Funding Professional Development with Title II Funds

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) includes funding under Title II, Part A, the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants program, to meet the requirement that all schools have "highly qualified" teachers, defined as a teacher with full certification, a bachelor's degree, and demonstrated competence in subject knowledge and teaching skills as defined by each state.

Can LHS Professional Development be funded by Title II?

Yes. LHS programs can form the core of a rigorous professional development effort. All Lawrence Hall of Science programs are strongly tied to both national and state curriculum standards. Participation can help districts meet the NCLB requirement of having highly qualified teachers by the end of the 2005-2006 school year.

Districts are required to submit a local improvement plan. In California, the deadline for submitting this plan is June 1. Deadlines in other states may vary. To get Title II funding to support the professional development you desire it must be part of your district plan.

You have a say. It is a requirement of NCLB that teachers participate in the development of the local improvement plan. Teachers can recommend resources that they feel will most help them in achieving their professional development goals.

Is there specific language that my district should use in its application to the state?

It should be stated that LHS programs are focused on student learning, and based on research-validated teaching practices. In the event that you are participating in a short-term session, of a few days or less, you should indicate that participation is a component of a larger ongoing, classroom-focused professional development program. Customized, on-site programs of longer duration are available from many LHS programs, and can meet the requirements for Title II funding without being incorporated into a larger program.

Where can I learn more?

Contact your district directly to find out about the process for incorporating professional development into the local improvement plan. If you would like help from LHS in developing your local improvement plan so that it meets your school’s specific math and science goals, contact Craig Strang at cstrang@uclink4.berkeley.edu.

For a comprehensive (and lengthy) overview of the requirements of Title II of NCLB, see http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherqual/guidance.doc. Additional links to more concise information on NCLB can be found at http://www.ucop.edu/math.

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