement plans
- Give teachers and principals the knowledge and skills to help students meet challenging State academic standards
- Improve classroom management skills
- Are sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused and are not one-day or short-term workshops
- >Advance teacher understanding of effective instruction strategies that are based on scientifically based research; and
- Are developed with extensive participation of teachers, principals, parents, and administrators.
Q: The statute authorizes LEAs to use program funds for "teacher advancement initiatives that promote professional growth and emphasize multiple career paths. What are some options by which LEAs can implement these activities?
A: Too often, the best career advancement option currently available for teachers is to become school principals or LEA administrators. For example,
- becoming a career teacher, staying in the classroom with traditional instructional duties;
- becoming a mentor teacher, staying in the classroom but taking on additional duties such as mentoring first-year teachers and receiving additional pay for these duties; or
- becoming an exemplary teacher, based on a distinguished record of increasing student academic achievement, and training other teachers to do the same while receiving additional pay for these duties.