Title IV funds provide students with access to a well-rounded education; support safe and healthy learning environments, and improve the effective use of technology to enhance academic achievement and digital literacy for all students.

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 underperforming student groups, and providing more children with access to high-quality preschool. In addition, 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 1) provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; 2) improve school conditions for student learning, and 3) improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.

Title IV-A Student Support & Academic Enrichment Grant

Title IV, Part A of ESEA, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grant, is intended to increase the capacity of LEAs, schools and local communities to provide the following:

Well-rounded educational opportunities:

• Improving access to foreign language instruction, arts, & music education
• Supporting college & career counseling, including providing information on opportunities for financial aid through the early FAFSA
• Providing programming to improve instruction & student engagement in science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM), including computer science, & increasing access to these subjects for underrepresented groups
• Promoting access to accelerated learning opportunities, including Advanced Placement & International Baccalaureate programs, dual or concurrent enrollment programs & early college high schools
• Strengthening instruction in American history, civics, economics, geography, government education, & environmental education

Safe and healthy schools

• Promoting community & parent involvement in schools
• Providing school-based mental health services & counseling
• Promoting supportive school climates to reduce the use of exclusionary discipline & promoting supportive school discipline
• Establishing or improving dropout prevention
• Supporting re-entry programs & transition services for justice-involved youth
• Implementing programs that support a healthy, active lifestyle
• Implementing systems & practices to prevent bullying & harassment
• Developing relationship building skills to help improve safety through the recognition & prevention of coercion, violence, or abuse
• Establishing community partnerships

Effective use of technology

• Supporting high-quality professional development for educators, school leaders, & administrators to personalize learning & improve academic achievement
• Carrying out innovative blended learning projects
• Delivering specialized or rigorous academic courses & curricula using technology, including digital learning technologies & assistive technology