by Dr. David J Holbrook

This is the second of a three-part series of articles exploring how schools and school districts can use Title I, Part A funds to provide services to English learners (ELs). This article focuses on the local education agency (LEA) required Parent and Family Engagement reservation (set aside). The final article will explore one other Title I, Part A reservation which can be used to support ELs.

What Are Title I Reservations?

My previous article, which discussed how Title I School Support and Improvement (SSI) Grants can be used to support ELs language acquisition, academic achievement, and academic growth, included that these SSI grant funds are created via a State’s required reservation (set aside) of 7% of their Title I, Part A funds before sending the remaining funds to LEAs. In the same way, LEAs are required to reserve funds for certain activities across the LEA. 

One of those required reservations, which can be used to support ELs and their parents and families is the Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) reservation. Title I, Section 1116(a)(3) includes the requirement that LEAs receiving $500,000 or more in Title I, Part A funds must reserve (set aside) at least 1% of these funds to carry out the activities and strategies in its PFE policy. Note that 1% is a minimum reservation. The statute goes on to say that LEAs aren’t limited to 1% – if they wish to reserve more they can. 

LEA Parent and Family Engagement Policies

Title I, Section 1116 includes significant requirements related to engaging parents and families, including PFE policies (note that these policies are more like plans and don’t require a board approval) at both the LEA level and for each school that receives Title I funds. If a Title I funded LEA or school has ELs in its student population, this should be reflected in the activities and strategies outlined in its PFE Policy.

If a Title I funded LEA has ELs in its student population, this should be reflected in the activities and strategies outlined in its PFE Policy and, as noted, the 1% (or more) reservation must be used to carry out activities and strategies identified in those policies. Sec. 1116(a)(3)(D) goes on to describe that at least one (again, not a limitation as it could be more than one) of the following activities or strategies must be implemented using the PFE reservation:

1. Providing professional development to LEA and school personnel regarding PFE strategies, including various education staff, parents, and family members
2. Supporting programs that reach parents and family members at home, in the community, and at school
3. Disseminating information on best practices focused on PFE, especially for increasing engagement of economically disadvantaged parents and families
4. Collaborating with community-based or other organizations or employers with a record of success in improving and increasing PFE (this could be done by providing subgrants to schools)
5. Other activities and strategies the LEA determines are appropriate and consistent with its PFE policy

Required Activities Under Title I Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) Policies

The LEA PFE policy must be incorporated into the LEA’s Title I plan (application to the State for Title I funds) developed under Sec. 1112, which includes significant PFE requirements. The PFE policy must also be coordinated and integrated with the PFE strategies of other Federal, State, and local laws and programs, which includes laws and programs related to ELs (Sec. 1116(a)(2)(C)). Some of the PFE EL related requirements in Sec. 1112 include:

• Sec. 1112(e)(3)(A): Annual notification to parents for when their child has been identified and/or placed in an ELs program
• Sec. 1112(e)(3)(C)(i): Implementing an effective means of outreach to the parents of ELs including informing the parents of ELs how they can:
  • Be involved in the education of their children; and 
  • Be active participants in assisting their children to attain English proficiency, achieve at high levels, and meet the same challenging State academic standards as all other students
• Sec. 1112(e)(3)(C)(ii): Hold and send notice for regular meetings with the parents of ELs for the purpose of formulating and responding to recommendations from the parents of ELs (NOTE: the U.S. Department of Education has indicated that ‘regular meetings’ means more than once a year)
• Sec. 1112(e)(4): Notices and information to parents must be, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that parents can understand (FYI, this same requirement is also found in Sec. 1116(f))

Thus, as you can see, the EL related PFE requirements in Title I are significant and the PFE reservation should be used to support the activities and strategies outlined in the LEA’s PFE policy.