Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants

Program Type: Discretionary Grants

Program Description

The Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program provides competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to demonstrate model programs for providing well-rounded education opportunities through the development and implementation of student-centered funding (SCF) systems based on weighted per-pupil allocations under Section 1501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). Grants awarded under this program are intended to help build the capacity of LEAs to provide well-rounded education in order to establish models for expanding and enhancing delivery of such opportunities for educationally disadvantaged students.

Types of Projects

Section 1501 of the ESEA authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Education to offer an alternative to traditional resource-allocation systems. An LEA approved under section 1501 has flexibility to consolidate eligible Federal funds with its State and local funds to create a single student-centered school funding system based on weighted per-pupil allocations for students from low-income families, English learners, and otherwise disadvantaged students. The Secretary is prepared to waive most Federal fiscal requirements that apply to the Federal funds the LEA allocates through such a system that meets the requirements of section 1501, thereby affording each school in the LEA considerable flexibility to use its Federal funds alongside its State and local funds to create a well-rounded education program that best meets the specific needs of students in the school.

This program is being established with funds from the two percent reservation for technical assistance and capacity building under section 4103(a)(3) of the ESEA, which is designed to support States and LEAs in carrying out activities authorized under the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program in Title IV, Part A of the ESEA, including activities that support access to a well-rounded education.

Contact Information

  • Patrick Rooney
    Director, School Support and Accountability
    U.S. Department of Education, OESE
    400 Maryland Ave. S.W,
    Washington D.C. 20202-6132