search

ESSA Title Programs

Our objective is to ensure that families are connected with federal grant funding supports to ensure Every Child Succeeds.

Our Goals:

  • Manage and oversee all federal funding authorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) commonly referred to as Title Programs.
  • Provide end-to-end support for competitive and non-competitive federal, state, and private funding.
  • Coordinate and collaborate with District departments to support the requirements of large federal grants.
  • Monitor grant performance to ensure compliance with federal and state law.

What is the Every Student Succeeds Act?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015, and represents good news for our nation’s schools. This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the 50-year-old elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation’s national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students.

Title Programs

Title I, Part A, provides resources to help ensure that all children have the opportunity to get a quality education, resulting in their attainment of high academic standards. Title I targets resources to districts and schools whose needs are the greatest.

The program is the largest federal program supporting both elementary and secondary education, and allocates its resources based upon the poverty rates of students enrolled in schools and districts. Essentially, Title I focuses on: (1) promoting schoolwide reform in high-poverty schools and (2) ensuring students’ access to scientifically based instructional strategies and challenging academic content.

DPS Title I schools:

CDE School Performance Framework (SPF) Report:

All Title I schools are required to spend part of their federal funds to support parent activities to improve academic achievement.  Each school is required to hold an annual parent meeting to explain what steps the school is taking to improve performance.

Parent Engagement DPS BOE Policy KB

Parent Engagement DPS BOE Regulations KB-R

Click here to learn more about TI Parent Engagement requirements.

Title I Part D supports prevention and intervention programs for children and youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk.

This program provides funds for youth in state-operated institutions or community day programs. It also provides assistance to school districts who work with local correctional facilities. Colorado receives formula funds based on the number of students in state institutions and costs per pupil.

State agency and district Title I, Part D programs must meet the educations needs of neglected, delinquent and at-risk youth and assist in their transition from correctional facilities to local programs. They must provide the opportunities to achieve. And they must evaluate the program and disaggregate data by gender, race, ethnicity and age every three years.

The following Private Schools and Institutions are supported with various Federal funds from Denver Public Schools and Institutions also receive Title I Part D funds:

Schools Principal/Director Phone #
Private Schools
Annunciation Deb Roberts 303.295.2515
Arrupe Jesuit Michael O’Hagan 303.455.7449
Beth Jacob HS Esther Melamed 303.893.1333
Bishop Machebeuf HS Marc Nestorick 303.344.0082
Blessed Sacrament Dr. Carla Capstick 303.355.7361
Christ the King Bernadette Henson 303.321.2123
Denver Academy of Torah Dr. Peggy Kasloff 720.859.6806
Denver Waldorf Judy Lucas 303.777.0531
Escuela de Guadalupe Mariella Robledo 303.964.8456
Escuela Tlatelolco Nita Gonzales 303.964.8993
Good Shepherd Mark Strawbridge 303.321.6231
Graland Country Day Gail Sonnesyn 303.399.0390
Hillel Academy Marcie Calm 303.333.1511
LaAcademia Charlene Ramirez-Mares 303.629.0637
Most Precious Blood Colleen McManamon 303.757.1279
Mullen High School Janell Kloosterman 303.761.1764
Notre Dame School Charlene Molis 303.935.3549
Ricks Center Agela Fiorille 303.871.6198
St. Catherine of Siena  Doug Sandusky 303.477.8035
St. Francis de Sales Sr. Mary Rose Lieb 303.744-7231
St. John’s Lutheran Loren Otte 303.733.3777
St. Rose of Lima Elias Moo 303.733.5806
St. Vincent de Paul Sr. Dominic Quinn 303.777.3812
Stanley British Primary Timothy Barrier 303.360.0803
Yeshiva Toras Chaim Daniel Peckman 303.629.8200
Zion Lutheran Philip Adickes 303.985.2334
Institutions
Denver Children’s Home Ann Symalla 720.881.3416
Mount St. Vincent’s Lori McClurg 303.458.7220
Tennyson Center Djuana Osby 720.855.3433
Third Way Center – 5th Ave. Lisa Balyon 720.635.3692
Third Way Center – Lowry Monica Snyder 303.780.9191
Gilliam Youth Center Wes Montoya 303.291.8929
Savio House Tammie Shipp 303.225.4060
Synergy School Mekka Lebkey 303.761.8299
Ridge View Academy Ed Cope 303.214.1139

Title II, Part A

Title II, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 is intended to increase student academic achievement consistent with challenging State academic standards, improve the quality and effectiveness of educators, increase the number of educators who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools, and provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective educators. If you would like additional information about these funds or others please visit the Colorado Department of Education Title II website.

