If you haven’t been paying close attention to federal education policy recently, you’re probably not alone. You may remember the highly discussed and debated No Child Left Behind Act, a series of mandates signed into law in 2002. The act defined the federal government’s role in helping to erase the achievement gap and foster student success in public schools nationwide. 

The most recent update to No Child Left Behind (and the focus of this post) is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law in 2015 and still in effect today. ESSA dictates the actions schools must take to remain in compliance and receive federal funding. The act requires states to carry out challenging academic standards across public schools, as well as show evidence that these standards align with the requirements needed for students to obtain further education at the collegiate level. States who are unable to meet these standards risk losing funding. Title 1 and Title 2 are both sections of ESSA. 

The Purpose of Title 1 Funding 

Title 1, formally known as Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged, provides funding for economically disadvantaged students. For the truly curious, you can read the details of Title 1 here (Title 1 Funding Full Text).  

In short, states receive varying amounts of funding from the federal government based on the number of disadvantaged students that attend its schools. While in many cases Title 1 focuses on students from low-income families, it also includes children of migrants and at-risk children. 

Title 1 Funding and Student Impact 

Schools can use Title 1 Funding in targeted ways to assist disadvantaged students, or in some cases, can use the funding to make schoolwide improvements. In areas where at least 40% of students are from low-income families, funding can be applied throughout the school. For these schools, it is important to note that all students can benefit from Title 1 resources, not just Title 1 eligible students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 95% of students served by Title 1 receive services that serve the entire school. 

Some examples of school-wide programs include counseling services, mental health programs, specialized instructional support and mentoring services. At the secondary level, some schools may use funding to create career and technical education programs or offer classes where students have opportunities to earn postsecondary credit (such as AP classes). Schools whose funding is not school-wide may focus efforts on services including before and after school programs or summer enrichment programs.  

 

 Benefits of Title 1 Funding 

Ultimately Title 1 funding can create additional support for students who may need it most. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, approximately 63% of traditional public schools and 62% of public charter schools were Title 1 eligible in the 2021-22 school year. These statistics illustrate the high numbers of vulnerable students in our school systems. The types of supplemental resources that Title 1 funds provide can make a significant difference in the success rate of students and help them remain as academically ready as their more advantaged peers. 

 The Purpose of Title 2 Funding 

While Title 1 funding focuses on students, Title 2 funding focuses on another equally important part of the educational system – the educators. Title 2 works to ensure that teachers, administrators and staff have the resources needed to perform at their best.  

Title 2 includes funding for training and upskilling, providing opportunities for teachers to become certified or re-certified in different areas, as well as stay up to date with their licensure. Funding can also be used for school leaders to take advantage of leadership training to help them run their schools effectively. Furthermore, funding can be used for teachers to receive professional development training, assisting them in remaining subject matter experts. Finally, the funds can be used to help all states competitively recruit and retain high-quality teachers.   

 Benefits of Title 2 Funding 

In order for our educational system to function well, it’s critical that the nation invests in its educators. A 2023 USA Today article indicated that 9 in 10 public schools reported difficulty in hiring teachers. Title 2 funding can prove helpful in helping schools recruit and retain great staff, and can provide educators with the resources that they need to do their jobs well.