By Brent Hardin

LINCOLN - Four Cass County schools learned Wednesday afternoon that their Title I programs would receive additional federal funding to boost teacher training, childhood education, online learning and curriculum assessment initiatives.

U.S. Department of Education officials will provide Nebraska schools with $47.2 million in Title I grants from the stimulus package, otherwise known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Plattsmouth ($125,285), Conestoga ($48,962), Louisville ($32,401) and Weeping Water ($36,001) were all allocated funds under the program. Elmwood-Murdock did not receive any Title I allocations through the ARRA.

Federal officials said each of the amounts would likely be smaller than announced due to state-level adjustments to federal Title I allocations. States can adjust allocations due to changes in school district boundaries or the introduction of new charter schools. States must also reserve four percent in fiscal year 2009 for school improvement activities.

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 is the largest federally funded elementary and secondary education program. It is designed to help economically and educationally disadvantaged children improve academic achievement and meet high academic standards.

Title I funds flow to states and school districts on a formula basis. The formula takes into account the number of low-income children and statewide average per-pupil expenditures. Title I funds can be used for instructional activities, counseling, program improvement and parental involvement.

Funds are often used to help students improve reading and math achievement but can also be used for other core academic areas. Children with special needs and English as Second Language students can also receive Title I services if the school and student both meet Title I eligibility criteria.

U.S. Department of Education officials said potential uses of the new ARRA Title I funds include:

- Strengthening and expanding early childhood education by providing resources to align a district's pre-K Title I program with state content and early learning standards for grades K-3.

- Providing new opportunities for Title I programs for secondary school students to use high-quality online courseware as supplemental learning materials for math and science.

- Using reading or math coaches to provide professional development to teachers in Title I targeted assistance programs.

- Using longitudinal data systems to improve achievement in Title I schools.

- Establishing or expanding targeted assistance programs that take place before school, after school or during the summer.

- Establishing a system for training highly effective teachers to serve as instructional leaders in Title I schoolwide programs and modifying the school schedule to allow for teacher collaboration.

- Establishing a system for training highly effective teachers to serve as instructional leaders in Title I schoolwide programs and modifying the school schedule to allow for teacher collaboration.

- Providing professional development to teachers on the use of data to inform and improve instruction for Title I-eligible students.