Title III – Supplemental Supports for English Learners

Purpose

Title III, Part A is a supplemental grant under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) that is designed to improve and enhance the education of English learners (ELs) in becoming proficient in English, as well as meeting the Colorado Academic Content standards. The Title III Immigrant Set-Aside grant resides within this program and provides opportunities for districts to enhance the instructional opportunities for immigrant students and their families.

Use of Funds

Required Activities
  • Increasing the English language proficiency of ELs by providing effective language instructional education programs (LIEPs)/ELD programs that have successfully demonstrated increasing English language proficiency and academic achievement.
  • Providing effective professional development to classroom teachers, principals and other school leaders, administrators, and other school or community-based organizational personnel that relates directly to the instruction of ELs that support their linguistic, academic, and social-emotional challenges and opportunities of ELs.
  • Providing and implementing other effective activities and strategies that enhance or supplement LIEPS/ELD programs for ELs.  These activities and strategies must include parent, family, and community engagement activities, but may also include strategies that coordinate and align related programs.
Allowable Activities
  • Upgrading ELD program objectives and effective instructional activities.
  • Improving ELD programs for ELs by identifying, acquiring, and upgrading curricula, instruction materials, educational software and technology, and assessment procedures that improve content and language acquisition.
  • Providing community participation programs, family literacy services, and parent outreach and training activities to EL students and their families.
  • Providing tutoring and intensified instruction for EL students.
  • Offering early college high school or dual/concurrent enrollment programs or courses designed to help ELs achieve in postsecondary education.
  • Developing and implementing effective preschool, elementary or secondary school ELD programs that are coordinated with other relevant programs and services.
  • Improving instruction for EL students, including EL students with a disability or identified as gifted in a specific area.

For more information, please visit CDE’s Website

Title III Immigrant Set-Aside

Purpose

The Title III Immigrant Set-Aside grant is designed to support school districts that have experienced a significant increase in immigrant students over the past two years. This program provides enhanced instructional and supplemental support opportunities for immigrant students and their families.

Immigrant children and youth:

  • Are 3 through 21,
  • Were not born in the U.S. or any U.S. Territory, and
  • Have not attended U.S. schools for more than three full academic years.

Use of Funds

  • Family literacy, parent outreach, and training activities to help parents to participate actively in their children’s education.
  • Support for personnel, including teacher aides, specifically trained to serve immigrant children.
  • Tutoring, mentoring, and academic or career counseling.
  • Identification and acquisition of supplemental curricular materials, and educational software and technologies.
  • Basic instruction services directly attributable to their enrollment; classroom supplies, costs of transportation, etc.
  • Other instruction services to assist immigrant students: civics education, introduction to educational system, etc.
  • Activities coordinated with community-based organizations, institutes of higher education, and private sector entities to assist parents by offering comprehensive services.

For more information, please visit CDE’s Website

Title IV, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of States, local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, improve school conditions for student learning, and improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.

To learn more about Title VI visit the Colorado Department of Education.

The Title VI Indian Education Program provides services designed to help students achieve and be successful in Denver Public Schools.  Our Indian Education Program staff recognize the unique needs of American Indian students and their families which stems from cultural values, traditional customs and settings.    The goal of our program is to partner with schools and families to eliminate the disparity in graduation and dropout rates for American Indian students and to prepare them for post-secondary education and career.

Additional Title Programs

The Consolidated Application is the Local Educational Agency’s (LEA’s) plan to the State Educational Agency (SEA), specifically the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), to use federal Title I, Part A, Title II Part A, Title III, Part A, Title III-Immigrant, Title IV and Title VI Part B funds. Through the online application, applicants will provide a description of how funds are used to provide all children a significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.

The 2016-2017 funding year is a “bridge” year between No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements for the release of federal funds in FY2016-17. In anticipation of the move to the new law, the Consolidated Application has been updated to a new platform. The new platform features a modular design and progressive disclosure which customizes each district application.

