K-12 Education Funding Guide

Overview

Title I, Part A provides financial assistance to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet state academic standards. Schools in which children from low-income families make up at least 40 percent of enrollment are eligible for school-wide programs that serve all children in the school. Otherwise, Title I funds must be focused on children who are failing, or at risk of failing, to meet state academic standards.

Title I funds help to level the playing field for children from low-income communities. Funds are used to support a variety of instructional and non-instructional costs (behavior supports, attendance programs, community/parent engagement) if these costs are shown to help improve student achievement.

Aligned Solutions

Vector Training

• Vector Training is a professional development resource that delivers online training, including hundreds of school focused courses by expert-authors, to every staff member.
• Vector Training offers districts the ability to create custom courses that can be aligned to the district’s strategic (school improvement) plan.
• For students needing intervention, it provides evidence-based, special education-related training on ADHD, Autism, Behavior, IEP’s, Transition, Special Education Law, and more.
• Every course is multimedia-rich and written by one of the nation’s leading special education experts.
• Vector Training’s Compliance Management System provides Administrators and Title I Directors with reports to document professional development completion.

Vector PD Tracking

• Vector PD Tracking supplies administrators and Title I Directors with reports to document professional development completion.

Vector Evaluations+

• Vector Evaluations+ improves educator effectiveness by managing professional growth and performance and strengthening teacher and staff development.

Vector EHS

• Vector EHS Management efficiently manages all incident data for employees, students, and visitors.

Overview

IDEA offers individualized supports to help students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate education. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures services to children with disabilities, including early intervention, special education, and targeted supports.

Funds must be spent to support the needs of children with disabilities, as outlined in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that attempt to identify the specific supports and services necessary for each identified child. Funds can be used for a wide variety of purposes to support learners with disabilities.

The additional ARP funds could be used for mental health services or to support academics to increase evidence-based interventions. These funds can be used to address learning disruptions and professional development  – ensuring staff has the training to shift quickly to remote learning in the future and to continue hybrid and remote learning right now. The funding could also be used to address critical shortages of special education personnel, both teachers and specialized instructional support personnel. IDEA funds are very flexible in how they can be used.

Aligned Solutions

Vector Training

Vector Training equips all staff with evidence-based training to help students with special needs thrive in the classroom.

• Courses can be accessed from school or home, when it’s most convenient, using any web-enabled device.
• District and school administrators are able to easily assign and trackcourses and completions.
• Supports and enhances the ability for all staff to deliver academic and behavioral interventions. Vector Training is a technology program that is implemented at the district level. It includes Course Libraries with additional courses for school staff who support students served under IDEA:
  • Special Education Course Library – Online PD courses specifically covering special-education related topics.
  • School Bus Safety Company Course Library – Driver training that includes Transporting Students with Special Needs.

Many special education programs require instructional staff and bus aides to have training in emergency procedures, school and bus safety, certain medical procedures and confidentiality requirements. Vector Training offers a full range of courses in these areas.

Vector Evaluations+ and PD Tracking

• Intuitive online teacher evaluation and professional development tools.
• Identifies professional development needs and supports ongoing growth.
• It is highly customizable to meet the unique needs of Special Education teachers.

Vector SDS

• Manages district’s SDS collections and chemical inventory online.
• Ensures safety data for chemicals commonly found in schools.

Vector EHS Management

• Efficiently manages all incident data for employees, students, student athletes, and visitors

Overview

The Improving Teacher Quality Program aims to increase academic achievement by improving teacher and principal quality-namely by increasing the number of highly-qualified teachers and principals. The program also aims to increase the effectiveness of teachers and principals by holding districts and schools accountable for growth in student achievement.

Local-level activities include but are not limited to (1) recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers and principals, (2) increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in classrooms, and (3) providing professional development for teachers and principals. These activities must be based on a local needs assessment and, among other things, be aligned with state academic content standards, student academic achievement standards and state assessments.

