Frequently Asked Questions

It is almost the end of the award period, and I know I cannot expend all my funds. Can I ask the state to reallocate them?

Unfortunately, no. The reallocation process takes time, and we cannot redistribute in a timely manner so close to the end of the award period. We encourage all districts to monitor their expenditures.  It is important for districts to keep track of their funds and spend them in accordance with their grants. We recommend drawing down monthly or biweekly for payroll and contacting the Title I Director no later than September 30 if you believe you will not be able to expend your funds for July 1 through June 30 grant period.  

Can’t I just buy items I will be able to use next year?

We realize LEAs try to find a way to spend these funds in service of students. However, rushing to expend funds at the end of the grant period can lead to mistakes, and may not allow for the intentionality required to run an effective program. Given the complex rules and regulations, it is important that all expenditures are approved in advanced and allow ample time to ensure compliance. More importantly, the funds are designed to support the programming for the population of students that you serve, and spending for activities or items that will be used outside of the grant award period is prohibited.

Why can’t I just send it back at the end if I don’t use it?

When you return funds to SDE at the end of the award period, we do not have the capacity to redistribute and as such, are required to send the funds back to the federal government. Since these funds are allocated based on need, this means Connecticut kids in need are not able to receive meaningful services. By being proactive, we can support our neighboring cities and towns who may require additional funds to run programs that will benefit students.

What are some reasons an LEA might have to return funds?

According to the recent session offered by the CCSSO, over 88% of funds in Title I are used for staffing. One of the main reasons Title I funds may not be spend is due to the unexpected departure of a key staff member involved in supporting Title I programs. One example might be if a highly qualified staff member is unable to work or separates from employment after being tied to the grant. Changes in leadership also affect an LEA’s capacity to monitor effectively. Other unforeseen circumstances include the closure of a school or program. Trying to spend large amounts tied to specific outcomes for Title I while under duress is not always the best course of action, and we encourage you to reach out to your Consolidated Grant contact if you require assistance.

Can you give me an example of what this could look like?

Let’s say for the 2024 award year, 3 LEAs are over by $12,000 and 1 LEA elects to return their award of $24,000 due to the closure of a school or program. This would mean there is $48,000 to allocate to LEAs, which could be done in two different ways.

First, when the SEA sends notification of the availability of funds, they receive 10 letters of interest from districts seeking a total of $50,000. Of the 10, 6 applicants were eligible and, and requested amounts were adjusted slightly to account for the available funds. These LEAs are notified, their allocations in e GMS are adjusted, and they complete their budget revisions.

How do I request reallocated funds should they become available?

LEAs who are interested in supporting evidence-based practices that are likely to yield outcomes for students should submit a letter of interest detailing:

• The amount of funds requested
• Intended use of the funds
• Evidence of need of the population/ community to be served
• Evidence based practices associated with the link
• Evidence that the LEA has current internal capacity to expediently put the programming in place should the additional funds become available
• Assurance of intent to apply should funds become available
• Signature of executive director or Superintendent, Business Manager, and principal(s) or administrators of any school(s) involved in the project

Invitations to apply will be distributed to all those who have met the requirements outlined above should funds become available.