**[FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS]{.underline}**

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# What is the total appropriation for the School Improvement Fund?

The total appropriation for Fiscal Year 2007 is \$125 million.

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# Who can apply for School Improvement Funds?

The SEA of each State, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and each outlying
area may apply.

# How did the Department determine each SEA's allocation?

The Department determined the amount of School Improvement Funds each
SEA is eligible to receive in proportion to the FY 2007 funds each SEA
received under Parts A, C, and D of Title I of the ESEA.

# 

# What is each SEA's allocation?

See the attached list for the preliminary allocation for each SEA.

**What is the deadline for an SEA to apply?**

Applications must be submitted by (30 days from the date applications
are available).

Is a standard application form required?

An SEA need not use a specific form but must address all required
components as listed in this document. Applications should be 10 pages
or less. A title page and table of contents may be submitted as part of
the application and will not count against the page limit.

# How does an SEA distribute School Improvement Funds to LEAs?

An SEA must subgrant at least 95 percent of the funds it receives under
section 1003(g) to LEAs with schools in improvement, corrective action,
or restructuring. In making awards to LEAs, the SEA must give priority
to LEAs with the lowest-achieving schools that demonstrate (1) the
greatest need for funds, and (2) the strongest commitment to ensuring
that the funds are used to provide support for the lowest-achieving
schools to meet the goals for improvement under section 1116. LEA
subgrants must be of sufficient size and scope to support activities
under sections 1116 and 1117 and may not be less than \$50,000 or more
than \$500,000 for each participating school.

# 

**How might an SEA define "greatest need for funds" as required by the
statute?**

# An SEA must include its definition of "greatest need" in its application. As an initial matter, an LEA is eligible only if it has schools in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. An SEA may further narrow the pool of eligible LEAs or determine allocations by considering such factors as the percentage of students from low-income families enrolled in each eligible LEA; the number or percentage of each eligible LEA's schools that are identified for improvement, corrective action, and restructuring; those eligible LEAs with the largest number of schools in restructuring; or those eligible LEAs with the largest number or percentage of non-proficient students. 

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# How might an SEA define "strongest commitment" as required by the statute?

# An SEA has a great deal of flexibility in determining how to carry out this statutory requirement. In considering an LEA's plan for using section 1003(g) funds, the SEA might consider such factors as the LEA's commitment to making structural changes designed to improve student achievement, such as modifying teacher assignment practices to help ensure that a fair share of the LEA's most effective teachers are assigned to the lowest-achieving schools or the LEA's use of data to drive its decisions regarding school improvement strategies.

# []{.mark}

# Must an SEA distribute School Improvement Funds to its LEAs on a competitive basis?

No. An SEA has flexibility to create its own subgrant process. However,
it may be that implementing the priorities in section 1003(g)(6) are
best met through a competitive process. In particular, at the current
funding level, a formula-based process in which School Improvement Funds
are awarded to every LEA with schools in improvement, corrective action,
and restructuring would likely spread those funds too thinly to meet the
requirements for LEA awards in section 1003(g)(5).

Must an SEA allocate funds to every LEA with schools identified for
improvement, corrective action, or restructuring?

No. Indeed, the amount of funds likely will not be sufficient for an SEA
to make awards to every eligible LEA. However, the new funding available
under section 1003(g), combined with the school improvement funds
currently available under section 1003(a), should permit the SEA to
provide meaningful levels of improvement support to an increased number
of LEAs with schools in improvement, corrective action, and
restructuring. This is one reason the application requires an SEA to
describe how it will integrate activities funded under sections 1003(g)
and 1003(a).

Note that each identified school and LEA is responsible for carrying out
its school improvement responsibilities under section 1116(b) and (c),
respectively, whether it receives additional school improvement funds
under either section 1003(g) or 1003(a).