Aligned Solutions

Vector Training

• Vector Training is a professional development resource that delivers training on a full spectrum of important school safety topics including student behavioral, social, and emotional issues, online safety and more – properly trained staff are better prepared to provide a safe learning environment for students.
• Special Education Course Library – prepares teachers and principals to step into a school or classroom of diverse learners with courses written by leading Special Education experts.

Vector Evaluations+

• Identifies professional development needs and supports ongoing growth.

Vector PD Tracking

• Supplies Administrators and Professional Development Directors with reports to document professional development completion.

Overview

The purpose of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Program is to improve student’s academic achievement by increasing the capacity of States, local educational agencies, schools and local communities to: (1) provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; (2) improve school conditions for student learning; and (3) improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy for all students.

ESSA consolidated many former competitive and formula programs including Safe and Drug Free Schools. These funds are allocated to states, with quite a bit of flexibility.

Activities to support safe and healthy students may include, but are not limited to:

• School-based mental health services
• Health and safety practices into school
• Nutritional education
• Bullying and harassment prevention
• Practices for developing relationship-building skills
• Reducing exclusionary discipline practices
• Addressing trauma and violence
• Health and safety, including bullying and harassment.
• Establishing or improving school dropout and reentry programs
• Positive behavioral interventions and support. This includes coordinating with IDEA activities to improvement academic outcomes and school conditions for student learning

Activities to improve the use of educational technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students may include, but are not limited to:

• Professional learning

Aligned Solutions

Vector Training

• Vector Training provides online professional development utilizing school-based scenarios making the training relevant and applicable for SSAE.
• Key courses include:
  • Emergency Management
  • Employment Practices
  • Environmental
  • Health
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Nutrition Services
  • Security
  • Social & Behavioral
  • Special Education
  • Transportation

Overview

Perkins funding is the keystone of many states’ CTE programs. Federal funds are made available to develop more fully the academic, career, and technical skills of secondary and postsecondary students who elect to enroll in CTE programs. In accordance with the statute, states must allocate at least 85 percent of the funds to eligible recipients, which include local education agencies (LEAs), two- and four-year colleges and universities that offer sub baccalaureate CTE programs, area CTE centers, and postsecondary education institutions controlled by the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).

Vocational Education grants are intended to develop and enrich the academic, career, and technical skills of secondary and postsecondary students in CTE programs. States apply to receive funds, contingent upon submitting an approved five-year state CTE plan. States then pass the majority of Perkins funds along to districts and colleges that operate vocational and technical education programs.

Aligned Solutions

Vector Training

• Vector Training includes a wide variety of Health Services, Food Services, and Transportation Safety courses that can be used for staff professional development.
• It is a perfect solution to train vocational and technology educators to help level the “playing field” for students with exceptionalities
• Special Education Course Library topics include Special Education Law, Transitions, Autism Spectrum and ADHD, among many others

Vector SDS and Chemical Management System

• SDS and Chemical management is a web-based system can be quickly accessed from any web-enabled computer or mobile device to create and update virtual SDS collections for the district.
• Organize your chemical inventory and SDSs by work area.
• Print out online collections as neatly organized physical binders, secondary container labels, and location fliers with QR codes that includes important hazard warnings specific to the contents.
• Use the search feature to quickly find a specific SDS in case of an emergency.
• Compliant with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).

Vector EHS Management

• Vector EHS efficiently manages all incident data for employees, students, student athletes, and visitors.

Overview

BJA’s STOP School Violence Grant Program is designed to improve school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence.

The STOP School Violence Act describes the following categories for school safety projects:

1. Train school personnel and educate students on preventing student violence against others and themselves to include anti-bullying training. This can also include specialized training for school officials to respond to mental health crises.
2. Develop and implement threat assessment and/or intervention teams and/or operate technology solutions such as anonymous reporting systems for threats of school violence, including mobile telephone applications, hotlines, and websites. Threat assessment and/or intervention teams must coordinate with law enforcement agencies and school personnel.

Aligned Solutions

Vector Training – Staff Course Library

Educate staff on essential safety topics.

• Courses cover the critical topics to educate staff so they’re better prepared to prevent a safety incident, or to respond should one occur.
• Supports Compliance – courses help comply with state and federal training mandates, including OSHA, Title IX, Mandatory Reporting, FERPA, Working Safely with Students with Disabilities, Bullying Prevention, and more.
• Scenario Based – School-based scenarios make the training relevant and applicable. Key courses include: Bloodborne Pathogens, Sexual Harassment, School Violence, Student Mental, Health, Youth Suicide, and more.
• Built-In Assessments – Every course includes an assessment to measure retention and mastery. Administrators can also activate “test-out” and “pre-test/post-test” options on a course-by-course basis.

Vector Training – Student Course Library

Equip students with the safety knowledge they need.

• Powerful, engaging courses cover the essential safety topics to educate students to positively impact school culture, and are perfect for primary prevention training or remediation.
• Engaging and Age-Appropriate – Courses feature diverse peer presenters, so all students can more easily connect with each lesson. Customized courses for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
• Modular Course Design – Each course includes a full version, as well as standalone modules (5-10 minutes), so the content can be used in the way that best meets student needs.
• Variety of Uses – Assign to individual students, use in a facilitated group setting, or add our courses to your existing LMS.
• Helpful Ancillary Materials – Lesson plans, discussion questions, activities, and assessments.

Vector EHS Management

• Efficiently manages all incident data for employees, students, student athletes, and visitors.

Overview

The purpose of the COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) is to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the recipient’s jurisdiction through evidence-based school safety programs. Funding is available under the following purpose areas:

• Coordination with local law enforcement
• Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self
• Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures
• Acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency
• Any other measure that, in the determination of the COPS Office Director, may provide a significant improvement in security

Aligned Solutions

Vector Training – Staff Course Library

Educate staff on essential safety topics.

• Courses cover the critical topics to educate staff so they’re better prepared to prevent a safety incident, or to respond should one occur.
• Supports Compliance – courses help comply with state and federal training mandates, including OSHA, Title IX, Mandatory Reporting, FERPA, Working Safely with Students with Disabilities, Bullying Prevention, and more.
• Scenario Based – School-based scenarios make the training relevant and applicable. Key courses include: Bloodborne Pathogens, Sexual Harassment, School Violence, Student Mental, Health, Youth Suicide, and more.
• Built-In Assessments – Every course includes an assessment to measure retention and mastery. Administrators can also activate “test-out” and “pre-test/post-test” options on a course-by-course basis.

Vector Training – Student Course Library

Equip students with the safety knowledge they need.

• Powerful, engaging courses cover the essential safety topics to educate students to positively impact school culture, and are perfect for primary prevention training or remediation.
• Engaging and Age-Appropriate – Courses feature diverse peer presenters, so all students can more easily connect with each lesson. Customized courses for grades 6-8 and grades 9-12.
• Modular Course Design – Each course includes a full version, as well as standalone modules (5-10 minutes), so the content can be used in the way that best meets student needs.
• Variety of Uses – Assign to individual students, use in a facilitated group setting, or add our courses to your existing LMS.
• Helpful Ancillary Materials – Lesson plans, discussion questions, activities, and assessments.

Vector EHS Management

• Efficiently manages all incident data for employees, students, student athletes, and visitors.

Overview

The Personnel Preparation program helps meet state-identified needs for adequate numbers of fully certified personnel to serve children with disabilities by supporting competitive awards to:

• Provide research-based training and professional development to prepare special education, related services, early intervention, and regular education personnel to work with children with disabilities
• Ensure that those personnel are fully qualified, and possess the skills and knowledge that are needed to serve children with disabilities
• Ensure that those personnel are fully qualified, and possess the skills and knowledge that are needed to serve children with disabilities

This program supports training activities in a few high priority areas, including:

• General personnel development and preparing beginning special educators
• Personnel serving children with low incidence disabilities
• Leadership personnel

Aligned Solutions

The following information includes all acceptable uses for these funds to provide a complete picture, while the items in bold are those that represent close matches to Vector Solutions products.

