MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PARENT INVOLVEMENT WITH STIMULUS MONEY
by Shelly Lock, Program Development Coordinator
June 01, 2009
Approximately $100 billion has been allotted for education in the federal economic-stimulus package. (PL111-5) This money aims to make up for cuts by states, and fund programs including special education, low-income student services, and early-childhood initiatives. It also will provide incentive to everyone, from teachers to state officials, to think in terms of education reform. "We have an urgent need to reform our schools and prevent teacher layoffs," says U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Under the stimulus bill, states will get $48.6 billion money in what's called the state stabilization fund. Most of that money will go toward helping states restore cut programs and will be distributed to schools based on a formula. In addition to this money, there is $5 billion in incentive grants, which Duncan calls "race to the top" money. This is the money that the Obama administration considers its reform piece of the stimulus package. To get a grant, a state has to show how it is in compliance with a few measures under the No Child Left Behind Act already required under the law. Also included in the $5 billion is $650 million for more innovative programs, to recognize what works in schools. This money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will flow into schools through the Title II, Part D educational technology program. Experts suggest that the best way to truly maximize the impact of the new funding is to combine it with efforts under other formula programs, such as Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The stimulus money brings some change in Title I regarding the issue of supplanting. With the faltering economy, Title I money can be used in a more flexible manner to fund expenditures that were previously funded with state and local funds. The supplement-not-supplant requirement states that an LEA cannot use Title I funds to replace services formerly funded with state and local money. However, a school can rebut the issue of supplanting if it shows that the shift in services was the result of genuine change in priorities or by budget distress. Schools might rebut supplanting in the event of a reduction in available state and local funds, perhaps using Title I funds to provide a reading specialist that would have faced a lay-off. While Title I funds may be used to fill in services that would otherwise be lost, they still must be used for Title I-eligible activities.
As schools think about applying for stimulus grant money, there are many ways that parent involvement efforts could and should be included. With the correlation between student academic achievement and parent involvement, it is crucial that this component be included in your planning. Here are a few suggestions:
- Technology: Consider how your school might use advances in technology to improve communication with families. This might include a school web site parent page with suggestions for learning at home. The monthly PPP parent page could be posted to this site. Teachers might host websites that have assignments, demonstration of lessons being taught, suggestions for extending the learning at home, etc. Schools might establish an information/ homework hotline for families to call for updated information on events and homework. On-line grade systems are a way to communicate grades and student status with parents.
- Technology: Schools might also consider writing PPP into an application to convert PPP materials to CD to be used by staff and families or to provide PPP resources to staff and families via the web.
- Title I: Schools might utilize funding to enhance the parent involvement efforts for Title I eligible students and their families. This might include curriculum related PPP family nights, PPP parent trainings, PPP resources, and PPP support and training for school volunteers.
- Title II/Title I: A parent involvement coach is a concept that can strengthen the partnerships between home and school. This coaching model could be done in various ways. PPP could provide a coach, or PPP could train and support a coach provided by the district.
- Title I/Title II: Funding for PPP trainings, annual conference, regional workshops, professional development for staff and families, resources, technical support, and newsletter could be included in your grant application as part of your school plan for improving student academic performance through improved parental involvement.
Whether parent/family involvement is the primary focus of or a supplement to your stimulus grant application, incorporating this piece into your grant will certainly make your efforts more complete. As your school revisits your School Improvement Accountability Plan or Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, assess the strengths and needs in the area of parent involvement. As your school looks to incorporate additional stimulus money into the budget, consider how this money can improve parent involvement and how PPP can help with this journey.
For more information on the services and resources that PPP offers, visit www.pppctr.org. For more information on the education stimulus money in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit U.S. Department of Education at www.ed.gov.
