District-level Set Asides in Support of School Improvement

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1 District-level Set Asides in Support of School Improvement What funds are available to schools identified for improvement in Oregon? In the summer of 2012, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) applied for and was granted a waiver of many of the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). As approved, the waiver calls for some changes to the funding of schools identified for intervention by ODE. Funds available to the district to support improvement efforts include: 1) the school s Title I-A allocation provided to the school based upon poverty counts in the school, 2) a school improvement allocation provided to the district and directed for use in the school in support of improvement efforts, and 3) a set aside of funds equaling up to 20 percent of the district s Title I-A allocation from the state. In addition to these fund sources available directly to school and district staff, funds are reserved by ODE each year to support the position of Leadership Coach in each school. During the school year, funds were similarly reserved by ODE to pay for appraisals of each school during that year. Does the district set aside appear for the first time in the ESEA Flexibility waiver? The requirement of a fund equal to 20 percent of the district s Title I-A allocation (item 3 above) is not new. Under ESEA requirements, districts with schools identified in need of improvement have been required to set aside these funds to support two programs for students in those schools. Prior to the waiver, these funds were used during each school s first year of improvement status to support transportation of students choosing to attend another, higher performing school in the district (school choice). During each school s second year and beyond, these funds were used for continued school choice and expanded to provide out-of-school tutoring for students continuing in the school (supplemental education services). With the waiver in place, districts are no longer required to use Title I-A funds to support school choice or supplemental education services among identified schools. The waiver calls for these funds to be redirected to support improvement efforts in Priority and Focus Schools. What are the budget requirements for districts with Priority and/or Focus Schools? Beginning with the school year, districts with Priority and Focus Schools are required to set aside an amount equaling up to 20 percent of their district-wide Title I-A allocation to be used in conjunction with each school s Title I-A allocation and any supplemental improvement funds allocated to the district by ODE in support of improvement efforts. While districts are required to set aside these funds, districts are allowed to choose a source other than Title I-A. Page 1 of 5 March 1, 2013

2 In the spring of 2013, districts with identified schools will budget these funds to support necessary interventions as described in the schools approved plans and school improvement budgets. This set aside may be as much as 20 percent but the final amount will depend on the number of schools within the district identified as Priority or Focus Schools, the total number of funded schools in the district, and funds needed by each identified school. No district is required to set aside an amount greater than 20 percent of their Title I-A allocation (whether from Title I-A or other funds) for improvement efforts regardless of how many Priority and/or Focus Schools are identified within the district. How can districts plan for this set aside? Late spring 2013, ODE will communicate the projected school improvement allocations to Priority and Focus Schools. The total of these allocations to a district will impact the set aside for districts. For planning purposes in advance of this notification, the district can plan using the information below. To calculate the district s set aside, districts will determine the lesser of: A) The total amount allocated to the district in the school improvement funds for all Priority and Focus Schools for the school year B) or For Example: Either of these formulas will reduce the set aside below the 20 percent cap in districts with few Title I-A funded schools identified for school improvement. The example above, for instance, reduces the set aside to $194,410 from $486,027 (8 percent rather than 20 percent of $2,430,135). In districts with a larger proportion of Title I-A funded schools identified as Priority or Focus Schools, the set aside amount may be at or near the cap. Who should be contacted with questions? For questions on this set aside, please contact Jesse Parsons at jesse.parsons@state.or.us or Page 2 of 5 March 1, 2013

3 ROB S. SAXTON Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction April 2, 2013 TO: RE: Superintendents/Title I Coordinators/Business Managers Required district set-asides for Priority and Focus Schools Final Clarification Improving student performance in Oregon s Priority and Focus schools is a critical component of the Governor s plan and is strongly supported by Dr. Rudy Crew, Chief Education Officer, and Rob Saxton, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction. To ensure that dramatic improvements in Oregon s Priority and Focus Schools are achieved, districts are required to commit significant resources in a strategic and targeted manner. As you know, Oregon schools are no longer required to provide school choice or Supplemental Education Services in Title I-A schools in improvement. All districts with Priority and Focus Schools, however, must commit Title I-A and other district funds to support the turnaround interventions identified in each school s Comprehensive Achievement Plan (CAP). Specifically, each district must provide the resources in their CAPs to ensure successful achievement of the goals of each of the district s Priority and/or Focus schools. To fund the proposed interventions, districts may use a combination of the following: A set-aside of funds equaling up to 20% of a district s Title I-A allocation to fulfill this, districts can use general funds, other federal funds as appropriate, and/or other resources The school s Title I-A allocation The Title I-A improvement funds given as grants to districts with Priority and/or Focus Schools Other funds A budget showing the interventions, the funding sources for the interventions, and the amounts of any other reserved set-asides must be approved prior to the full release of a district s Title I-A funding.

