Education Department issues Title 1 consolidation guidance

By Esther Wickham
The Center Square

The U.S. Department of Education issued guidance to state education officials urging Title I schools to consolidate federal, state and local funding into a single funding stream.

The letter comes as the department continues efforts to reduce red tape and compliance costs by encouraging greater funding flexibility through consolidation.

Through Title I, the federal government funds schools with large percentages of students from low-income families. The U.S. spends about $18 billion on Title I, according to the American Federation for Children.

“Schoolwide programs, combined with the ability to consolidate funds to support them, are a powerful tool for local decisionmakers to maximize their flexibility in using Federal funds and non-Federal funds to better serve students and improve academic achievement,” the letter stated.

This allows districts to tailor spending to specific student needs like tutoring, advanced courses, or tech support, as part of an ongoing push for broader school choice and efficiency under the Every Student Succeeds Act, which seeks to shift federal oversight in education funding.

The U.S Department of Education told The Center Square that “Title I schools better serve student needs by reducing paperwork and accounting burdens through consolidation of federal, state and local funds.”

Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Kirsten Baesler said schoolwide programs allow districts to break down funding silos.

“Schoolwide programs, which allow for the consolidation of funds, are a powerful tool for local decision-makers to break down silos between federal, state, and local funds,” Baesler said. “[W]e hope leaders will expand Title I schoolwide program eligibility and provide support to districts and schools on how to take advantage of the flexibility afforded through Title I schoolwide consolidation to better serve students and improve academic achievement.”

The push for expanded school choice comes amid broader concerns about education results across the country.

The Center Square reached out to California, Nevada and Texas education departments for a comment on the Title 1 guidance, but did not receive a response.