The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) includes a number of provisions that promote equitable access to educational opportunity, including holding all students to high academic standards, ensuring meaningful action is taken to improve the lowest-performing schools and schools with under-performing student groups, and providing more children with access to high-quality preschool.
The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program, authorized under subpart 1 of Title IV, Part A of the ESSA, is intended to help increase the capacity of 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.
FOCUS OF FUNDS LEAs or consortiums of LEAs can apply for the funds and must prioritize the distribution of funds to schools that:
- are among those with the greatest needs;
- have the highest number of students from low-income families who are counted for the purpose of Title I, Part A funding; or
- are identified as level 4 or 5 schools needing targeted or comprehensive support.
The SSAE grant is specifically directed toward improving the lowest-performing schools and providing each and every student with:
- a well-rounded education;
- school conditions that ensure learning in safe and healthy school environments; and
- technology that improve academic achievement and digital literacy.
Allowable uses of funds under each of the three content areas may include, but are not limited to: direct services for students, professional development for teachers and administrators, salaries of personnel to carry out identified programs and services, and supplemental educational resources and equipment.
None is available.