Funding Profession Learning!
Here are some federal and state grants that may be available for teacher professional development in education specifically related to English language learners or equity, diversity, and inclusion:
The Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and provides funding to states, local education agencies, and nonprofit organizations to support high-quality professional development for educators.
The Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program (TSL), which is also administered by the U.S. Department of Education and provides grants to states, local education agencies, and nonprofit organizations to support the development and implementation of teacher and school leader evaluation and support systems.
The English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act (Title III), which is a federal grant program that provides funding to states and local education agencies to support English language learners and their families.
The Office of English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement for Limited English Proficient Students (OELA) grant program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education and provides funding to support the education of English language learners.
The Title IV, Part A Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant program, which is also administered by the U.S. Department of Education and provides funding to states, local education agencies, and schools to support a well-rounded education and improve school conditions for student learning. This grant program can be used to support professional development related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling (ESSC) grant program, which is administered by OSPI for Washington State counselors and provides funding to support school counseling programs and professional development for school counselors.
Specific Considerations for Dual Language
Title I, Part A: Schoolwide Required Components -
Needs Assessment
Schoolwide Reform Strategy - Dual, Heritage, and Tribal Language Education is considered a schoolwide reform strategy
Coordination of Funds
Two-way and one-way programs are school wide reforms. World Language Immersion programs are enrichment opportunities rather than school-wide reforms.
All strategies and supports may be provided in the language the student uses at home, the partner language, and English for any content area. Here are some examples that are allowable for funding, if aligned to the school’s schoolwide plan:
Additional teachers to support literacy development
Core literacy supports, interventions, and progress monitoring tools
Additional teachers to support literacy development
Core literacy supports, interventions, and progress monitoring tools
Professional learning and coaching specific to dual language education for educators and administrators (CONTACT EIX)
Family and community engagement in the dual language program
Leadership, coordination, and the DL Advisory Board
Instructional coaches for the DL program
Curricula & literature in the partner language
Learning Assistance Program
LAP-served students may receive intervention and supports in their native language and/or language of instruction, depending on their identified needs.
The intent of these supplemental supports is for LAP-served students to increase academic growth during the period they are provided services, so progress monitoring and growth may be determined through the student’s native language and/or language of instruction.
LAP Funds can be used for:
targeted professional learning specific to dual language education to address the needs of LAP-served students (Contact EIX)
supplemental curricula, materials, and progress monitoring tools
supplementary literacy interventions and supports in LAP-served students’ home language and/or language instruction
LAP-served family and community engagement
Instructional coaching
Using Title IIA Funds
Use Title IIA Funds to Induct and Retain DL Teachers
Stipends used for:
affinity group members
attend trainings that are sustained, intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven and classroom focused
consultants to provide professional learning to improve content knowledge or classroom practice
expenses for transportation, per diem, and lodging if the costs are reasonable and necessary
Using Title III Funds
Language and literacy services for eligible NA/AN students
Professional development - coaches, PD trainers, courses, tuition, conferences, travel, extra hours (CONTACT EIX)
Extended day support
Title III family engagement
Title III cannot be used for the district’s core ELD program or a student’s only ELD services
Blending vs Braiding Funds
Braiding: Using multiple funding sources in a coordinated way to support educational initiatives to ensure consistency and eliminate duplication of services while maintaining individual program identity. Activities are allowable under each applicable grant and those grants continue to maintain their character.
Blending: Combining funds into one. Funds lose their identity and can be used for any generally allowable activity.
Consolidating: A term used in a Title I, Part A Schoolwide Program that means mixing funds together so that they no longer need to follow program allowability rules, except that the “intent and purpose” of the funds must be met. All funds that are consolidated in the schoolwide program become “schoolwide” funds and can be used for any activity that addresses the needs expressed in the Schoolwide Plan. *We recommend that you use a Schoolwide budget sub-code*
Transferring: Transferring all, or a portion, of the Title II or IVA funds into another Title program. Funds lose their character and become the receiving program’s funds. For example, if a district choses to transfer all oftheir Title II funds into Title I, Part A, those Title II funds become Title I, Part A funds and follow Title I, Part A rules.
Reaping: A flexible use authority granted to eligible rural districts giving them the ability to use select federal funds as if they were from another federal program. For example, if a rural district receives Title II funds, the district can spend those funds on Title I allowable activities.
Federal Funds Reminders
When braiding or blending funds, reminder that…..
Federal fiscal requirements are still applicable (i.e.time and effort, supplement not supplant, maintenance of effort, comparability, allowability, etc.).
Federal program funds must still be used to meet the intent and purpose of the program.
Program availability by school building or at the district level:District-level funds: Title IIA, Title IIIA
For eligible schools only: Title IA, LAP High Poverty
For district-selected schools: LAP
Blending & Braiding Resource: Washington State Unlocking State and Federal Program Funds (www.k12.wa.us)
Need a letter requesting Professional Learning?
We know that sometimes you need to write your principal or supervisor to attend professional learning. We’ve created some copy to make it easier. Click the link below, copy/paste or download the letter and adjust it for your needs.