FEDERAL, STATE, AND STRATEGIC PROGRAMS

The Office of Federal, State, and Strategic Programs manages the title funds distributed from the federal government to close achievement gaps. The North Little Rock School District is committed to making sure every student receives a fair, equitable, and high-quality education.

This Office of Federal, State, and Strategic Programs also advises school leaders on best practices for prudent stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

EXPLANATION OF FEDERAL DOLLARS NLRSD RECEIVES

Title I: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged

Title I funding is the largest federal aid program for our nation's schools. The NLRSD receives more than $4 million annually in Title I funds. These dollars are for schools that have high enrollment of students from low-income households. The money funds programs and initiatives that help these students meet state standards.

Title II: Improving Teacher Quality

Title II funding is used to strengthen the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school staff. Title II can fund professional development activities, which Every Child Success Act (ESSA) legislation defines as "sustained, intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, personalized or based on information from an evaluation or support system, and classroom focused."

Title III: Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students

Title III funding supports students whose native language is a language other than English to achieve at high levels in academic subjects so that they can meet state state standards. The federal dollars can also support educational programs and curricula for English learners, professional development activities for teachers and other school staff of English learners, and promote family engagement opportunities for parents, families, and communities of English learners.

Title IV: Student Support and Academic Enrichment

The purpose of Title IV grants is to improve students' academic achievement by increasing the capacity of states, districts, schools, and communities to provide all students access to a well-rounded education, improve school conditions for student learning, and to improve the use of technology to enhance academic achievement and digital literacy for all students.

The Office of Federal, State, and Strategic Programs also monitors State Categorical special needs funds, which is distributed by the Arkansas Department of Education.

EXPLANATION OF STATE CATEGORICAL FUNDS NLRSD RECEIVES

Alternative Learning Environment (ALE)

These funds support student intervention program that consists of an alternative class or program within a public school or school district that seeks to eliminate traditional barriers to learning for students whose academic and social progress are negatively affected by the student's personal characteristics or situation.

English Language Learners (ELL)

These dollars are geared to help students identified as not proficient in the English language based upon approved English proficiency assessment exams, which measure proficiency in and comprehension of English in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

National School Lunch Act (NSLA)

National School Lunch Act funds are those students from low socioeconomic backgrounds as indicated by eligibility for free or reduced-price meals under the United States Department of Agriculture's National School Lunch Program as determined on October 1 of each previous school year and submitted to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Professional Development (PD)

These funds serve to improve the effectiveness of teachers, to address knowledge and skills of administrators and paraprofessionals concerning effective instructional strategies mandated by the Teacher Excellence and Support System (TESS), and to lead to improved student academic achievement.

This office provides technical assistance when guiding schools in their efforts to apply ‘best-practices’ in both fiscal and programmatic matters and maintains communication efforts not only in the program planning stage, but the implementation stage as well.