Shaping Our Future: Your Input Needed for Our 2026-2027 School Grants
Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members,
At our district, we believe that the best education is built on a strong partnership between our schools, our families, and our community. In alignment with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) Family and Community Engagement Standards, we view our families as essential partners in the decision-making process.
As we look ahead to the 2026-2027 school year, we are preparing our application for federal funding through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). To ensure we are utilizing these resources to best support your children and meet state academic standards, we need your voice.
How We Currently Use Our ESSA Funds
These federal grant funds allow us to provide vital resources, staffing, and programs that go above and beyond our standard budget. Here is a breakdown of the specific "Title" funds we receive and how we are currently spending them to support student success:
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Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs): This funding ensures all students have a fair, equitable, and high-quality education to help them close achievement gaps and meet challenging state academic standards.
How we use it: We currently dedicate these funds to directly support and strengthen reading, writing, and math instruction across our classrooms.
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Title II, Part A (Supporting Effective Instruction): This grant focuses on improving student achievement by elevating teacher quality through professional development and strategic staffing.
How we use it: We currently use this money to fund additional teachers to create smaller classroom sizes in the 1st grade, and to provide our educators with advanced professional development in writing instruction
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Title IV, Part A (Student Support & Academic Enrichment): This program is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education, safe and healthy school conditions, and effective use of educational technology.
How we use it: We use this funding to support our high school programs , which provides targeted mentorship, resources, and encouragement to help students stay on track and graduate.
The district is offering two ways to make your voice heard: an in-person community event and a digital feedback survey.
1. The In-Person Event: ESSA Funded Support
What it is: A community-focused district event. While it likely features school resources, family activities, and community vendors, the district is specifically using it as an open forum for face-to-face feedback.
When:Thursday September 17th, 2026 at Camden Elementary Library
Why attend: It allows you to speak directly with school officials, ask questions about proposed programs, and discuss what you think the school's top priorities should be.
2. The Digital Option: "We Want to Hear From You!" Survey
What it is: A brief online questionnaire designed to gather data from community members who can't make it to the fair or who prefer to submit their thoughts in writing.
Why it matters: The prompt mentions "meaningful consultation." The New York State Education Department (NYSED) mandates that districts cannot just decide how to spend certain flexible state and federal funds (like grant money or emergency relief extensions) behind closed doors. They are legally required to prove they asked the community what students actually need.
Thank you for your continued partnership, dedication, and support of our school community!
Amanda Mitchell
ESSA Funded Grants Supervisor
