Using Title I Funds to Expand Access to Preschool

On February 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) released guidance on how Title I funds can be used to expand access to high-quality prekindergarten programs in schools and other settings.

For HR administrators, the recent revision to federal guidance includes information on the use of Title I funds to improve pre-K aide and teacher professional development and compensation. Since 2021, annual Title I funding has increased by $1.9 billion.

Section C of the DOE publication Non-Regulatory Guidance on Serving Preschool Children Through Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) addresses the following issues for Title I or district-operated preschool programs:

• Teacher and paraprofessional qualifications
• Professional development
• Increasing compensation

Texas Requirements

The source of additional pre-K funding options is important to Texas schools which must attempt to maintain a 1:11 ratio in all pre-K classrooms. This can be accomplished by staffing one qualified teacher and one educational aide per class (TEC § 29.167(d)). Additional requirements related to teacher qualifications were addressed in House Bill 2729 of the 88th Regular Texas Legislative Session.

HR Services updated the model Prekindergarten Teacher job description to include the requirements that became effective September 1, 2023. The model can be found in the HR Services Resource Library under the Teacher Job Description collection (member login required).