Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction
Eligibility
All California local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive federal Title II, Part A funds are eligible. Funding is distributed by formula through CDE based on student enrollment and poverty rates. Districts use the funds to improve teacher and principal effectiveness.
- Eligible: All California public school districts and charter schools
- Priority uses include recruiting, developing, and retaining effective teachers
- STEM, coding, and technology PD are explicitly allowable uses
- Districts must submit a consolidated application to CDE
Program Goals
Title II, Part A is designed to improve student achievement by increasing the effectiveness of teachers and principals. In practice, districts use these funds to pay for professional development, coaching, curriculum training, and teacher recruitment in high-need subject areas like STEM and computer science.
Districts that want to build teacher capacity in coding, AI literacy, or physical computing can use Title II-A to fund the PD that makes that possible. Teacher training on micro:bit and MicroChat curriculum qualifies when documented as improving instructional quality in a specific subject area.
Application and Distribution
Title II-A flows to districts automatically as part of the consolidated ESSA federal grant. Districts include their Title II-A spending plans in the annual consolidated application they submit to CDE. No separate competitive process is required at the local level.
Grant Award Amount
Nationally, Title II-A is funded at over $2 billion per year. California receives several hundred million dollars annually. Individual district allocations vary significantly by enrollment and poverty concentration. Districts typically receive enough to fund several professional development programs or instructional coaches each year.
Allowable Purchases
Professional Development and Teacher Training
Title II-A funds can be used for teacher professional development, instructional coaching, and curriculum training. Training teachers on new STEM tools qualifies when the PD is designed to improve instructional effectiveness and student outcomes.
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Forward Education Teacher Training
Professional development programs for micro:bit and MicroChat curriculum. Helps teachers build confidence and instructional skills in physical computing and AI literacy. -
micro:bit Classroom Kits (with curriculum)
When purchased as part of a documented PD program, classroom kits can qualify as materials supporting teacher effectiveness. Include curriculum planning and coaching components. -
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit
Supports teachers in building AI literacy instruction capacity. Curriculum-included tools that come with teacher guides reduce preparation burden and improve delivery quality.
Keep in Mind
Title II-A guidelines favor sustained, job-embedded professional development over one-time workshops. Plan a multi-session training sequence, not a single kickoff day.
Track how teacher practice changes after training. Pre- and post-observation data, teacher self-assessments, and student outcome data strengthen your compliance documentation.
Title II-A spending should connect to your school or district's broader improvement plan. Frame coding and CS teacher development as part of a school-wide STEM strategy.
If your district uses an instructional coach model, coaches who specialize in STEM and coding can be funded through Title II-A. This is often a stronger use than one-time PD events.
Need Help Writing Your Grant Application?
Forward Education works with schools and districts to build strong funding proposals. We can help you connect our tools to your grant requirements.
- Curriculum alignment documents - TEKS, Common Core, and state standards mapped to our kits
- Program quotes and pricing - classroom sets, bundles, and multi-site pricing
- Letters of support - documentation for grant applications
- Project ideas and scope-and-sequence - ready-to-use program outlines
Download the Forward Education Grant Guide
Our grant guide helps educators find the right funding sources and build strong applications for STEM and coding programs.
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