# Are School Improvement Fund grants to LEAs renewable?

Yes. Subject to future appropriations by Congress, an SEA may renew an
LEA's grant of section 1003(g) funds for two additional one-year periods
if schools in the LEA are meeting the goals in their school improvement
plans developed under section 1116.

May an SEA provide school improvement services directly to its LEAs with
section 1003(g) funds?

Yes. With the approval of LEAs, an SEA may provide school improvement
services under section 1116(b) directly to LEAs or arrange for their
provision through other entities such as school support teams or
educational service agencies. If an SEA will provide services directly
to LEAs, its application must include a description of such services and
evidence that it has approval from its LEAs.

# May an SEA retain any School Improvement Funds to carry out activities?

Yes. An SEA may reserve up to 5% of its allocation under section 1003(g)
for administrative, evaluation, and technical assistance costs.

# How may an SEA use School Improvement Funds?

An SEA has broad flexibility in using section 1003(g) funds it retains
for administrative, evaluation, and technical assistance costs. SEA
activities funded by section 1003(g) must support one or more of the
school improvement strategies listed in the application that are
designed to build LEA and school capacity to improve student achievement
and positively impact the measurable outcomes*.* The SEA should consider
how best to integrate section 1003(g) funds with school improvement
funds the SEA reserves under section 1003(a) of the ESEA, which by
statute must be used to carry out SEA responsibilities under sections
1116 and 1117 of the SEA, including implementation of the required
statewide system of technical assistance and support for LEAs.

**What entities are potential partners with States for delivering
technical assistance, professional development and management advice to
help schools in improvement improve teaching and learning?**

One strategy for expanding the capacity of SEAs and LEAs to meet the
needs of schools in improvement, corrective action, and restructuring is
to partner with other entities knowledgeable about improving teaching
and learning. Such entities might include colleges and universities and
federally funded technical assistance providers such as the
comprehensive assistance centers and the regional educational
laboratories.

# How long does an SEA and its LEAs have to spend School Improvement Funds?

The project period for FY 2007 funds ends on September 30, 2009. This
means that all work described in the grant application for the first
year of funding must be completed by that date.

Must an SEA seek advice from its Committee of Practitioners regarding
the criteria it will use to allocate School Improvement Funds?

Yes. By statute, a State's Committee of Practitioners, the majority of
whose members must represent LEAs, is designed to provide the SEA with a
wide range of viewpoints on rules, regulations, or binding policies that
will affect LEAs' implementation of Title I programs. The Committee is
well suited to provide input on the SEA's criteria for allocating School
Improvement Funds.

**May an SEA require its LEAs to amend their local plans to explain how
they will use school improvement funds?**

Yes. The Department encourages an SEA to require LEAs that seek funding
to describe, for example:

• the technical assistance they will provide to schools identified for
improvement, corrective action, and restructuring;

• how School Improvement Funds will implement and support the
improvement, corrective action, and restructuring plans developed for
each identified school

**May School Improvement Funds be used to provide Supplemental
Educational Services?**

Yes. An LEA may use School Improvement Funds to provide Supplemental
Educational Services.

**May an LEA use a portion of its School Improvement Funds for
administrative costs?**

Yes, although, as a practical matter, the Title I, Part A funds an LEA
already has available for administrative costs should be sufficient to
cover costs associated with administering section 1003(g) funds. Any use
of Title I, Part A funds for administrative costs must be reasonable and
necessary to carry out Title I, Part A activities.

**May School Improvement funds be used to support a school that does not
participate in Title I but whose lack of progress would qualify it for
school improvement under section 1116(b)?**

No. Only Title I schools identified for school improvement, corrective
action, or restructuring under section 1116(b) may receive School
Improvement Funds.

**Must an SEA report on the use of School Improvement Funds??**

Yes. Each SEA must report to the Department the data in the reporting
section of the application. The Department anticipates collecting this
data as part of the existing Consolidated State Performance Report
starting with the 2007-2008 report.

