Approval of Tydings Amendment Waiver of FY22 ESEA funds and FY23 Carryover of Excess Title I, Part A Funds

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is pleased to announce that we have been granted a Tydings Amendment Waiver of FY22 ESEA funds and FY23 Carryover of Excess Title I, Part A Funds. Pursuant to the authority granted under section 8401(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Maine Department of Education (DOE) received approval for these waivers from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). As a reminder, state FY21 ESEA funds, subject to last year’s Tydings Waiver, are expiring and should be obligated by September 30, 2023.

The requirements from which Maine will be waived include:

A Tydings amendment waiver from Section 421(b) of the General Provisions Act to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). The Tydings amendment waiver extends the availability of Federal Fiscal Year 2021/State Fiscal Year 2022 Elementary and Secondary Education funds. Programs affected by this waiver:
- Title I, Part A of the ESEA (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs), including the portions of the SEA’s Title I, Part A, award used to carry out section 1003 school improvement, section 1003A direct student services, if applicable, and Title I, Part D, Subpart 2
- Title I, Part B of the ESEA (State Assessment Formula Grants)
- Title I, Part C of the ESEA (Education of Migratory Children)
- Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 of the ESEA (Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk)
- Title II, Part A of the ESEA (Supporting Effective Instruction)
- Title III, Part A of the ESEA (English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement)
- Title IV, Part A of the ESEA (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants)
- Title IV, Part B of the ESEA (21st Century Community Learning Centers)
- Title V, Part B, Subpart 2 of the ESEA (Rural and Low-Income School Program)
A carryover limitation waiver from Section 1127(a) of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended for Federal Fiscal Year 2022/State Fiscal Year 2023 Title I, Part A funds s (i.e., the Title I, Part A funds that will become carryover funds on October 1, 2023). The carryover limitation waiver waives the requirement that limits the Maine DOE’s ability to grant to its local educational agencies (LEAs) a waiver of the 15 percent Title I, Part A carryover limitation of more than once every three years.

We are pleased to share this news and deeply appreciate the work you and your staff are doing to help support students and schools in Maine. If you have any questions about this waiver, please contact your ESEA Regional Program Manager: ESEA Federal Programs | Department of Education (maine.gov)

Final SAU ESEA Allocations Released and Now Available

The Maine Department of Education’s (DOE) ESEA Federal Programs team is pleased to share that all ESEA Federal Program final allocations are now available. Final allocations can be viewed on the ESEA allocations webpage and have been uploaded into the Grant Award Notification (GAN) within the School Administrative Unit (SAU) ESEA Consolidated Application. Applications can be accessed through the Grants4ME platform. SAUs can complete and submit their ESEA consolidated application to assign Title I, II, III, IV-A and V funding, if applicable, to SAU and school projects.

It should be noted that due to a letter received from the US Department of Education (USDOE) on February 24, 2023, indicating the USDOE’s intent to place DOE’s Title I, Part A grant on high-risk status and withhold 25 percent of DOE’s fiscal 2022 (school year 2022-23) administrative funds, the withheld funds per federal statute, were redistributed to SAU Title I allocations, providing an additional $117,422 to Maine schools. The Maine DOE has communicated our objections to the USDOE’s actions. In the meantime, the inclusion of the $117,422 in addition to funds received in Maine’s preliminary Title I award, for federal fiscal year 2023 (school year 2023-2024) has resulted in either slight increases or lesser loss to final SAU Title I allocations as compared to preliminary Title I allocations. This is primarily due to adjustments in the hold harmless provision of funding directly related to the concentration stream resulting in additional loss of funds for some SAUs being subsequently minimized by the addition of the reallocation of withheld state administrative funds.

In the preliminary FY24 Title I equitable services allocations, the figures were abnormally low. After a deeper review, a formula error was found and subsequently amended. Please note the substantial increases for final FY24 Title I equitable services allocations.

Interested in understanding how Title I allocations are derived? A Title I allocation webinar is available for viewing.

