The Board of Education may apply for Chapter I of Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) funding for projects designed to meet the special educational needs of educationally deprived children. Such funding shall be used to provide appropriate programs and services to participating students in basic and more advanced skills. In particular, funds may be used for the following:
year-round services and activities, including intensive summer school programs;
employment of special instructional personnel, school counselors, and/or other pupil services personnel;
employment and training for NYS teaching assistants;
teacher bonuses in excess of regular salary schedules for service in such programs;
training of teachers, librarians, other instructional and pupil services personnel, and early childhood education professional when appropriate;
construction, if necessary, of school facilities;
parental involvement activities;
planning for and evaluation of Chapter I programs; and
other activities permitted under federal regulations.
With the approval of the State Education Department, the district may use up to and including five percent (5%) of such funds for "innovation projects to promote quality" in the district's Chapter I program. Such projects may include the following:
continuation of services to those students who participated in the program in any previous year;
continuation of services for a period not to exceed two additional years to participating students who are transferred to areas/schools which are ineligible for such funding, as part of a desegregation plan;
incentive payments to schools that have demonstrated significant progress and success in attaining Chapter I goals;
training of teachers and librarians in the special educational needs of eligible students, and in the integration of Chapter I programs into regular classroom programs;
programs which encourage innovative approaches to parental involvement, or rewards to or expansion of exemplary parental involvement programs; and
encouraging community and business involvement in meeting the needs of eligible children.
PSEN
The Board must submit for approval a plan for the expenditure of its Pupils with Special Educational Needs (PSEN), which are state funds which must be expended only for project activities for eligible pupils in the school year for which funds are appropriated. PSEN serves as a funding source for all school districts based upon the number of educationally deficient students in each district.
The Board directs the administration to follow all applicable State Education Department guidelines for completing budget forms for the operation of Chapter I/PSEN projects.
