§7116 Local educational agency applications

Summary

To get the federal money, a local school district (or a group of nearby districts applying together) must send an application to the State and do a needs check of the schools it plans to help. The district must work with parents, teachers, principals and other school leaders, support staff, students, community groups, local officials (for example, police, courts, child welfare, or housing agencies when relevant), nearby tribes if needed, and charter school leaders if they are involved. The needs check must look at three things: fair access to a full, well‑rounded education; school conditions that keep students healthy and safe; and access to personalized learning with technology and training. The needs check must be done once every 3 years. If a district’s allocation is under $30,000, it does not have to do the full needs check. The application must explain the programs to be run, any partners, goals and how the district will measure progress. The district must promise to give money first to the schools with the greatest needs (including schools with high counts of the students counted under federal rules, schools needing comprehensive or targeted improvement, or schools labeled persistently dangerous). The district must follow rules for private school participation. It must spend at least 20 percent of funds on well‑rounded education, at least 20 percent on safe and healthy student activities, and some money on improving technology use (following related tech rules). The district must report yearly to the State how it spent money for those three requirements. If a district gets under $30,000, it only has to make one of the three spending promises.