How can an SEA or LEA demonstrate that it is making decisions regarding
the use of school improvement funds based on data and that it has
systems for continuous feedback and improvement?

An SEA or LEA can demonstrate that it is making decisions regarding the
use of school improvement funds based on data by clearly articulating
the data it analyzed, the conclusions drawn, and how the proposed uses
of School Improvement Funds address areas where the data indicate that
changes are needed to improve teaching and learning. At the LEA or
school level, the analysis should include a review of the relevant data
about student achievement and related factors, as well as a review of
the evidence that the strategies to be implemented with the School
Improvement Funds have the greatest likelihood of ensuring that all
students reach proficiency. For example, LEA or school staff might
consider data indicating that a particular strategy or combination of
strategies contributed to improved student achievement in similarly
situated schools. At the SEA level, the data review might include
student achievement and other data that can be used to help ensure that
the technical assistance being provided is aligned with local needs.

Data analysis is a continuous activity. Once a strategy or strategies
have been identified, LEA and school level staff should monitor to
ensure that those strategies are actually being implemented and to
determine if they are contributing to the desired outcomes either in
terms of improvement in student achievement or increases in other
activities that lead to increased student achievement such as greater
parental involvement or more high-quality professional development. At
the SEA level, the SEA should monitor the effectiveness of the technical
assistance provided through its statewide system of support to ensure
that LEAS and schools are receiving technical assistance in the areas
where they most need it and it is having the intended results. In both
cases, changes should be made when the data indicate that technical
assistance or a strategy or combination of strategies are not having the
intended result. Additionally, there should be a mechanism to report
back to the LEA and the SEA about practices that are proving to be
effective so this information can be shard with other LEAs and schools.

[Further information on the School Improvement Fund:]{.underline}

Logistical Information for Application Submission:

-   Please list a contact name, including the best way to contact that
    person, in the application. This will enable the Department to
    follow up quickly if clarification is needed.

[Questions]{.underline}

1.  Assuming that section 1003(g) funds are appropriated in subsequent
    years, what happens if a Title I school that received section
    1003(g) funds in the previous year is no longer a Title I school?

Section 1003(g) School Improvement Funds may be used only in schools
that receive Title I, Part A funds. If a school ceases to be a Title I
school in a subsequent year, that school would no longer be eligible to
receive 1003(g) funds, even if that school continues to be identified
through the State assessment system as a school that is not making AYP.

2.  **May an SEA continue to include, in an LEA's section 1003(g) grant,
    funds for a Title I school that previously received section 1003(g)
    funds and but has exited improvement status?**

Depending on the circumstances, under section 1003(g)(5)(C), an SEA may
renew, for two additional years, an LEA's grant. Accordingly, that grant
may include one or more schools that received section 1003(g) funds in
one of the prior two years but have exited improvement status. However,
in continuing to fund these schools, the SEA must have data documenting
that such schools continue to be among those schools with "greatest
need," particularly when compared to schools that are still in
improvement and are not receiving section 1003(g) funds.

3.  **May an LEA carry over unspent 1003(g) funds from a school that is
    no longer a Title I school?**

Yes. An LEA may carry over unused section 1003(g) funds from a school
that is no longer a Title I school and use them for school improvement
activities in Title I schools that are in improvement. Note that the
section 1003(g) funds are not subject to the 15 percent carryover
restriction in section 1127 of Title I.

4.  May an LEA use carryover funds in a Title I school that received
    1003(g) funds in one of the prior two years but has exited
    improvement status?

It depends. Consistent with section 1003(g)(5)(C), which permits (but
does not require) a Title I school that received section 1003(g) funds
in the two prior years but is no longer in improvement to continue to
receive such funds for two additional years, an LEA may use carryover
funds in those schools also. The LEA must have data that documents that
the school continues be among those schools with "greatest need"
particularly compared to schools that are still in improvement and are
not receiving section 1003(g) funds.

