Title I And Early Education

Mar 03, 2009

It is not widely known that LEAs have always been permitted to use Title I to support activities for children who are younger than the age of school entry--as early as birth. Yet, currently, only a small amount (approximately 2-3 percent) of Title I funds nationally are spent on early education.

Title I funds are flexible and can be used for a range of services that support quality early education, including comprehensive services for at-risk families and professional development for early childhood providers. Title I funds, though allocated to LEAs, can be used in community-based settings including child care and Head Start.

CLASP has studied Title I investments in early education programs in local communities extensively. We have identified more than 100 schools and districts with some history of using Title I for young children. We interviewed Title I directors, district superintendents, and others across the country to look closer at these investments to understand the barriers and flexibility in the law.

Our research shows that Title I funding presents unique opportunities to build on existing resources and provide community-wide services for at-risk children and their families. Districts have used Title I to fund full-day 4-year-old preschool programs, home visiting programs for infants and toddlers, transition to kindergarten activities, as well as diagnostic screening and assessment. 

Read CLASP publications on Title I: 

• Title I and Early Childhood Programs: A Look at Investments in the NCLB Era
• Missed Opportunities: The Possibilities and Challenges of Funding High-quality Preschool through Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act