President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) into law in 1965. Title funds are federal provisions of ESEA to supplement, not replace, existing state funding for education.
Title I Funds: Improving Academic Achievement for All
The purpose of Title I, Part A, is to provide funding to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with large numbers of students from low-income families. This number is determined by the families that complete forms for free and reduced lunches. Title I is designed to close the achievement gap between students in communities facing barriers and their peers. This is done by ensuring that all students meet the challenging state academic standards by having access to a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. In fiscal year 2021, $16.5 billion through Title I funds were appropriated by Congress.
President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) on December 10, 2015, which reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and strengthened the commitment to equal opportunity for all students. Along with continuing the ESEA protections, ESSA required that all students be taught to high academic standards for future success in college and careers for the first time.
How to purchase Science4Us with Title I funding
To meet the educational goals of students facing economic struggles, Title I funds can be used to improve and provide curriculum, instructional activities, counseling, parental involvement, programs, and the necessary staff. ExploreLearning Science4Us is an example of a program that can be purchased using Title I funding to provide kindergarten, 1st-grade, and 2nd-grade students high-quality foundational science skills while weaving in literacy and math concepts.
Title III Funds: Literacy Skills for English Language Learners
Title III, Part A provides grants for language instruction to English language learners, immigrant students, and youth. Title III funds aim to ensure that students with limited English language skills develop English proficiency and meet the same academic content and academic achievement standards that other students are expected to meet. Schools may use Title III funds to implement educational programs designed to help ELLs. Title III has strict requirements, and students must qualify as ELLs and immigrant students. In the 2021-22 school year, 5,268,487 students enrolled in English language assistance programs, with a total of $831,400 spent in 2022.
How to purchase Science4Us with Title III funding
Research by the AERA (American Educational Research Association) found that 62% of kindergarteners with limited exposure to science continue to struggle with science in elementary school and perhaps throughout their educational careers. Science4Us isn’t just a science program. Literacy skills and math are infused throughout the lessons. ELL students learn critical science skills using reading, writing, vocabulary, sight words, graphic organizers, measurement, and more. Helpful tools like voice-over-word function, directions that are read aloud, and multiple depicted images of vocabulary help not only the early English learner but all early learners! Science4Us makes teaching science and developing crucial literacy skills for ELL students seamless.
"My students need to start science early to prepare for later grades. Science4Us gives them that foundation for science that they need. It's also an avenue for critical thinking and problem-solving, skills they can apply across all domains." - Science4Us Principal, Broward County Public Schools, FL
Title IV funds: 21st Century Schools
Title IV, the newest title funds, was passed in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. There are three focus areas in Title IV, which include:
- Supporting a well-rounded education with advanced classes, fine arts, foreign languages, STEAM, and other innovative programming
- Creating safe and healthy schools through social-emotional learning and healthy lifestyle habits
- Using technology effectively through thorough staff preparation and high-quality digital learning opportunities for all students
How to purchase Science4Us with Title IV funding
Title IV provides a perfect opportunity to purchase Science4Us. A report by the Department of Education in 2020 noted that Title IV funds could be used for professional development with edtech resources, integrating technology in the classroom, and STEM curriculum, among other things. Science4Us includes valuable professional development for teachers to use edtech with students effectively. It integrates technology tools with offline activities in a cross-curricular manner. And it starts early learners on the path to success with STEM in future coursework.
It’s never too early to learn science. Give your students a head start in STEM with Science4Us. The Title funds are waiting.