Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Using Federal Education Formula Funds for School Turnaround Initiatives: Opportunities for State Education Agencies

  • 03/02/16

San Francisco — Much has been written on the subject of school turnaround, but relatively little about how to pay for turnaround-related work. This new publication, from the Center on School Turnaround, can help answer questions about funding sources and applications to turnaround work.

Turning around low-performing schools not only requires changing instructional and related practices, but changing spending patterns as well. Too often education dollars are spent on the same costs from year-to-year, with little scrutiny of how closely costs align to the needs of schools and students.

This handbook addresses how U.S. Department of Education (ED) formula grants, such as Title I, Title II, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), can be used to support school turnaround efforts. State education agencies (SEAs) play a critical role in helping districts and schools navigate federal grant rules and spend funds effectively.

This handbook presents four strategies SEAs can use to create the conditions for maximizing ED formula grants for turnaround activities, including:

Strategy 1: Provide Clear Guidance Aligned to Turnaround Activities.
Strategy 2: Eliminate Barriers to Full Use of School-wide Programs.
Strategy 3: Focus on Aligning Spending to Needs.
Strategy 4: Build Oversight Processes That Incentivize High-Quality Programming.

To download the handbook, go to www.schoolturnaroundsupport.org.

Featured

  • University of Pennsylvania Releases Design of Future Physical Sciences Building

    The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in Philadelphia, Penn., recently released renderings of an upcoming 350,000-square-foot Physical Sciences Building, according to news release. The facility was designed by CO Architects and will unite the university’s departments of Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, and Earth and Environmental Science.

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.

  • Arizona District Breaks Ground on Community Training, Learning Center

    The Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD) in Tolleson, Ariz., recently broke ground on a new Training & Learning Center (TLC) for both district professionals and the community at large, according to a news release. The 90,000-square-foot facility has an estimated completion date of spring 2027.