Student-Centered Funding Pilot

Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants

The Well-Rounded Education through Student-Centered Funding Demonstration Grants program provides competitive grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to demonstrate model programs for providing well-rounded education opportunities through the development and implementation of student-centered funding (SCF) systems based on weighted per-pupil allocations under Section 1501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). Grants awarded under this program are intended to help build the capacity of LEAs to provide well-rounded education in order to establish models for expanding and enhancing delivery of such opportunities for educationally disadvantaged students.

For more information, please visit the following page: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-formula-grants/school-support-and-accountability/well-rounded-education-student-centered-funding-demonstration-grants/.

Student-Centered Funding Pilot

ESEA section 1501 authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Education to enter into local flexibility demonstration agreements with local educational agencies (LEAs) under which such agencies may consolidate eligible Federal education funds with State and local funds in accordance with certain requirements in order to develop a student-centered funding system based on weighted per-pupil allocations for low-income and otherwise disadvantaged students. Under a local flexibility demonstration agreement, an LEA may use the Federal funds allocated through its system flexibly, provided it meets the purposes of each Federal education program supported by the consolidated Federal funds, including serving students from low-income families, English learners, migratory children, and children who are neglected, delinquent, or at risk, as applicable.

For an LEA that enters into a local flexibility demonstration agreement, the Secretary is authorized to waive those provisions of the ESEA that would otherwise prevent the LEA from using eligible Federal funds as part of such an agreement. Relieving an LEA from certain ESEA requirements in this manner would enable the LEA to use the Federal funds allocated through its student-centered funding system flexibly, provided it meets the purposes of each Federal education program supported by the consolidated Federal funds, including serving students from low-income families, English learners, migratory children, and children who are neglected, delinquent, or at risk, as applicable.