The U.S. Department of Education has issued new guidance encouraging states to leverage existing flexibilities in Title I funding to expand educational choice. This move aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families.
Since ESEA implementation in 1965, Title I has provided supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. However, now:
- States could use up to 3% of their Title I funds to support direct student services, such as advanced courses, dual enrollment, tutoring, career and technical education, personalized learning, and out-of-school programs.
- Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) must ensure parents are informed about available choices and have a meaningful opportunity to select services for their children.
- Private schools and other non-public entities may be eligible providers of these services, though LEAs retain control over the funding.
Read the full letter here.
WFIS and fellow State CAPE leaders discussed how this first step in the federal government’s effort to widen school choice initiatives will play out quite differently in each state. WFIS will continue to follow up on how this will be implemented in Washington.
