A nationwide study of the $15.8 billion Title I program finds that many school leaders aren’t making the most of the grant’s flexibility.
Title I grants can be used in two ways. One way is targeted Title I programs, which must go to supports and materials for students identified as low-achieving or from a vulnerable population. But schools where at least 40 percent of all students are low-achieving can choose to become a schoolwide program and combine federal, state, and local funds—an option chosen by 77 percent of schools in 2014-15.
Researchers at the American Institutes for Research found, however, that only 6 percent of schoolwide programs actually consolidated their different pots of money. Principals said they didn’t understand that consolidation was allowed; some thought other federal or state rules barred it, and many were afraid of doing it wrong.
