Strategically Using Federal Educational Funds
New Jersey's local educational agencies (LEAs) have access to various funding sources, including Federal, State, and local funds. This page briefly introduces federal funding streams and clarifies how to strategically combine them with other funds to support evidence-based activities and programs. The information on this page is most useful for LEAs that have conducted a needs assessment process and should have at a minimum:​
- Identified short- and long-term goals.​
- Involved stakeholders in the entire process.​
- Used data to inform decision-making.​
- Selected a set of evidence-based activities addressing the root causes of their students' needs.​
The New Jersey's Annual School Planning process provides a model framework for planning, spending, and engaging stakeholders to make equitable and effective decisions that embody a continuous improvement cycle in improving student and educational outcomes. LEAs can apply the framework to the broader and longer-term district planning cycles and various LEA plans.
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Program Name |
Description |
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(Title I, Part A or Title I-A) |
The purpose of Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), is to provide all children opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps. Title I provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. |
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(Title II-A or Title II-A: Supporting Effective Instruction; Title II, Part B or Title II-B: Teacher and School Leader Incentive Fund) |
The purpose of the program is to increase academic achievement by improving teacher, principal, and other school leader quality. |
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Title III Supplemental Services: Provide supplemental services and activities that improve the English language proficiency and academic achievement of students who are identified as needing language services. The three required uses are:
Title III Immigrant Children and Youth Services: Provide enhanced instructional opportunities for immigrant children, youth, and their families Funds may be used to implement activities for immigrant children, youth, and families only. Allowable uses may include: Family literacy classes, Trauma-informed staff hire, Technology literacy, Transportation, Civic and Know Your Rights ​Classes. |
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(Title III, Part A or Title IV-A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program; Title IV, Part F, Subpart 2 or Title IV-F, Subpart 2: Community Support for School Success) |
Title IV provides funds for comprehensive academic, social, and health services for students, students’ family members, and community members that will result in improved educational outcomes for children. |
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(Title V, Part B or Title V-B: Rural Education Achievement Program) |
The purpose of the program is to address the unique needs of rural school districts. |
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(Title IX, Part A: Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program) |
This program provides funds for schools and LEAs to use to support homeless students. |
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(IDEA Part B, Sections 611 and 619; IDEA Part B, Early Intervention) |
IDEA Part B Sections 611 and 619 funds must be used only to pay the excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities, unless they are used for activities related to Coordinated Early Intervening Services. |
Braiding Image
“Braiding” funds is a way for LEAs to use multiple Federal and State funding streams (Federal, State, and/or local) to support various parts of an initiative or activity to meet one purpose. As a result, individual funding streams maintain their identities for eligibility and reporting. Federal and State law allows LEAs to coordinate spending from different funding programs, as long as LEAs maintain documentation on how the funds are spent and the expenditures are allowed under the program.
Blending image
“Blending” funds is a way for LEAs to consolidate multiple funds into one stream to meet one purpose. The individual funding streams lose their original identity and gather into a larger funding program. Under the Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA), an LEA may choose to blend Titles I, II, III and IV. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), an LEA may choose to consolidate all funds into a schoolwide program or to blend their Early Intervening Services (CEIS) funds to maximize impact. A few general rules apply to consolidating funds in a school operating a schoolwide program:
- Supplement, not supplant: Consolidating funds does not exempt a school from the Title I-A “supplement, not supplant” requirement, which requires each LEA to ensure that each school receives all the State and local funds it would otherwise receive in the absence of Title I-A or other Federal funds. For additional details, see the New Jersey Department of Education Title I, Part A Supplement Not Supplant Guidance and
- Meeting the intent of Federal programs: If a school consolidates Federal funds, it must maintain records that demonstrate that it meets the intent and purposes of each Federal program that was consolidated. For example, if a school consolidates Title III-A funds with other funds, it must demonstrate how it is still providing supplemental activities/services to English learners and, if applicable, immigrant students, as this is the purpose of Title III-A funds.
- ESSA permits the blending or transfer of funds from Titles II, Part A, and Title IV, Part A to the programs below. Transferred funds must be used in accordance with the regulations of the receiving Title. LEAs must indicate any fund transfers in their annual Consolidated Grant Application. Funds cannot be transferred out of Title I (Parts A or C), or Title III, Part A
- Title I, Part A ​
- Title I, Part C ​
- Title II, Part A​
- Title III, Part A ​
- Title IV, Part A