State and Federal Programs

Section 31a of the State School Aid Act provides funding to eligible districts for the intent and purposes focused on the following student outcomes:  attending school regularly, reading proficiently by the end of 3rd grade, being proficient in mathematics by the end of 8th grade, and being career and college ready by high school graduation.  Funds afforded through Section 31a At Risk are limited to instructional services and direct non-instructional services to pupils.  They may not be used for administration or other related costs.  An “At Risk Pupil” is a pupil that means any of the listed criteria as identified in Section 31a.

• Economically disadvantaged
• English learner
• Chronically absent as defined and reported to CEPI
• Victim of child abuse or neglect
• Pregnant teenager or teenage parent
• Family history of school failure, incarceration, or substance abuse
• Immigrant
• Did not complete high school in four years and still in school
• Did not achieve proficiency on ELA, mathematics, science or social studies state summative assessment
• At risk of not meeting the LEA's core academic curricular objectives in ELA or mathematics based on local assessment

Section 41 funds are intended to support students currently performing at the WIDA English language proficiency lever (PL) of 1.0-3.9. Funds afforded through Section 41 are limited to direct instruction by ESL- or Bilingual Education-endorsed staff, professional learning for EL staff and co-teaching content area teams, computer-assisted instruction, family engagement, the purchase of English Language Development (ELD) instructional materials, and transportation to support extended learning and community activities. Expenses directly supporting summer school EL Programs are generally allowable.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools uses Section 41 funds to provide certified English Learner teachers, supplemental instructional materials, professional learning, and family engagement support. 

The Title I program is designed to help disadvantaged children meet high academic standards by participating in either a school wide or a targeted assistance program. School wide programs are implemented in high-poverty schools following a year of planning with external technical assistance and use Title I funds to upgrade the entire educational program of the school. Targeted assistance programs provide supplementary instruction to children who are failing or most at risk of failing to meet the district's core academic curriculum standards. School-based decision-making, professional development, and parent involvement are important components of each district's Title I program.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools currently has five Title I elementary schools.  Three of the schools are school wide programs and the other two are targeted assistance programs.  Each school receives an allocation of the district’s Title I funds based on the school’s poverty level and total enrollment.  Each school determines the use of the funds as a result of information gathered in the School Improvement process.  For the most part, these funds are used for additional instructional staff and counseling staff who work with eligible students in their area of need, and family engagement. 

• Eriksson – School wide program
• Field – School wide program
• Hoben – Targeted assistance program
• Hulsing – School wide program
• Miller – Targeted assistance program

Parents' Right to Know Staff Qualifications

In accordance with the requirement of Section 1111 of Title I, for each school receiving Title I funds, all parents of students in that school may request, and the District will provide, information on the qualifications of the instructional staff working with their children. This link provides more information regarding the requirement.

• Parents' Right to Know

The purpose of Title II is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts improve teacher and principal quality and ensure that all teachers are highly qualified.

In exchange, agencies that receive funds are held accountable to the public for improvements in academic achievement. Title II provides these agencies with the flexibility to use these funds creatively to address challenges to teacher quality, whether they concern teacher preparation and qualifications of new teachers, recruitment and hiring, induction, professional development, teacher retention, or the need for more capable principals and assistant principals to serve as effective school leaders.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools uses Title II funds for staff professional development in all content areas.

The Title III program is designed to assure speedy acquisition of English language proficiency, assist students to achieve in the core academic curriculum, and to assist students to meet State standards. It also provides immigrant students with high quality instruction to meet challenging State standards, and assists the transition of immigrant children and youth into American society.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools uses Title III and Immigrant funds to provide additional support materials including texts in a variety of native languages and an EL Instructional Coach and an EL Curriculum Coordinator to assist staff in utilizing evidence-based instructional strategies to meet the needs of EL students.  Additionally, funds are used to provide a Multilingual Learner Family Engagement Liaison.

The purpose of Title IV, Part A funds is to increase the capacity of the district to 1) provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, 2) improve school conditions for student learning, and 3) improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.  Plymouth-Canton Community Schools uses the funds in a variety of programs at all grade levels, including social-emotional learning and professional development for integrating technology into instruction.

If you have a concern regarding any of the supplemental services programs within the Plymouth-Canton Community School district, which includes Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, Section 31a, and Section 41, you should always feel comfortable contacting your child’s building principal or the Director of State and Federal Programs and Continuous Improvement, Kimberly May at Kimberly.May@pccsk12.com.