• High-quality interdisciplinary projects that prepare special education, early intervention, and related services personnel at the master’s degree, educational specialist degree, or clinical doctoral degree levels for professional practice in natural environments, early learning programs, classrooms, and school settings serving children, including infants and toddlers, and youth with disabilities.
• Builds capacity (e.g., hiring of a field supervisor, providing professional development for field supervisors, and training for faculty);
• Purchasing needed resources (e.g., additional teaching supplies or specialized equipment to enhance instruction)

Vector Training

• Vector Training is a professional development resource that delivers online training, including hundreds of school focused courses by expert-authors, to every staff member.
• Key courses include:
  • Emergency Management
  • Employment Practices
  • Environmental
  • Health
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Nutrition Services
  • Security
  • Social & Behavioral
  • Special Education
  • Transportation
• Special Education Course Library – prepares teachers and principals to step into a school or classroom of diverse learners with courses written by leading Special Education experts.
  • Delivers evidence-based, Special Education-related training on ADHD, Autism, Behavior, IEP’s, Transition, Special Education Law, and more.

Vector PD Tracking

• Supplies Administrators and Professional Development Directors with reports to document professional development completion.

Vector Evaluations+

• Identifies professional development needs and supports ongoing growth.

Overview

The purpose of the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) is to improve student achievement; improve the quality of prospective and new teachers by improving the preparation of prospective teachers and enhancing professional development activities for new teachers; hold teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education (IHEs) accountable for preparing teachers who meet applicable State certification and licensure requirements; and recruit highly qualified individuals, including minorities and individuals from other occupations, into the teaching force.

The program supports eligible partnerships that must include a high-need local educational agency (LEA), a high-need school served by the LEA, or a high-need early childhood education (ECE) program; a partner institution; a school, department, or program of education within such partner institution; and a school or department of arts and sciences within such partner institution. Partnerships must implement either (a) teacher preparation programs at the pre-baccalaureate or “fifth-year” level that include specific reforms in IHEs’ existing teacher preparation programs; or (b) teacher residency programs for individuals who are recent graduates with strong academic backgrounds or are mid-career professionals from outside the field of education.

Aligned Solutions

The following information includes all acceptable uses for these funds to provide a complete picture, while the items in bold are those that represent close matches to Vector Solutions Products. 

Funding for:

• Partnerships among institutions of higher education, high-need local education agencies, high-need schools, or other eligible entities that work together to develop a pipeline of profession ready teachers.
• Providing extensive, year-long clinical preparation to teacher candidates.
• Providing an induction program for at least the first two years of a graduate’s teaching career.
• Candidates participating in teaching residency programs commit to teaching for at least three years in a high need field in the high-need district where they were prepared.
• Addressing candidates that are prepared to teach students with disabilities, to teach English language learners, and to teach literacy strategies.

Vector Training

• Vector Training is a professional development resource that delivers online training, including hundreds of school focused courses by expert-authors, to every staff member.
• Special Education Course Library – prepares teachers and principals to step into a school or classroom of diverse learners with courses written by leading Special Education experts.
• Delivers evidence-based, Special Education-related training on ADHD, Autism, Behavior, IEP’s, Transition, Special Education Law, and more.

Vector PD Tracking

• Supplies Administrators and Professional Development Directors with reports to document professional development completion.

Vector Evaluations+

• Identifies professional development needs and supports ongoing growth.

Overview

The SEED grant program provides funding to increase the number of highly effective educators by supporting the implementation of evidence-based preparation, development, or enhancement opportunities for educators.

Supporting Effective Teachers.

Projects that will implement activities that are supported by:

1. 1. Providing teachers from nontraditional preparation and certification routes or pathways to serve in traditionally under-served Local Educational Agencies (LEAs);
   2. Providing teachers with Evidence-Based Professional Development activities that address literacy, numeracy, remedial, or other needs of LEAs and the students the agencies serve; or
   3. Providing teachers with Evidence-Based professional enhancement activities, which may include activities that lead to an advanced credential.

