Overview
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is the state educational agency recognized by the USDE as the granting agency for Improving Teacher Quality funds. The SCDE oversees the administrative responsibilities of the State and its sub-grantees. It is responsible for determining the Title II, Part A local education agency (LEA) grant allocations. The SCDE supervises the administration of innovative projects, develops guidance on effective strategies for improving Teacher and Leader Effectiveness, interprets Federal law, develops a formal statement of state priorities based on a needs assessment, provides technical assistance and formal training, monitors fiscal control of grant awards, disseminates information about successful programs and practices, guides fund accounting procedures, oversees monitoring and reporting of program performance, ensures compliance with Federal regulations, and assures instructional delivery is being utilized with at-risk populations.
Determining Allocations for LEAs
During the summer, the SCDE receives notification of its current fiscal year SEA allocation. Under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the allocation for LEAs was based on a federal formula grant that calculated a hold harmless amount which consisted of an Eisenhower Math and Science allocation and Class Size Reduction allocation. The Eisenhower Math and Science allocation was based on Title I, Part A allocations and total population count. The Class Size Reduction allocation was based on both poverty and total population counts. The remaining total above and beyond the hold harmless amount was allocated by poverty count (80%) and total population count (20%). Poverty and 5-17 population data was and continues to be provided by USDE. Under NCLB, in any year in which there was insufficient funds to provide the LEAs with their hold harmless amount, the SEA would ratably reduce each LEA allocation. ESEA/ESSA outlines changes in the SEA and LEA allocation formulas over five years beginning in the 2017- 2018 school year.
| Years |
SEA % of 2001
Hold Harmless |
SEA
Population |
SEA
Poverty |
LEA
Population |
LEA
Poverty |
| 2016-17 |
No Change
100% |
No Change |
No Change |
No Change
20% |
No Change
80% |
| 2017-18 |
85.71% |
35% |
65% |
20% |
80% |
| 2018-19 |
71.42% |
30% |
70% |
20% |
80% |
| 2019-20 |
57.13% |
25% |
75% |
20% |
80% |
| 2020-21 |
42.84% |
20% |
80% |
20% |
80% |
| 2021-22 |
28.55% |
20% |
80% |
20% |
80% |
| 2022-23 |
14.26% |
20% |
80% |
20% |
80% |
| 2023-24 |
0% |
20% |
80% |
20% |
80% |
The SEA reserves 5% of total funds for State Activities. Of that 5%, 1% is reserved for Title II, Part A administration and up to 2% may be reserved for leadership academies. Of the remaining 95%, up to 3% may be reserved for State-level leadership support and the remaining funds are allocated to the LEAs. These percentages are pre-determined by USDE.
Grant Closeout
The SCDE requires each (LEA) receiving grant funds to submit a final claim no later than August 15th for the expiring grant. Expenditure claims must be processed through the online Grants Accounting Processing System (GAPS).
Title II, Part A Coordinators should work with their finance department to ensure that final expenditure claims are submitted in a timely manner.
LEA Allocations