5.  Are LEAs that are in improvement but have no schools in improvement
    eligible to receive section 1003(g) funds?

No. Only LEAs that have schools in improvement, corrective action, or
restructuring are eligible to apply to the SEA for funds. LEAs in
improvement that do not have any Title I schools in improvement are not
eligible to receive section 1003(g) funds.

6.  Must an SEA allocate section 1003(g) funds to an LEA on behalf of
    each school in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring?

No. An SEA is not required to provide section 1003(g) funds to an LEA on
behalf of every school in improvement, corrective action, or
restructuring. Rather, the SEA should allocate funds according to its
criteria for "greatest need" and "strongest commitment." The SEA could
determine, for example, only to allocate section 1003(g) funds on behalf
of schools in corrective action or restructuring.

7.  May an SEA allocate less than \$50,000 per participating school?

No. Section 1003(g)(5)(A) requires an SEA to allocate not less than
\$50,000 and not more than \$500,000 for each participating school.
Because of the restrictions on waivers authorized in section 9401 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, neither the Department nor an
EdFlex State may waive allocation requirements.

8.  Must an LEA spend at least \$50,000 of section 1003(g) funds in each
    participating school?

No. These monies may be spent in or on behalf of the participating
school depending on the needs identified by the data.

For example, the data may indicate that using funds for professional
development or hiring an outside consultant to build the capacity of the
LEA and school staff may be the most effective way to improve teaching
and learning in participating schools.

9.  What is a participating school?

A participating school is a school for which the SEA allocates section
1003(g) funds based on the criteria described in the SIF application.

10. **May an SEA consolidate the five percent in 1003(g)(8) with other
    State administrative funds under section 9201 of the ESEA?**

Yes. SEAs may use not more than five percent of its 1003(g) funds for
administration, evaluation, and technical assistance expenses. This
would include expenses to implement the process necessary to make
awards. Whether an SEA chooses to consolidate these funds with other
administrative funds, the SEA must ensure that it fulfills its
responsibilities with respect to how these funds are used to meet the
requirements of section 1003(g) and the applicable requirements of
sections 1116 and 1117.

Please note that the amount an SEA may retain for state level activities
under section 1003(a) is to carry out the State's responsibilities under
sections 1116 and 1117, including carrying out the SEA's statewide
system of technical assistance and support. There is no specific
authorization for administrative activities. Therefore, these funds may
not be consolidated under section 9201.

11. Will an SEA be expected to report on 1003(g) and 1003(a)?

Yes. As previously stated in the application package, the Department
anticipates collecting this data as part of the existing Consolidated
State Performance Report starting with the 2007-2008 report.

12. **How many years will this be considered an amendment to the State
    Consolidated Application?**

This application will serve as an amendment to a State's Consolidated
Application and will remain in effect until the current reauthorization
expires. However, if an SEA makes significant changes in its application
such as changing the criteria for "greatest need," revising its
allocation process or modifying the use of funds, the SEA must amend its
consolidated application.

13. Are there differences between the provisions governing allocations
    under sections 1003(a) and 1003(g) funds?

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  **1003(a)**                         **1003(g)**

  Includes an authority to allocate   No such authority
  unused funds to LEAs under the      
  regular Title I, Part A formula or  
  under the SEA's reallocation        
  procedures (section 1003(d))        

  Must be used only in or on behalf   May be used for two additional
  of Title I schools that are in      years in or on behalf of schools
  improvement, corrective action, or  that have exited improvement that
  restructuring (unless allocated     previously received 1003(g) funds
  under section 1003(d))              (see Question 2)

  No restriction on amount to LEAs    \$50,000 award minimum and
  per school                          \$500,000 maximum to LEAs on behalf
                                      of each participating school
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Note: If an SEA uses a single process with identical criteria to award
1003(a) and 1003(g) funds the \$50,000 minimum would apply to both
sources of funds.