4 Superintendents/Title I Coordinators/Business Managers April 2, 2013 Page 2 of 2 Next Steps 1. Within Indistar, finalize your CAP(s) and accompanying budget(s) and submit to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) by May 1, Ensure that your prescribed interventions are clearly identified within your final plan. 2. Budget according to the requirements of your implementation plan. This initial plan must be fully funded and with an adequate reserve amount left for interventions you may initiate during the course of the school year. Districts may need to use a combination of all sources listed above in order to adequately fund their turnaround efforts and achieve improvement goals. 3. CAPs will be reviewed regionally May 6-10, 2013 by teams consisting of Regional Network Coordinators, School Leadership Coaches, district and school personnel, and ODE staff. After a final review by ODE staff, the goal is to provide each district with useful and prompt feedback six to eight working days after the review period. Plans that are not adequately funded in budgets submitted to ODE will be returned for revision. 4. Following the review by the regional teams, coordinators and ODE staff will do an analysis of all plans across the state and they will develop a synthesis of the various strategies and interventions that will be shared with all participating districts. We wish you well with this most serious work. Though Oregon school funding issues are challenging, the future of our state and country depends upon how well we prepare all students to lead a productive life in this technological age. Of course, the key to success remains- skilled and dedicated teachers and inspiring leaders. Your work has never been more important. If we can be of assistance, please contact Jesse Parsons, Education Specialist, at (503) or jesse.parsons@state.or.us; or Jim Carlile, Interim Assistant Superintendent, at (503) or jim.carlile@state.or.us. Jim Carlile Interim Assistant Superintendent Office of Educational Improvement and Innovation (503) jim.carlile@state.or.us

5 Funds of Interest to Priority and Focus Schools Description District Level Set-Aside for Priority and Focus Schools (up to 20%) (All Districts with Priority and/or Focus Schools) Amount Enough to adequately fund all Priority and Focus school improvement plans. Unless a lesser amount is agreed upon as adequate by all, the following are guidelines for determining adequate: Minimum District Set Aside = the Lesser of Expires (must be spent before) If Title IA funds are used, they expire September 30, *The minimum and maximum are used to determine amounts and do not imply that the source of such funds must be Title IA. The actual funds can come from sources other than Title IA, such as the district s general funds Title IA School Allocation (All Title I Schools) School Improvement Allocation (All Priority and Focus Schools) *These funds cannot be carried over to the following year. Strategic Investment for Expanded Reading Opportunities (K-5 Focus Schools only) for adult support, expanded learning time and/or access to technology as it relates to K-5 literacy. *These funds cannot be carried over to the following year. Strategic Investment to Hire One Full Time Licensed Staff (K-8 non-sig funded Priority Schools Only) *Remaining funds can be used for other staff salaries or extended duty. These funds can be used any time during the two year biennium. OR the Sum of all Priority and Focus Schools SI Allocations (matching funds) Maximum District Set Aside = 20% of District Title IA Allocation Ten percent of the school allocation must be used for professional development and must be described in the school budget narrative line. Some schools reserved some of their funds for summer 2013 expenses. For schools that did not do so, this amount is zero. The allocation was determined by using a base amount per school and then adding an amount per student and an amount per mile from Salem. Schools that request these funds (apply) will receive $40,000 for , and an additional $40,000 for Schools that qualify will be given a sub-grant for $100,000 (no application necessary) June 30, 2014 June 30, 2015 June 30, 2015