New Data on 2011 Title I Allocations Available on FEBP Website

While states and school districts can typically count on federal support to remain stable after Congress passes and the President signs an annual appropriations bill, that is not the case this year. Earlier this month, the Department of Education released revised fiscal year 2011 Title I Part A allocations to states and school districts to be spent during school year 2011-12. Title I Part A provides grants to school districts to provide additional services to low income students. The revised allocations reflect a $163 million decrease in support resulting from the Fiscal Year 2012 Continuing Appropriations Act. The law mandated a 1.5 percent decrease in spending across-the-board, even though those funds were technically appropriated in fiscal year 2011. Fiscal year 2011 ended September 30, 2011. This decrease comes in addition to the 0.2 percent decrease written into the fiscal year 2011 appropriations law, which was passed in April of 2011, several months after the fiscal year began on October 1, 2010. Additionally, some states submitted revised state per-pupil expenditure data that result in lower allocations than previously published.

With the new lower Title I allocations, states and school districts may have to scramble to readjust their spending plans for this school year. However, not all states and districts will feel the effect equally – while some states, like West Virginia, will see an overall decrease over the mandated 1.5 percent, others like New Hampshire, will see much smaller decreases.

Thanks to the Title I Monitor, a Thompson Publication, the Federal Education Budget Project, Ed Money Watch’s parent initiative, is able to incorporate those new allocations into our state and school district data website. Through the website, users can view how Title I Part A allocations have fluctuated over time in the context of per pupil expenditures and student demographics. All data on the site is easily available for download, as well.

Additionally, the database now includes recently released state and school district student demographic data for 2010 including percent of students in free and reduced priced lunch, special education, and English language learner programs.

Check out the new data and the wealth of other information available at www.edbudgetproject.org.