Questions related to Title I allocations should be directed to Jessica Caron, Title I Specialist. Specific SAU-related ESEA allocation questions can be directed to the ESEA Regional Program Managers.

Seeking Public Comments for a Tydings Amendment Waiver of FY22 ESEA funds and FY23 Carryover of Excess Title I, Part A Funds

Pursuant to the authority granted under section 8401(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Maine Department of Education (DOE) intends to submit an application for waivers to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). As required, the Maine DOE is seeking 15 days of public comment from June 7, 2023 – June 21, 2023, on the request to waive the period of availability for Elementary & Secondary Education Act funds and Title I, Part A carryover limitations.

Requirements from which Maine will be seeking a waiver include:

A Tydings amendment waiver from Section 421(b) of the General Provisions Act to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). The Tydings amendment waiver seeks an extension to the availability of Federal Fiscal Year 2021/State Fiscal Year 2022 Elementary and Secondary Education funds. Programs affected by this waiver:

Title I, Part A of the ESEA (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs), including the portions of the SEA’s Title I, Part A award used to carry out section 1003 school improvement, section 1003A direct student services, if applicable, and Title I, Part D, Subpart 2
Title I, Part B of the ESEA (State Assessment Formula Grants)
Title I, Part C of the ESEA (Education of Migratory Children)
Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 of the ESEA (Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At Risk)
Title II, Part A of the ESEA (Supporting Effective Instruction)
Title III, Part A of the ESEA (English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement)
Title IV, Part A of the ESEA (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants)
Title IV, Part B of the ESEA (21st Century Community Learning Centers)
Title V, Part B, Subpart 2 of the ESEA (Rural and Low-Income School Program)
McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program

A carryover limitation waiver from Section 1127(a) of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended for Federal Fiscal Year 2022/State Fiscal Year 2023 Title I, Part A funds. The carryover limitation waiver seeks to waive the requirement that limits the Maine DOE’s ability to grant to its local educational agencies (LEAs) a waiver of the 15 percent Title I, Part A carryover limitation of more than once every three years.

The Maine DOE must solicit and respond to public comment on its waiver request as well as provide evidence of the available comment period.  As the Maine DOE moves forward to provide as much flexibility as possible and continued support for expending ESEA federal funds, comments can be submitted to: Cheryl.Lang@maine.gov.

Additional Support for 2023 Summer Learning and Enrichment Programming

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is excited to announce that $2 million dollars of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding will support additional summer learning and enrichment programming for PreK – grade 12 students this summer. This follows the recent award of $2.1 million to 63 school administrative units (SAUs) to support summer enrichment programming through the Title I Summer Reallocation Grant.

The ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding can provide broad support for summer learning and enrichment programs. SAUs should consider a variety of options for summer learning and enrichment programming such as an SAU run program and/or partnerships with non-profit or community organizations to address students’ academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs through a combination of activities. SAUs should maximize enrollment in summer learning and enrichment programs, with a particular focus on underserved students and students most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic while addressing the needs of students of all ages. Evidence-based summer learning and enrichment programs are further described in Volume 2 of the U.S. Department of Education’s COVID-19 Handbook available at: https://www2.ed.gov/documents/coronavirus/reopening-2.pdf.

The application for the ARP ESSER summer learning and enrichment programming competitive grant is now OPEN within the GRANTS4ME platform.

The ARP Summer Learning and Enrichment Application will utilize the Title I Summer Reallocation Grant template. Please navigate to the Grants4ME platform 2023 dropdown menu – titled “Title I Summer Reallocation Grant”.

As with any application on Grants4ME, be sure to click “Draft Started” to begin completing the application.
Within the needs, goals, and outcome section of the application, please describe how the summer learning and enrichment programming will prevent, prepare for and/or respond to COVID-19.
In addition, please ensure that the SAUs business manager and superintendent have enough time to review and approve the application in order to meet the deadline.