Supporting Effective Principals or Other School Leaders.

Projects that will implement activities:

1. 1. Providing principals or other School Leaders from nontraditional preparation and certification routes or pathways to serve in traditionally under-served LEAs;
   2. Providing principals or other School Leaders with Evidence-Based Professional Development activities that address literacy, numeracy, remedial, or other needs of LEAs and the students the agencies serve; or
   3. Providing principals or other School Leaders with Evidence-Based professional enhancement activities, which may include activities that lead to an advanced credential.

Aligned Solutions

• Vector Training
• Vector Evaluations+
• Vector PD Tracking

Note: The following information includes all acceptable uses for these funds to provide a complete picture, while the items in bold are those that represent close matches to Vector Solutions products.

Professional Development activities that–

(a) Are an integral part of school and LEA strategies for providing educators (including teachers, principals, other School Leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, paraprofessionals, and, as applicable, early childhood educators) with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable students to succeed in a well-rounded education and to meet the challenging State academic standards; and

(b) Are sustained (not stand-alone, 1-day, or short term workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom-focused, and may include activities that-

(1) Improve and increase teachers’-

(i) Knowledge of the academic subjects the teachers teach;

(ii) Understanding of how students learn; and

(iii) Ability to analyze student work and achievement from multiple sources, including how to adjust instructional strategies, assessments, and materials based on such analysis;

(2) Are an integral part of broad schoolwide and districtwide educational improvement plans;

(3) Allow personalized plans for each educator to address the educator’s specific needs identified in observation or other feedback;

(4) Improve classroom management skills;

(5) Support the recruitment, hiring, and training of effective teachers, including teachers who became certified through State and local alternative routes to certification;

(6) Advance teacher understanding of-

(i) Effective instructional strategies that are Evidence-Based; and

(ii) Strategies for improving student academic achievement or substantially increasing the knowledge and teaching skills of teachers;

(7) Are aligned with, and directly related to, academic goals of the school or LEA;

(8) Are developed with extensive participation of teachers, principals, other School Leaders, parents, representatives of Indian Tribes (as applicable), and administrators of schools to be served under the ESEA;

(9) Are designed to give teachers of English learners, and other teachers and instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to provide instruction and appropriate language and academic support services to those children, including the appropriate use of curricula and assessments;

(10) To the extent appropriate, provide training for teachers, principals, and other School Leaders in the use of technology (including education about the harms of copyright piracy), so that technology and technology applications are effectively used in the classroom to improve teaching and learning in the curricula and academic subjects in which the teachers teach;

(11) As a whole, are regularly evaluated for their impact on increased teacher effectiveness and improved student academic achievement, with the findings of the evaluations used to improve the quality of professional development;

(12) Are designed to give teachers of children with disabilities or children with developmental delays, and other teachers and instructional staff, the knowledge and skills to provide instruction and academic support services, to those children, including positive behavioral interventions and supports, multi-tier system of supports, and use of accommodations;

(13) Include instruction in the use of data and assessments to inform and instruct classroom practice;

(14) Include instruction in ways that teachers, principals, other School Leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and school administrators may work more effectively with parents and families;

(15) Involve the forming of partnerships with IHEs, including, as applicable, Tribal Colleges and Universities, to establish school-based teacher, principal, and other School Leader training programs that provide prospective teachers, novice teachers, principals, and other School Leaders with an opportunity to work under the guidance of experienced teachers, principals, other School Leaders, and faculty of such institutions;

(16) Create programs to enable paraprofessionals (assisting teachers employed by an LEA receiving assistance under part A of title I of the ESEA) to obtain the education necessary for those paraprofessionals to become certified and licensed teachers;

(17) Provide follow-up training to teachers who have participated in activities described in paragraph (b) of this definition that are designed to ensure that the knowledge and skills learned by the teachers are implemented in the classroom; and

(18) Where practicable, provide jointly for school staff and other early childhood education program providers, to address the transition to elementary school, including issues related to school readiness.