School districts throughout the country receive funding through Title IV of ESSA. When the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in 2015, it replaced the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2002. The roots of ESSA go even deeper, however – to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.
ESEA was a significant part of President Lyndon Johnson’s strategies to reduce poverty in the US. The federal programs and funding established through these laws have helped to provide millions of students with a quality education.
Digging Deeper into Title IV of ESSA
ESSA includes a flexible block grant program known as Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants (SSAEG) under Title IV Part A. Funding for activities under Title IV falls into three areas:
- Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities
- Safe and Healthy Students
- Effective Use of Technology
Each of these broad areas helps school districts to provide students with programs and services that will allow them to succeed academically as well as develop socially and emotionally.
Where does PBIS Rewards Fit into Title IV?
Under the guidelines of Title IV, PBIS Rewards qualifies as an expenditure in two of the three areas listed above:
Activities to Support Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities
Section 4107 allows for funding for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) activities. PBIS Rewards includes a feature known as SEL Check, which allows educators to check and record each student’s mental and emotional health.
Safe and Healthy Students
Section 4108 provides funding for programs and activities that foster safe, healthy, supportive, and drug-free school environments. This includes anti-bullying programs, relationship-building activities, the reduction of exclusionary discipline practices, promotion of supportive school discipline, and schoolwide positive behavioral interventions.
For more information, and to read the entire law known as Title IV, click here.
Using Title IV Funds to Pay for PBIS Rewards in Your School District
For school districts, implementing schoolwide PBIS initiatives across several or all schools can help them to meet criteria for Title IV funding. PBIS Rewards can make such implementation easier and more successful in each school, regardless of grade level.
PBIS practices are proven to help students develop academically, socially, and emotionally. When applied districtwide, PBIS initiatives can help districts qualify for Title IV funding. Just like Title I encourages the use of initiatives and interventions to improve school climate and culture, Title IV broadens the scope to include entire districts. PBIS initiatives and PBIS Rewards qualify as district expenditures under Title IV. For more information about using Title IV funding to purchase PBIS Rewards, contact us! We can help!