The application deadline is May 19, 2023, at 5 PM EST. If you have any questions about the ARP ESSER Summer Learning and Enrichment Programming grant opportunity, please reach out to mary.herman@maine.gov or renee.a.reilly@maine.gov.

View the list of SAUs already awarded funded here.

EXTENDED DEADLINE – Job Opening for Continuous School Improvement Leader

The deadline for applying for this job has been extended to July 15, 2022.

The Maine Department of Education’s ESEA Federal Programs Team is seeking an energetic and experienced individual to serve in the role as a Continuous School Improvement Leader. As a member of the ESEA Federal Programs Team, the selected candidate will provide support, research- and evidence-based guidance to a team of leadership coaches serving principals of identified schools; support the formation of school leadership teams with necessary stakeholder representation; support the review and update of the consolidated needs assessment (CNA); guide the utilization of the updated CNA to create a strategic plan to inform areas of focus, support and additional funding; and utilize the continuous improvement cycle to conduct data analysis for intentional decision making in order to provide on-going support . This is a professional service position that directs and coordinates Maine’s Model of School Support as required within Title I under the Elementary & Secondary Education Act of 2015 (ESSA). The position is responsible for the administration, management, and evaluation of Maine’s Model of School Support as approved under federal Title I statutory regulations. This work will include policy review, input and development as related to Maine’s Model of School Support under federal statutory requirements and adherence to. This is a contracted position.

REPRESENTATIVE TASKS:

Approve school strategic plan applications submitted for review/feedback in utilizing awarded funds in a necessary, reasonable, and allowable way;
Approve all school leadership coach timecards and travel reimbursement requests;
Determine on-going support and resources for School Leadership Coaches, building principals, and School Leadership Teams, based on policy and guidance for Title I School Improvement;
Identify agenda items and facilitate monthly meetings with school leadership coaches to develop resources and trainings to support identified schools;
Identify specific insight to guide the collaborations in decision making regarding the administration of the Maine’s Model of School Support for identified schools;
Determine specific data collection and analysis to identify on-going program refinement and continued improvement;
Determine specific policies and procedures directly aligned to Continuous School Improvement research- and evidence-based practices and suggest changes to these policies and/or procedures based on date-driven decision making;
Communicate directly and frequently with principals, district staff, and Maine DOE school improvement coaches, as needed, on issues related to the school and the district level support being providing by Maine DOE;
Monitor school improvement budget to include review and approval of school improvement project requests and invoices;
Review and analyze student achievement data, and use the results to assist principals, leadership teams, and school improvement coaches to improve and develop comprehensive school improvement plans as needed or requested by school leaders and coaches;
Provide support, conduct performance reviews, and provide self evaluations for Maine DOE school leadership coaches;
Visit identified comprehensive schools to provide technical assistance, collect data regarding program effectiveness, attend leadership team meetings with coach, and meet one-on-one with school leaders, as determined necessary.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED: These are among the requirements to successfully perform the work assigned

Knowledge of current research- and evidence-based best practices and exemplary educational practice in the education of the disadvantaged and the ability to interpret and apply information to current programs;
Knowledge of current and emerging federal laws, policies, rules and regulations regarding the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in particular School Improvement under Title I, including funding, compliance issues and evaluation issues;
Knowledge of the State’s assessment and accountability system including Maine’s Model of School Support;
Knowledge of continuous quality improvement and systems change concepts, practices, and tools;
Ability to assist in managing complex program and federal program budgets;
Ability to provide leadership to school leadership coaches and the Tier III identified schools they serve;
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both in written and oral form;
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships;
Ability to analyze, interpret, articulate, and present technical information, concepts, policies, procedures, and practices;
Ability to communicate complex information effectively, orally and in writing, to technical and non-technical audiences.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To qualify, candidates must have a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership or a field related to the position and experience in educational leadership. Preferred candidates will have experience in successfully supporting the administration of federal programs and budgets aligning to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

APPLICATION: Please submit a letter of interest, resume, and three current letters of recommendation to Cheryl Lang at cheryl.lang@maine.gov on or before July 15, 2022.