St. Clair County Schools

The Federal Programs Department of the St. Clair County School System oversees all federally funded educational initiatives within the district. It provides supervision, training, technical assistance, and guidance to Title I schools, while also supporting district-wide programs that are not Title I funded. The department conducts annual needs assessments to inform planning, budgeting, and submission of federal grant applications. Additionally, it ensures that all federal funds are spent appropriately and in compliance with regulations set by the Alabama State Department of Education and the federal government.

Title I: Improving the Academic Advantage of the Disadvantaged

• Title I is the largest federal aid to education program in this country. Title I programs enable schools to provide opportunities for children served to acquire the knowledge and skills contained in the state content and performance standards developed for all children and to promote effective parent involvement. Eligible schools use Title I funds for supplemental instructional materials, technology, additional staff, professional development, parent involvement programs and materials, and extended day/year programs.
• An important part of the Title I-A program pertains to Parent and Family Involvement.  Research has shown that the more a parent is involved in the academic quest of their child, the more success that child is likely to have.  The St. Clair County District-Wide Parental Involvement Policy can be found under the “For Parents” tab at the top of the website home page under “Title-I Parental Involvement”.

Title I-C provides federal funds to support the unique educational needs of migratory children who often face challenges due to frequent moves, interrupted schooling, and language barriers. The program aims to ensure these students have equal access to high-quality education and opportunities to meet state academic standards. Funding is allocated to states and local programs to deliver supplemental instruction, advocacy, and support services that help migratory students succeed academically and socially. A breakdown of how these funds are typically utilized is listed below:

1. Instructional Support

• Tutoring and academic assistance in core subjects like reading, math, and language arts.
• Summer programs and after-school programs to help students catch up on missed and/or interrupted instruction.

2. Support Services

• Health and social services referrals to ensure students are ready to learn.
• Transportation assistance for participation in educational programs.

3. Parental Engagement

• Training and resources for parents to support their children’s education.
• Workshops on navigating school systems and accessing community resources.

4. Professional Development

• Training for teachers and staff on strategies for working with migratory students.
• Cultural competency and language support training.

5. Identification and Recruitment

• Activities to locate and enroll eligible migratory children.
• Maintaining accurate records and data reporting.

Title I, Part C Migrant Education Program eligibility criteria is based on federal guidance:

Who is Eligible?

A child qualifies as a migratory child if all of the following conditions are met:

1. Age Requirement
   • The child is between 3 and 21 years old and has not graduated from high school or earned a GED.
2. Educational Status
   • The child is enrolled in or eligible to enroll in a public or private school or is participating in a qualifying education program (such as preschool or out-of-school programs).
3. Move Across School District Lines
   • The child moved within the past 36 months from one school district to another (or across state lines) with a parent, guardian, or self for the purpose of seeking or obtaining temporary or seasonal employment in agricultural or fishing work.
4. Qualifying Work
   • The employment must be temporary or seasonal and related to agriculture or fishing, which includes activities like crop harvesting, dairy work, poultry, livestock, or fish processing.

Additional Notes: 

• Priority for Services is given to migratory children who are most at risk of failing academically and whose education has been interrupted during the regular school year.
• Eligibility is documented through a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) completed by a trained recruiter.

Title II: Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals

• Title II funds support professional learning activities designed to prepare, train, and recruit highly qualified teachers and principals. Title II funds are used to support intensive high quality professional development activities in the core academic subjects.

Professional Development

• Teachers in St. Clair County Schools are required to earn 60 professional hours over a five year period to maintain their Alabama Teaching Certificate. They may participate in workshops or classes from outside sources or from many options provided in the district. Currently workshops and job-embedded trainings are available for Scantron, IRead, Science, College and Career Readiness Standards, Advanced Placement and Laying the Foundation, Safety, Special Education and SPIRE.

