SECTION 4 - SCHOOL CHOICE AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS
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ESEA 2001 revamps and expands the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which was created in the 1994 ESEA reauthorization. It provides funds for before- and after-school programs, summer school, tutoring and academic-enrichment programs for students, particularly those who attend low-performing schools.
Under the prior law, only public schools were eligible for funds. ESEA 2001 expands eligibility to school districts, community organizations, and other public or private entities.
ESEA 2001 also provides funds to help states and districts support charter schools, magnet schools and public school choice.
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Innovative
Programs Mandated Participation is voluntary. Timeline No specific timeline indicated Funding Level FY02 - $385 million Compliance Unspecified
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Requirements or Provisions Grants will be provided to states for the support of a variety of programs, including charter schools, yearly student assessments and certain school safety programs. States will provide grants to school districts, which may use funds for such activities as charter schools, public school choice and magnet schools. Allocation of Funds Funds are to be allocated to states based on the population of children ages 5-17.At least 85% of the funds sent to a state must be distributed to school districts, based on relative enrollments in public and private schools, for implementing innovative assistance programs. Status of the States No information available. Policy Questions for State Leaders To Consider
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Charter
School Programs Mandated Participation is voluntary. Timeline No specific timeline indicated Funding Level FY02 - $200 million Compliance Unspecified Related Links ECS Issue Site on Charter Schools Collection of ECS StateNotes About Charter Schools,
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Requirements or Provisions This section of the law provides grants to support the planning, design and initial implementation of charter schools. Only states with charter school laws are eligible for the grants. Priority will be given to states that meet certain criteria (e.g., the state provides for one authorized public chartering agency that is not a district). State departments of education that receive grants from the secretary must use them for subgrants to one or more charter schools to enable them to plan and implement a charter school. The law also authorizes a per-pupil facilities aid program of competitive five-year grants to states with already established per-pupil aid programs to assist charter schools with their facilities costs. These state programs must be specified in state law and provide annual funding on a per-pupil basis for charter school facilities. The federal government did not, however, appropriate money for the charter school facilities program for FY02. Allocation of Funds For the federal charter schools program (excluding the per-pupil facilities aid program), funds are to be allocated to state education departments and to charter schools on a competitive basis. If a state education department chooses not to apply, charter schools in the state may apply directly to the U.S. education secretary. For the per-pupil facilities aid program, funds are to be allocated from the federal government to state departments of education on a competitive basis. State education departments are to allocate funds to charter schools on a per-pupil basis. Status of the States Currently, 37 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have enacted charter school laws. Of those, three states and the District of Columbia have created per-pupil facilities aid programs:
(Source: Collection of ECS StateNotes About Charter Schools Policy Questions for State Leaders To Consider
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Credit
Enhancement Initiatives To Assist Charter School Facility Acquisition,
Construction and Renovation Mandated Participation is voluntary. Timeline No specific timeline indicated Funding Level No FY02 funding appropriated Compliance Unspecified Related Links |
Requirements or Provisions This provision authorizes grants for innovative credit enhancement initiatives to help charter schools with the cost of acquiring, constructing and renovating facilities. Entities that are eligible to apply for grants are private, nonprofit organizations, governmental entities and consortia of these two types of entities. Allocation of Funds The federal government did not appropriate funds for this program in FY02. Status of the States Currently, 37 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have enacted charter school laws. (Source: Collection of ECS StateNotes About Charter Schools Policy Questions for State Leaders To Consider If the federal government allocates funds for this program in the future, states will need to consider the following questions:
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Voluntary
Public School Choice Mandated Participation is voluntary. Timeline No specific timeline indicated Funding Level FY02 - $25 million Compliance Unspecified Related Links ECS Issue Site on Open Enrollment ECS StateNotes: Open Enrollment, August 2001
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Requirements or Provisions This provision of the law authorizes competitive grants of up to five years to eligible entities to establish or expand programs that provide students and parents with greater public school choice. Eligible entities are state departments of education, school districts or partnerships between the state department or a district and public, for-profit or nonprofit entities. Priority will be given to projects that provide the widest variety of school choice programs, including those that allow students in low-performing schools to attend higher-performing schools. It authorizes grantees to use program funds to:
Grantees will be required to use program funds to provide participating students with transportation, or pay transportation costs, to their school of choice. Students must be selected by lottery if more apply than can be accommodated. Allocation of Funds Competitive grants to state departments of education and school districts. Grantees may use up to 5% of the funds for administrative expenses. The U.S. Department of Education may use up to 5% of the funds for evaluation, information dissemination and technical assistance. Status of the States Thirty-three states and Puerto Rico have enacted open-enrollment policies.
(Source: ECS StateNotes: Open Enrollment, August 2001, Policy Questions for State Leaders To Consider
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Magnet Schools
Assistance Mandated Participation is voluntary. Timeline No specific timeline indicated Funding Level Compliance Unspecified |
Requirements or Provisions Competitive grants will be available to school districts or consortia of districts for up to three years to establish and operate magnet schools in districts under a court-ordered or federally approved voluntary desegregation plan to eliminate, reduce or prevent minority-group isolation in elementary and secondary schools. In the first year of the grant, no more than 50% of the grant funds may be used for planning. In the second and third years of the grant, no more than 15% of the funds may be used for planning. The secretary of education may reserve up to 2% of the grant funds to evaluate the program.
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Foundations
for Learning Grants Promotion of School Readiness Through Early
Childhood Emotional and Social Development Mandated Participation is voluntary. Timeline No specific timeline indicated Funding Level No allocations Compliance Unspecified |
Requirements or Provisions This subsection seeks to improve the school readiness of young children, with a focus on their social and emotional well-being. Grants will be available to school districts, local councils, community-based organizations, or other public or nonprofit organizations. Services provided under these grants include help with substance abuse, domestic violence and child welfare issues. To be eligible for services, children must be under 7 years old and have two or more specified risk factors.
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