Connecticut State Department of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

If an LEA is near the end of the award period, and realizes they cannot expend all of their funds, can the LEA ask CSDE to reallocate them?

Unfortunately, no. The reallocation process takes time, and CSDE must start the process well before the end of the award period. CSDE encourages all districts to monitor expenditures.  It is important for districts to keep track of funds and spend them in accordance with the grant guidelines. CSDE recommends drawing down monthly or biweekly for payroll and contacting the Title I Director no later than September 30 if it is believed the district will not fully expend allocated funds.  

Are LEAs permitted to purchase items that will be used for next year if they have extra at the end of the award period?

Title I Part A 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.

CSDE will work with LEAs try to find a way to spend these funds in service of students during the grant period. 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

Why can’t the LEA just send it back funds to CSDE they did not use at the end of the award period?

When an LEA returns funds at the end of the award period, CSDE is are required to send the funds back to the federal government (For more information, see FAQ Response # 1). 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 for returning funds?

According to the Council of Chief State School Officers (CSSO), 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.

Is there an example of what reallocation of funds might look like?

As an example, imagine that during the 2024 award period, two LEAs have exceeded the amount they can carry over by $12,000 and are not eligible for a waiver of the 15% carryover requirement. Another one 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 eGMS are adjusted, and the LEAs complete a budget revision to account for the newly reallocated funds.  

How would an LEA 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
  • Explanation of how the LEA identified evidence-based practices to address the need
  • 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.