For the 2017-2018 school year, applications will be completed using the new platform that will be used to collect a comprehensive LEA plan based on the requirements described under ESSA.  To learn more about the Consolidated Application visit Colorado Department of Education.

The Homeless Education Network (HEN) in Denver Public Schools (DPS) provides supplemental educational supports for students experiencing homeless situations. HEN is a resource for DPS schools to provide guidance and the connection to Denver-area support services for families experiencing homelessness.

The HEN mission is to help DPS homeless children use education to break the cycle of poverty through direct support. The primary objective is to remove educational barriers that prevent homeless children from having a successful school experience.

HEN focuses support on school readiness and student success including:

  • School enrollment and advocacy
  • Backpacks/school supplies
  • Free breakfast
  • Lunch assistance
  • Clothing and uniform assistance
  • Basic-needs supplies
  • Community resources

For more information on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act and the HEN services, visit their website.

What is the Migrant Education Program?

In the Denver Metro area Migrant Education services are provided by:

The Migrant Education Program is a federally funded program designed to meet the unique needs of children of migratory agricultural workers. The program is funded with Title 1, Part C grant funds. The region’s allocation is based on the number of students who qualify for the program. The program assists both the schools and families with supplemental educational and support services.

Who is eligible for the Migrant Education Program?

  1. Any family member who has worked, intended to work or is presently working in a seasonal or temporary agricultural position.
  2. Any family that has moved in the Metro Region I area within the last three years.
  3. Any child must be between the ages of 3 and 21 years old.

How long can families qualify for services?

Families qualify for three years from the last qualifying move. The family re-qualifies every time they move across school district boundaries to look for an agricultural job.

What is an agricultural position?

Temporary and seasonal positions may include locations such as:

  • Poultry Plant
  • Dairy Farm
  • Feedlots
  • Greenhouse
  • Hog Farm
  • Meat Packing Plant
  • Vegetable Warehouse
  • Plant Nursery
  • Fruit Orchards
  • Sod Farm
  • Produce Shed
  • Cannery

What can the Migrant Education Program do for the schools and families?

  • The program funding to the school districts may assist schools with supplemental educational programs and services such as: qualified staff and materials for Adult ESL/GED/ABE classes; staff and materials for before/after school tutoring programs in ESL/math/literacy/native language instruction; supplemental ESL/bilingual curriculum materials for the classroom; and staff and materials for Family Literacy Programs .
  • Assist the families and schools with communication in English and Spanish.
  • Offer referrals to families for various services offered in the metro area (i.e., medical clinics for immunizations, Denver Rescue Mission for clothes).
  • Scholarships are offered for outstanding secondary migrant students.
  • Summer school assistance for staff and curriculum materials is available to the school districts and schools.
  • Metro Area Migrant Education services

How do school staff identify Migrant students?

  • A survey to identify Migrant students can be presented to parents during the registration process or it can be sent to student’s homes. Click below to print the surveys in both English and Spanish.
  • Based on information provided in the surveys, bilingual staff will follow up with the individual families to formally qualify the students to receive Migrant Education services.
  • The Migrant Education Brochure offers a complete description of the program. The brochure includes information in both English and Spanish.

Links to additional Migrant Education information:

For additional information about the Military/Foster Care Program please visit the Military/Foster Care website.

Need Help? Contact Us!

(720) 423-3421

ESSA Central Administration

ESSA Title Programs
1617 S Acoma St, 2nd Floor
Denver, CO 80223

Central Administration
Name Position Telephone #
Lilian Pacheco Director, ESSA Title Programs (720) 423-1931
Sarah Szwydko Manager, ESSA Title Programs (720) 423-3197
Esther Rivera Program Manager, Homeless Education (720) 423-1987
Jordan Witt-Araya Program Manager, Military/Foster Care (720) 423-1949
Mónica Parra Program Manager, Migrant Education (720) 423-1912
Theodore Engel Office Support III, ESSA Title Programs (720) 423-1872
Ambrosia Masi Senior Specialist, Title I (720) 423-1786

Homeless Education Network

1617 South Acoma Street, Denver, Colorado 80223
HEN Intake Line – (720) 423-1980
HEN Liaisons
Esther Rivera Program Manager, HEN (720) 423-1987