Title I, Part A Targeted Assistance School Program

A program providing services to improve student academic achievement of eligible students in Title I schools.

A local education agency (LEA) that receives Title I, Part A funds shall operate one of two programs:

Targeted assistance school (TAS) program, or
Schoolwide program (SWP).

The purpose of a TAS program is to assist schools and LEAs to meet their responsibility to provide for all their students served the opportunity to meet the challenging state academic standards (Every Student Succeeds Act [ESSA] Section 1115[b]). In all schools selected to receive Title I, Part A funds that are ineligible for a SWP, have not received a waiver to operate a SWP, or choose not to operate a SWP, a LEA may use funds to provide services to eligible students identified as having the greatest need for special assistance (ESSA Section 1115[a]).

Eligible schools are not required to operate a SWP and may choose to operate as a TAS program. Additional information about Title I, Part A SWP is located on the Title I, Part A Schoolwide Program web page.

TAS Program Services

Each TAS program shall—

determine which students will be served;
serve participating students identified as eligible students including by—
- using resources under Title I, Part A to help eligible students meet the challenging State academic standards, which may include programs, activities, and academic courses necessary to provide a well-rounded education;
- using methods and instructional strategies to strengthen the academic program of the school through activities, which may include—
  1. expanded learning time, before- and afterschool programs, and summer programs and opportunities; and
  2. a schoolwide tiered model to prevent and address behavior problems, and early intervening services, coordinated with similar activities and services carried out under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.);
coordinating with and supporting the regular education program, which may include services to assist pre- school students in the transition from early childhood education programs such as Head Start, the literacy program of Title II, or State-run preschool programs to elementary school programs;
providing professional development with resources provided under Title I, Part A, and, to the extent practicable, from other sources, to teachers, principals, other school leaders, paraprofessionals, and, if appropriate, specialized instructional support personnel, and other school personnel who work with eligible students in programs under Title I, Part A or in the regular education program;
implementing strategies to increase the involvement of parents of eligible students; and
if appropriate and applicable, coordinating and integrating Federal, State, and local services and programs, such as programs supported under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), violence prevention programs, nutrition programs, housing programs, Head Start programs, adult education programs, career and technical education programs, and comprehensive support and improvement activities or targeted support and improvement activities; and
provide to the LEA assurances that the school will—
1. help provide an accelerated, high-quality curriculum;
2. minimize the removal of students from the regular classroom during regular school hours for instruction provided under Title I, Part A; and
3. on an ongoing basis, review the progress of eligible students and revise the targeted assistance program, if necessary, to provide additional assistance to enable such students to meet the challenging State academic standard (ESSA Section 1115[b][1-2]).

All activities, strategies, and interventions included in a TAS program shall be evidence-based. Evidence-based means the proposed project component is supported by one or more of strong evidence, moderate evidence, promising evidence, or evidence that demonstrates a rationale (34 CFR 77.1[c]).

Eligible Students for TAS Services

The eligible population for Title I, Part A services in a TAS program is:

Students who are not older than 21 who are entitled to a free public education through grade 12; and
Students who are not yet at grade level at which the LEA provides a free public education (ESSA Section 1115[c][1][A]).

Of the eligible population identified above, the LEA will determine eligible students using the following criteria:

Students identified by the school as failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet the challenging state academic standards on the basis of multiple, educationally related, objective criteria established by the LEA and supplemented by the school, except that students from preschool through grade 2 shall be selected solely on the basis of criteria, including objective criteria, established by the LEA and supplemented by the school (ESSA Section 1115[c][1][B]).

Students included:

Students who are economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, migrant students or English learners, are eligible for Title I, Part A services on the same basis as other students selected to receive services under Title I, Part A (ESSA Section 1115[c][2][A]).
Head Start and Preschool Students: A student who, at any time in the 2 years preceding the year for which the determination is made, participated in a Head Start program, the literacy program under Title II, or in preschool services under Title I, Part A, is eligible for Title I, Part A services (ESSA Section 1115[c][2][B]).
Migrant Students: A student who, at any time in the 2 years preceding the year for which the determination is made, received services under Title I, Part C is eligible for Title I, Part A services (ESSA Section 1115[c][2][C]).
Neglected or Delinquent Students: A student in a local institution for neglected or delinquent students and youth or attending a community day program for such students is eligible for services under Title I, Part A (ESSA Section 1115[c][2][D]).
Homeless Students: A student who is homeless and attending any school served by the LEA is eligible for services under Title I, Part A (ESSA Section 1115[c][2][E]).

Use of Funds in a TAS Program

Funds received under Title I, Part A may not be used to provide services that are otherwise required by law to be made available to eligible students described above but may be used to coordinate or supplement such services (ESSA Section 1115[c][3]).

Title I, Part A funds used supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such funds, be made available from State and local sources, and do not supplant such funds (ESSA Section 1118[b][1]). Additional information regarding authorized use of Title I, Part A funds may be located on the Title I, Part A Authorized Use of Funds web page.