English Language Learners

• The goal of the EL program in the St. Clair County Schools is to provide equitable opportunities to students who have a primary or home language other than English, and who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) or Non-English Speakers (NES). St. Clair County Schools strive to create a learning environment that encourages students’ pride in their cultural heritage, and provides the cognitive and affective support to help them become contributing members of our society. The primary focus of the St. Clair County program is to provide an English-rich environment to encourage English proficiency as quickly as possible.
• The St. Clair County EL program is an English Language Development (ELD) program by design.  EL instruction is delivered in a variety of methods such as "pull-out", "push-in", and/or sheltered English or content-based instruction instruction.  The St. Clair County EL program, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through high school, will provide each English language learner (ELL or EL) the opportunity to be successful in academic areas and to develop listening, speaking, reading and writing proficiency. 
• The St. Clair County School System EL department currently employs three EL teachers and three bilingual aides who work with EL students, their parents, and classroom teachers in order to facilitate a higher quality of education for EL students. EL personnel attend professional development locally and regionally in order to bring back best practice strategies for teaching English Language Learners.
• EL teachers work with parents and translators as needed to develop sound, educationally driven plans for each child in order to facilitate the greatest gains possible.

In short, the educational goals of the St. Clair County ELD program are:

• Equal access to understandable instruction in all academic areas.
• Meaningful participation in all district programs.
• Increased English proficiency.
• Mastery of subject matter content.

Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Program

Title IV-A provides federal funding to help schools offer a well-rounded education, improve school conditions for student learning, and enhance the effective use of technology. These funds are designed to increase academic achievement by supporting programs that promote safe and healthy schools, access to advanced coursework, arts and STEM education, and digital learning opportunities. Districts have flexibility in how they allocate funds, ensuring they meet local needs while aligning with federal guidelines.

The Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Program is organized into three required content areas; each designed to improve student outcomes and provide a well-rounded education:

1. Well-Rounded Education

• Funds support programs that expand access to subjects beyond core academics, such as STEM, arts, music, foreign languages, and advanced coursework.
• Goal: Ensure students have opportunities to explore diverse academic areas that prepare them for college and careers.

2. Safe and Healthy Students

• Activities promote safe, supportive, and drug-free learning environments.
• Examples include mental health services, bullying prevention, school climate initiatives, and programs that improve physical health and well-being.

3. Effective Use of Technology

• Focuses on integrating technology into teaching and learning to improve academic achievement and digital literacy.
• Includes professional development for educators, blended learning models, and tools that personalize instruction.
• Note: No more than 15% of technology funds can be used for purchasing devices; most should support training and instructional strategies.

Title X: Homeless Education Assistance

• The purpose of Title X is to ensure that all children and youth living in homeless situations have equal access to the same free and appropriate public education provided to other children and youth. The St. Clair County School System has developed policies to remove any barriers that would hinder their academic success and provide them with the same educational services and opportunities to meet the same challenging state student performance standards to which all students are held.

McKinney-Vento Act

• The McKinney-Vento act was reauthorized by President Bush on January 8, 2005. A portion of this act related to the education of homeless children and youth. Subtitle VII-B requires that local education agencies establish and carry out policies to ensure that these children have access to a free, appropriate public education, on the same basis as children with established residences. Laws, regulations, practices or policies should not act as barriers to the enrollment, attendance or school success of homeless students.
• Services available to homeless children and youth include medical and dental emergencies in collaboration with other community organizations, counseling related to violence prevention, behavior, and unique needs that may arise from domestic violence.
• Your child has the right to participate in all programs at the school. If you need financial assistance, contact the counselor at your school.

Definition of Homeless/Highly Mobile Individuals

The McKinney –Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines a “homeless person” as one who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence or one who has a primary nighttime residence that is defined as follows:

• A shelter/transitional housing/welfare motel
• The streets/car/abandoned building/campground/etc.
• An institution that provides temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized.
• A residence with substandard living conditions (not fit for human habitation—no electricity, no heat, no running water, no windows/doors, holes in roof or floor, no way to cook or store food)
• Two or more families living together in crowded or undesirable living conditions because they have no place of their own to live where they can safely and healthfully meet their basic needs of privacy with dignity.

The LEA will comply with Federal Civil Rights regulations and the American with Disabilities Act which prohibits discrimination based on race, disability, sex, and age.