July 14, 2023

Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Title III English Learner Student Program Subgrant Consortium and Eligibility, Fiscal Year 2023–24

Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, Title III, the California Department of Education (CDE) provides formula subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) that enroll one or more English learner (EL) students. Title III funds are to be used to provide supplementary programs and services to EL students. In addition, a state educational agency shall not award a Title III EL Student Program Subgrant in an amount that is less than $10,000. (20 United States Code Section 6824[b]). LEAs eligible to receive a subgrant of less than $10,000 must form or join a consortium where the subgrant generated by the participating LEAs collectively equals or surpasses $10,000.

The LEA Title III EL Student Program subgrant amount is based on the number of EL students reported in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) annual census of the previous school year. For 2023−24, the CDE used the data submitted into CALPADS on October 5, 2022 (Census Day). The preliminary eligibility per pupil rate for the Title III EL Student Program is $125.15. LEAs that meet the $10,000 threshold and are applying for direct funding for the Title III EL Student Program Subgrant may disregard this notice. Any LEA may choose to join a consortium, regardless of the allocation amount. However, as stated above, in order to receive Title III EL Student Program funding, LEAs scheduled to receive a subgrant of less than $10,000 must form or join a consortium and apply via the Consortium Online Application (COA) by September 30, 2023, in addition to the Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS) submission.

The consortium must select a lead LEA. The lead LEA is the sole subgrantee and administers the subgrant on behalf of all of the member LEAs. The lead LEA develops and maintains a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with member LEAs. The lead LEA also updates the Title III Federal Consortium Summary with information from district-operated programs and provides descriptions of how LEAs in the consortium are meeting or plan to meet each Title III program requirement. Member LEAs maintain a copy of the plan summary and the MOU, and make them available during a federal program monitoring review.

To apply for Title III, all consortium-eligible LEAs must also submit a proposed program budget in the CARS by August 31, 2023. The lead LEA submits the COA for all members. Please note that all consortium members must first apply by indicating “Yes” on the CARS application for funding page before joining any consortium. LEAs who indicate “No” on Title III EL program will not be eligible to form a consortium. Both application processes are required to receive Title III funding. The online application window is July 14, 2023, through September 30, 2023. Please review the Title III EL Student Program Subgrant Consortium information on the CDE Title III EL Student Program Consortium Details web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/el/t3/elconsortium.asp. The Title III Consortium Application is available from the CDE Title III Consortium Application web page at https://www2.cde.ca.gov/title3coa/logon_el2324.aspx.

The unique personal identification number (PIN) and the password below are required to access the COA.

Additional information regarding the consortium application process is available on the CDE Title III EL Student Program Request for Applications web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r28/el23rfa.asp.

The Title III program requires regular reporting of expenditures. It is the responsibility of the lead LEA to report expenditures on behalf of the consortium. Additional information regarding other program requirements, assurances, and eligibility is available on the CDE Title III EL Student Program Request for Applications web page at  https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/fo/r28/el23rfa.asp.

This is not a pass-through subgrant. Lead LEAs may not distribute Title III funds directly to member LEAs. The lead LEA provides services and products to member LEAs as outlined in the MOU. Only the lead LEA may take an administrative cost of 2% of the entire consortium allocation.

If you have any questions regarding the Title III EL Consortium application, please contact Annie Abreu Park, Staff Services Analyst, Division Support Office, by phone at 916-319-9620 or by email at AAbreuPark@cde.ca.gov.

If you have any program questions regarding the Title III EL Student Program, or the subgrant amount, please contact Geoffrey Ndirangu, Education Programs Consultant Language Policy and Leadership Office, by phone at 916-323-5831 or by email at Gndirang@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

/s/

Alesha Moreno-Ramirez, Director
Multilingual Support Division

AMR:gn