State & Federal Programs
504
Child Find
Child Find
What is Child Find?
Child Find refers to the federal requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that all children in need of special education services are identified, located and evaluated. Schools are responsible for conducting Child Find and identifying all IDEA-eligible students that reside in their jurisdiction. Child Find is not a passive activity, but rather an active process.
Who is Covered under Child Find?
Children with disabilities from birth through age 21 are covered. This includes children who are being homeschooled or who are in private school.
Who do I contact if I need additional information?
For more information, you can contact SPEDTex at 1-855-773-3839. They provide information and resources that can help you understand disabilities, your rights, and the school’s responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
For more information locally, please contact the principal at your child's school or Melissa Marbut, WISD Director of State and Federal Programs.
Dyslexia
ESSA
2024-2025 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Federal Grant Application
Public Notification
Intent to Apply for ESSA Federal Grant Funding
Following federal regulations, a school district planning to submit a federal grant application must offer a reasonable opportunity for public comment on the application before it is submitted for approval with the Texas Education Agency. Therefore, Whitney Independent School District is making public notice of the intent to apply for the 2024-2025 ESSA Consolidated Federal Grant Application for funding for the following program areas:
Following federal regulations, a school district planning to submit a federal grant application must offer a reasonable opportunity for public comment on the application before it is submitted for approval with the Texas Education Agency. Therefore, Whitney Independent School District is making public notice of the intent to apply for the 2024-2025 ESSA Consolidated Federal Grant Application for funding for the following program areas:
Title I, Part A, Improving Basic Programs - Intent and Purpose: Title I funds should be used to provide all children with significant opportunities to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education and close educational achievement gaps.
Award Amount: $411,551
WISD’s Intended Use of Funds:
Instructional Supplies and Materials
Professional and Contracted Services
ESC Region 12
Staff salaries (professional/certified staff and
paraprofessionals)
Title II, Part A, Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers, Principals, or Other School Leaders - Intent and Purpose: Title II funds should be used to increase student achievement on state academic standards; improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders; increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders; and provide low-income and minority students greater access to educators.
Award Amount: $64,985
WISD’s Intended Use of Funds:
Professional development supplies and materials
Staff salaries (professional/certified)
Professional development for staff and parents/guardians
Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment - Intent and Purpose: Title IV funds should be used to improve the academic achievement of all students by increasing the capacity of LEAs, schools, and communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, to improve school conditions for student learning, and to improve the use of technology in order to enhance academic outcomes and digital literacy of students.
Award Amount: $30,633
WISD’s Intended Use of Funds:
Redirect 100% of these funds to Title I, Part A for staff
Title II, Part A, Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers, Principals, or Other School Leaders - Intent and Purpose: Title II funds should be used to increase student achievement on state academic standards; improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders; increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders; and provide low-income and minority students greater access to educators.
Award Amount: $64,985
WISD’s Intended Use of Funds:
Professional development supplies and materials
Staff salaries (professional/certified)
Professional development for staff and parents/guardians
Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichment - Intent and Purpose: Title IV funds should be used to improve the academic achievement of all students by increasing the capacity of LEAs, schools, and communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, to improve school conditions for student learning, and to improve the use of technology in order to enhance academic outcomes and digital literacy of students.
Award Amount: $30,633
WISD’s Intended Use of Funds:
Redirect 100% of these funds to Title I, Part A for staff
salaries (professional/certified)
For more information on the 2024-2025 ESSA Federal Grant Application, please contact Melissa Marbut, WISD Director of State and Federal Programs, at melissa.marbut@whitneyisd.org or (254) 694-2536.
Title I
Whitney ISD Title I, Part A Program
Title I, Part A, Improving Basic Programs, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, provides supplemental funding to state and local educational agencies to acquire additional education resources at schools serving students from low-income homes.
Intent and Purpose:
The purpose of Title I of ESSA is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps. Title I, Part A, supports campuses in implementing either a schoolwide program (SWP) or a targeted assistance program (TAP).
- Whitney ISD (WISD) receives Title I, Part A funds and has two identified Title I schools: Whitney Intermediate School and Whitney Elementary School. Both campuses implement a schoolwide program (SWP).
Local Education Agency Plan
To ensure that all children receive a high-quality education, and to close the achievement gap between children meeting the challenging State academic standards and those children who are not meeting such standards, all LEAs that receive Title I, Part A funds are required to have an LEA Plan.
- WISD’s Title I, Part A Program Plan will be the document that the LEA will use to meet the district level program planning requirements for districts receiving Title I, Part A funds.
- WISD has a stand alone plan that will be added as an addendum to the District Improvement Plan.
Title II
Title II, Part A — Supporting Effective Instruction
The purpose of Title II, Part A is to increase student achievement consistent with the challenging State academic standards; improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders; increase the number of effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools; and provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders. The intent of the funding is to support educators in their work to improve the overall quality of instruction and ensure equity of educational opportunity for all students.
Title III
Title III, Part A — English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act
Title III, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), aims to ensure that English learners (ELs) and immigrant students attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English. Title III will also assist all English learners meet the same challenging State academic standards that all children are expected to meet.
Title IV
Title IV, Part A — Student Support and Academic Enrichment
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, established Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program (SSAE). The overarching goal of Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1, is to increase the capacity of state education agencies, local educational agencies (LEAs), campuses, and communities to meet the following three goals:
-
Provide all students access to a well-rounded education
-
Improve school conditions for student learning (safe and healthy students)
-
Improve the use of technology to improve the academic outcomes and digital literacy of students
Special Education
Whitney ISD is a part of the Hill County Shared Services Arrangement and provides specialized learning programs and services to students with disabilities. This includes adapting the learning environment to meet the unique needs of the student and to ensure the student has access to the general curriculum. The admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee makes the decisions regarding eligibility and placement.
For more information about services, please contact the principal of your child's school or Melissa Marbut, WISD Director of State and Federal Programs.
Hill County Shared Services Arrangement
P.O. Box 397 • 200 Line Street • Hillsboro, Texas 76645
(254) 582-3814 • Fax (254) 582-0050
Cherish Hermes, Director