U.S. Department of Education Encourages States to Maximize Schoolwide Program Flexibilities to Improve Student Success

The U.S. Department of Education's (the Department's) Office of Elementary and Secondary Education sent a letter to every chief state school officer highlighting the existing flexibility states have to encourage Title I schools to consolidate their federal, state, and local funds. This flexibility helps schools better support their students and improve academic achievement.

State educational agencies may approve any Title I school to implement a schoolwide program. A Title I schoolwide program may then reduce red-tape and compliance costs by consolidating federal, state, and local funds into one flexible funding stream.

"Schoolwide programs, which allow for the consolidation of funds, are a powerful tool for local decisionmakers to break down silos between federal, state, and local funds," said Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Kirsten Baesler. "As the Trump-McMahon Department of Education continues to return education to the states, we hope leaders will expand Title I schoolwide program eligibility and provide support to districts and schools on how to take advantage of the flexibility afforded through Title I schoolwide consolidation to better serve students and improve academic achievement."

In the first year of President Trump's second term, the Department provided guidance on expanding education choice options under ESEA. Previous guidance includes:

• Direct Student Services (March 31, 2025): How states can expand education choice by using up to 3% of their federal Title I allocation to support direct services to students;

• Persistently Dangerous and Unsafe Schools (May 7, 2025): How states can continue to improve school safety and maximize parent options for choosing the safest school setting for their children;

• Title I School Improvement Provisions (June 26, 2025): How states can prioritize school improvement dollars to districts that will turn around underperforming schools and give students in failing schools school choice options;

• Equitable Services (August 21, 2025): How states might provide equitable services for students enrolled in private schools in more efficient and effective ways to best meet students' needs; and

• Ed-Flex (September 17, 2025): How states with Ed-Flex authority can waive certain federal requirements that apply to districts and schools without first having to submit waivers to the Department for review and approval, which encourages local innovation.

The Department also wrote to every chief state school officer highlighting existing statutory flexibilities and inviting them to seek waivers from federal statutory and regulatory requirements.

Background:

• Title I schools operating a schoolwide program may consolidate all federal, state, and local funds.

• Consolidating all funds from the Department with state and local funds can reduce paperwork burden and improve implementation of the schoolwide program plan.

• A state educational agency is authorized to approve a schoolwide program in any Title I school, if doing so will best serve the needs of the students.

• Schoolwide program plans are developed with the involvement of parents, community members, teachers, and others impacted by the plan.

• As federal regulations require, all consolidated funds and services must support the school's schoolwide plan and be used to meet the needs of all students, with particular focus on the lowest-achieving students.

• While most Title I schools operate a schoolwide program (86 percent in the 2022-23 school year), very few schools consolidate Title I or other federal funds with state and local funds and could use encouragement and support from their state educational agency in doing so.

Read the full Dear Colleague Letter here.