It’s that time of year to begin thinking about that federal program requirement of school comparability.  So, what is comparability in the federal program world?  The comparability requirement is intended to ensure that school districts spend as much, if not more, state and local resources on Title 1 funded schools as they do with non-Title

Many school districts are already back in full swing of the new school year, while others are getting ready to kick off.  Whatever your district’s start time, it is a busy and exciting time.  As Federal Programs Director, I don’t want to overwhelm my principals with too much paperwork; however, I know there are required

It’s July, and I imagine people have asked you, “How are you enjoying your summer?”  There appears to be the assumption that federal programs take a summer break like students take a summer break.  Not so!  Right?  For many of us, summer is when we can get things done.  So amidst the various conferences and

It’s the time of year that districts are planning for the 2024 school year.  If a district receives federal funds, the district must have a planning process for spending the funds, including stakeholder input.  As I plan my spring planning meeting, I invite various stakeholders, including district representatives from departments such as the business office,

Federal Program monitoring visits are in full swing around the state.  It may be your turn next year if you weren’t monitored this year.  Even if you aren’t one of the chosen lucky ones (touch of sarcasm there), maintaining documentation for each indicator is always a good practice.  This is an excellent self-assessment for risk

The schoolwide plan (SWP) is the tool a Title I school uses to determine the school’s needs and develop a plan to improve the school’s academic achievement.   The schoolwide plan details the process used for planning, the data utilized to determine the school’s needs, the analysis of strengths and weaknesses, and the priorities established

One of the federal programs’ mandatory requirements is conducting an annual comprehensive needs assessment (CNA).  Many districts annually offer a survey to faculty, students, and parents and consider this their comprehensive needs assessment.  In reality, the CNA is more than a survey.  A good comprehensive needs assessment includes data that enables an efficient review of the

I just returned from the MDE School Improvement Convening held in Starkville.  There were a number of excellent sessions.  One of the sessions I found extremely helpful was led by Sandra Elliot, the MDE English Learner and Intervention Support Specialist.  The English Learner (EL) subgroup of students can either help your accountability, or they can

I hope everyone had a relaxing and restful Christmas break.  It’s hard to believe we are now in 2023 and in the second half of the school year!  Time flies when we are having fun, right? I had the great opportunity of attending the Brustein and Manasevit Fall Forum in early December, and I want