Federal Programs

The Office of Federal Programs manages funding received by the school division through federal and state sources. This funding enables students, teachers and other staff members to have equitable opportunities for achievement and professional growth. The Federal Grants office distributes funds from several federal grants; Title I Part A, Title 1 Part D, Title 2 Part A, Title 4 Part A, School Improvement (SIG) and one state grant, the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI).

Title I, Part A: Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Education Agencies: Title I, Part A provides financial assistance through state educational agencies to school divisions and public schools with high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic content and achievement standards.

A combination of Title I, Part A and VPI state funds are used to provide a preschool program in Newport News Public Schools (NNPS).  NNPS Preschool’s 68 classrooms are for 4 and 5-year-old children.  It is designed to help young learners gain an understanding of their world through developmentally-appropriate experiences. 

Family Engagement Specialists are funded through Title I, Part A and support identified Title I schools and the preschool program. The program supports parents in building and developing partnerships with schools to help children achieve the state's academic standards.

Title I, Part A funds are used to provide teachers to support students in reading and/or math.

Download list of Title I schools in Newport News

Title I, Part D:  Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth who are Neglected, Delinquent or At-Risk: Title I, Part D provides financial assistance to educational programs for youths in state-operated institutions or community day programs. The program also provides financial assistance to support school division programs involving collaboration with locally operated correctional facilities.

Title II, Part A: Preparing, Training, Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals: Title II provides federal funding to states and districts for activities that strengthen instructional leadership and teacher quality in all schools, especially those with a high proportion of children in poverty. Funding can be used to support a wide array of activities, including interventions for teacher professional development, so long as the activities are grounded in scientifically based research.

Teachers serve as coaches for teachers in low-achieving elementary and middle schools for the purpose of building the capacity of teachers to serve all learners effectively as measured by schools making state accreditation. Coaches in reading and math work with teachers on improving the quality of instructional strategies. Activities focus on effective instructional strategies, methods, and skills, and use the state Standards of Learning (SOL) content and assessments to improve teaching practices.

Instructional Specialists offer classroom professional development to new and continuing contract teachers in identified schools.

Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment: Title IV, Part A provides funds for programs and activities to improve students' academic achievement by increasing the capacity of local school divisions in three areas:  providing all students with a well-rounded education; improving school conditions for learning; and improving the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.

School Improvement Grant: School Improvement Grants (SIGs), authorized under section 1003(g) of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), are competitive sub-grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) that demonstrate the greatest need for the funds and the strongest commitment to use the funds. The goal of SIG is to provide effective and evidenced-based interventions in order to substantially and rapidly raise the achievement of students in the lowest-performing schools. The grant funds are aimed at districts with schools that are designated as Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) under Title I.

Response to Instruction Specialists, Instructional Behavior Specialists, Reading Specialists, and Family Engagement Specialist provides additional assistance with the implementation of evidence based intervention at the identified SIG schools in meeting the needs of students.

Virginia Preschool Initiative: The Virginia Preschool Initiative distributes state funds to schools and community-based organizations to provide quality preschool programs for at-risk four-year-olds unserved by the federal Head Start program.  The purpose of the grant is to reduce disparities among young children upon formal school entry and to reduce or eliminate those risk factors that lead to early academic failure.

Initiatives

Improving staff and teacher quality by providing and managing funds to promote the recruitment, professional development and retention of a quality workforce

• Provide professional development funds for schools, staffs, and central office administrators in leadership and school improvement.
• Literacy/math coaches for teachers in low-achieving elementary and middle school.