In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) established a nationwide aid program to benefit students, teachers, and other educational personnel from public and non-public schools across the country.
- This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation’s national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students.
- The new law builds on key areas of progress in recent years, made possible by the efforts of educators, communities, parents, and students across the country.
- For example, today, high school graduation rates are at all-time highs. Dropout rates are at historic lows. And more students are going to college than ever before. These achievements provide a firm foundation for further work to expand educational opportunity and improve student outcomes under ESSA.
To ensure that Non-Public schools in Anne Arundel County receive equitable access to these funds, AACPS and the PDM Department works closely with non-public school representatives to share relevant funding opportunities and administer benefits through The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) programs. This includes projects funded directly from the federal government as well as projects from Maryland State agencies that distribute ESSA funding (such as Title I, Part A, Title II, Part A, Title III, and Title IV, Part A).
- Title I, Part A: Improving Academic Achievement of Disadvantaged Students
Title I, Part A grants provide all children a significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.
Title I accomplishes this by providing effective, supplemental, high quality instruction for eligible students, professional development for their teachers, and parent and family engagement activities for the families of eligible children. Please note that AACPS ONLY services K-8 Students.
- Title II, Part A: Professional Development for Teachers, Principals, and Educational Personnel
Title IIA provides funds for professional development activities designed to improve the knowledge of teachers and principals in the core academic subjects.
- Title III: Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students
Title III is to help ensure that English Learners (EL) including immigrants, attain English proficiency. Title III also assists teachers, principals, and other educational personnel to develop and enhance their capacity to deliver effective instructional programs and provide services to families of EL and immigrant students.
- Title IV: Student Support Academic & Enrichment
Title IV is intended to accelerate academic achievement by providing a well-rounded education for all students, improving school conditions for student learning and/or expanding the use of technology/digital literacy in teaching and learning.
Resources for Nonpublic Schools:
USDE – Office of Nonpublic Education: https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/index.html
AACPS ESSA Strategic Plan: https://www.aacps.org/Page/2278
Overview of Title Funds Programs: