Project Activities
Research question
- What activities did SEAs support with their Title II, Part A funds?
- What activities did LEAs support with their Title II, Part A funds?
Structured Abstract
Design
This was a descriptive study based on an annual survey of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The study also included an annual survey of a nationally representative sample of charter districts and a state representative sample of LEAs.
Survey information included: transfers to or from Title II, Part A and other programs allowed under ESEA section 5103; activities funded by Title II, Part A; types of professional development activities and the areas of focus supported by Title II, Part A; strategies for identifying and addressing disparities in the distribution of teacher quality or effectiveness.
Key findings
- Half of the states and a quarter of districts used new ESSA flexibility. The most common state use was to reserve additional funds for supporting principals and other school leaders. Districts were more likely than states to use options to transfer funds to other ESEA programs, usually transferring funds from Title II-A to Title I-A (Education for the Disadvantaged).
- Professional development was a popular and substantial use of district Title II-A funds, with both short- and long-term training common. Eighty-one percent of districts reported using Title II-A funds on professional development, most commonly focused on improving instructional practice and teacher content knowledge in English language arts and in science, technology, engineering, and math. Professional development investments amounted to 59 percent of all Title II-A spending at the district level, for a total of $1.02 billion nationally.
- To a lesser extent, districts invested Title II-A funds in recruiting and retaining effective educators and reducing class size. These uses each accounted for 15 percent of the funds.
- Small shifts in district uses of Title II-A funds between 2018–19 and 2019–20 generally continued longer-term trends. In particular, Title II-A spending on professional development has steadily increased while spending on class size reduction has declined.
People and institutions involved
IES program contact(s)
Products and publications
The final report, titled State and District Use of Title II, Part A Funds in 2019–20, was released in June 2021.
The first report, titled State and District Use of Title II, Part A Funds in 2018–19, was released in February 2021.
Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
