Eligibility & Grantee Information

While only SEAs may apply and directly receive funds from the Department of Education, SEAs are, in turn, required to make formula subgrants to local educational agencies LEAs.

To receive funds under ESEA formula grant programs, States are required, once per Congressional authorization of the statute, to submit program plans. Each program plan must address program requirements specified in the statute.  Section 8302 of the ESEA, however, permits the Department to simplify application requirements and reduce the burden on States by establishing procedures for States to submit a single Consolidated State Plan that addresses multiple programs.

Each State submitted a Consolidated State Plan in 2017 in order to receive funds under nine formula Grant programs, including Title III, Part A.  Copies of all current State plans, as well as information about the State plan process, may be found at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/school-support-and-accountability/essa-consolidated-state-plans/.

Each State that has a plan approved by the Department is awarded annually a Title III, Part A formula grant determined by the number of EL and immigrant children and youth in the State. The State uses its allotment to award subgrants to LEAs that have plans approved by the State. The number of EL and immigrant children and youth in the LEA determines the funding level of each subgrant.