Title IV, Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment, or SSAE) is a federal formula grant every school district receives through its state. It pays for a well-rounded education, including STEM and computer science, safe and healthy schools, and effective use of technology. There's no competition: your district plans how to spend its allocation each year.
What Title IV-A pays for
- Well-rounded education: includes programs that improve instruction and student engagement in science, technology, engineering and math, including computer science.
- Safe and healthy students: school climate, mental health and safety programs.
- Effective use of technology: professional development and programs that help teachers and students use technology well, including blended learning and digital literacy.
Rules that shape your plan
- $30,000 threshold: districts with $30,000 or more must complete a needs assessment every three years and spend at least 20% on well-rounded education, at least 20% on safe and healthy students, and some on effective use of technology. Smaller allocations can go to any one of the three areas.
- 15% cap: no more than 15% of the effective-use-of-technology share can go to technology infrastructure such as devices, equipment and software. Ask your federal programs director which area your purchase falls under.
- Supplement, not supplant: Title IV-A adds to what state and local funds already pay for.
- Flexibility: districts can transfer some or all of their Title IV-A funds to other ESSA titles, and carry funds over into the next year.
How to get Title IV-A funds for your classroom
There's no application for teachers. Talk to your district's federal programs office while it builds the next year's consolidated application, usually in spring. Bring a short plan: the need it meets, how many students it reaches, what it costs and how you'll measure results.
Funding outlook
Congress funded Title IV-A at about $1.38 billion for fiscal 2026, which pays for the 2026-27 school year. Since October 1, 2026, federal programs have run on a continuing resolution at fiscal 2026 levels through December 11, 2026. The administration's fiscal 2027 budget request would end Title IV-A as a separate program and fold it into a new state block grant; Congress hasn't decided.
A Title IV-A plan that fits
The Coding for Good Kit brings hands-on computer science to grades 3-12 with 11 plug-and-play sensors and modules, 4 servos and a water pump, a natural fit for well-rounded education. Every lesson includes timing, standards, an assessment and Use, Modify and Create paths.
- A class set: 15 Coding for Good Kits with micro:bit V2 Go Packs come to $4,454.85 before shipping, enough for 30 students working in pairs. Kits go back in their cases after class, so one set serves every section.
- Data-driven Smart Farming (grades 6-8): students build a system that waters a plant based on soil moisture and tracks how long the pump runs.
- Wildfire Detection with Autonomous Vehicles (grades 6-8): students build a vehicle that patrols an area and raises an alert when it detects bright light and loud sound.
- MicroChat adds AI literacy: the AI writes the first version of the code, then guides students through Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify and Make, so students plan, explain and test.
- Teacher training: free self-paced courses come with the kits, and live virtual PD starts at $1,000 for a 90-minute session.
Frequently asked questions
Can Title IV-A pay for coding and robotics kits?
Yes, when the purchase supports your district's needs assessment and plan. Computer science is part of well-rounded education. If the district books hardware under effective use of technology, it counts toward the 15% cap.
Who decides how Title IV-A is spent?
Your district, through its federal programs office and the consolidated application your state reviews.
When should we ask?
In winter or spring, while the district plans the next school year. Funds for each school year become available July 1.
How can Forward Education help?
We can map our lessons to your state standards, write an official quote, show how a purchase fits the program's allowable uses, and provide a letter of support. Contact our grant team.
Sources: Every Student Succeeds Act, Title IV, Part A; state education agency Title IV-A fact sheets; fiscal 2026 appropriations and fiscal 2027 continuing resolution (P.L. 119-103); U.S. Department of Education fiscal 2027 budget request. Checked November 1, 2026.
