June 15, 2018
Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants
Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants
include providing training, technical assistance, and
(also known as the “block grant” program) are authorized
capacity building to LEAs receiving program funds. It may
under Title IV-A of the Elementary and Secondary
also include identifying and eliminating state barriers
Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student
affecting the coordination and integration of programs,
Succeeds Act (ESSA; P.L. 114-95). Prior to the ESSA,
initiatives, and funding streams that meet the purposes of
several targeted grant programs were authorized under the
the SSAE Grant program to enable LEAs to coordinate
ESEA that collectively provided support for many of the
better with other agencies, schools, services, and programs.
activities that can now be supported through SSAE Grants.
Additionally, the SEA may use funds to support LEAs in
meeting the purpose of the program.
There has been substantial congressional interest in SSAE
Grants as the funds can be used for myriad purposes by
Uses of Funds by LEAs (§§4105-4110)
state educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational
After consulting with stakeholders, each LEA must submit
agencies (LEAs), providing SEAs and LEAs with flexibility
an application for funds to its SEA. In its application, the
to meet their priorities. The level of appropriations provided
LEA must describe how funds will be used. Of the funds
for SSAE Grants has also garnered congressional attention.
received by an LEA, not more than 2% may be used for
This In Focus provides an overview of key aspects of the
direct administrative costs associated with implementing
program.
the program. The remainder of the funds must be used for
three broad categories of activities: (1) supporting well-
Purpose of the Program (ESEA §4101)
rounded educational opportunities, (2) supporting safe and
The purpose of SSAE Grants is to improve students’
healthy students, and (3) supporting the effective use of
academic achievement by increasing the capacity of states,
technology. If an LEA receives a grant of $30,000 or more,
LEAs, schools, and local communities to (1) provide all
it must provide assurances that it will use at least 20% of its
students with access to a well-rounded education, (2)
grant for activities to support a well-rounded education, at
improve school conditions for student learning, and (3)
least 20% for activities to support safe and healthy students,
improve the use of technology in order to improve the
and some of its funds to support the effective use of
academic achievement and digital learning of all students.
technology. If an LEA receives a grant of less than $30,000,
it is only required to provide an assurance regarding the use
Allocation of Funds (§§4103 and 4105)
of funds for one of the three categories.
Under the SSAE Grant formula, prior to making grants to
states the Secretary of Education is required to reserve 0.5%
It is up to the LEA to determine the specific activities in
of the total appropriation for the Bureau of Indian
each category that will be implemented. For example, in the
Education, 0.5% of the total appropriation for the outlying
safe and healthy students category an LEA might choose to
areas, and 2.0% of the total appropriation for technical
focus on mentoring rather than drug and violence
assistance and capacity building. The remaining funds are
prevention. Regardless of how SEAs and LEAs choose to
then allocated by formula to each state in proportion to its
use their funds, they must be used to supplement, and not
share of all ESEA Title I-A state grants allocated during the
supplant, non-federal funds that would otherwise be
prior fiscal year with no hold harmless provisions applied.
available for activities authorized under the program. That
No state may receive less than 0.5% of the funds available
is, in general, SEAs and LEAs cannot use their SSAE funds
for grants to states. Puerto Rico may receive no more than
to pay for activities that they would have paid for using
0.5% of the funds available for grants to states.
state or local funds if there were no SSAE Grants.
After each SEA receives its grant, it may reserve up to
In reviewing LEA applications, the SEA must determine
5.0% of the funds for state activities. The remaining funds
whether an activity proposed by the LEA is an allowable
are allocated by formula to LEAs in proportion to each
use of funds under the SSAE program. The LEA must also
LEA’s share of ESEA Title I-A grants made to all LEAs in
state the program objectives and intended outcomes for
the state during the prior fiscal year with no hold harmless
activities and how it will periodically evaluate the
provisions applied. The minimum LEA grant amount is
effectiveness of such activities in meeting the objectives
$10,000, if sufficient funds are available.
and outcomes. LEAs must provide an assurance that they
will report annually to the state on how funds are being
Uses of Funds by SEAs (§4104)
used under each of the three categories.
Of the funds received by the SEA, not more than 1% may
be used for the administrative costs of implementing the
Any LEA that will receive a grant of $30,000 or more is
program, including reporting on how program funds are
required to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to
being used by LEAs. The SEA must use the remaining
examine the areas in need of improvement that focuses, at a
funds to meet the purposes of the program. This may
minimum, on the aforementioned three broad categories of
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Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants
activities. The results of the assessment should be used to
mentoring and school counseling;
select evidence-based activities, if evidence is available,
positive behavioral interventions and supports
that meet the identified needs. A needs assessment must be
(PBIS); and
conducted once every three years.
programs to support a healthy, active lifestyle.
The LEA must also provide an assurance that it will
prioritize the distribution of funds to schools based on one
Technology (§4109)
or more factors, including schools that (1) are among those
LEAs must use funds in this category to improve the use of
with the “greatest needs” as determined by the LEA, (2)
technology to improve the academic achievement,
have the highest percentage or number of formula children
academic growth, and digital literacy of all students.
(generally children from low-income families) used in the
However, no more than 15% of the program funds used for
determination of Title I-A grants, (3) are identified for
technology purposes may be used for purchasing
comprehensive support or improvement under Title I-A, (4)
technology infrastructure (e.g., equipment, software
are implementing targeted support and improvement under
applications). Examples of allowable activities include the
Title I-A, or (5) are identified as persistently dangerous
following:
public elementary or secondary schools under ESEA,
Section 8532.
professional learning tools and resources for
school staff to personalize learning and promote
Well-Rounded Education (§4107)
effective uses of technology in the classroom;
LEAs must use funds in this category to develop and
implement programs and activities that are coordinated with
technological capacity and infrastructure
other schools and community-based services and programs
development;
and may be conducted in partnership with another
delivery of specialized or rigorous academic
organization (e.g., institution of higher education (IHE),
courses through the use of technology;
business) that has a demonstrated record of success in
implementing relevant activities. Examples of allowable
blended learning projects;
activities include the following:
professional development in the use of technology
to increase student achievement in STEM areas;
college and career guidance and counseling;
and
science, technology, engineering, and math
resources for students in rural, remote, or
(STEM) programs and activities;
underserved areas to take advantage of digital
arts and music education programs and activities;
learning and online courses.
accelerated learning programs, including
Appropriations
reimbursing students for Advanced Placement
SSAE Grants are authorized at $1.65 billion for FY2017
(AP) exam fees;
and $1.6 billion per year for FY2018-FY2020. For FY2017,
programs to teach American history, civics,
program appropriations were $400 million. For FY2018,
economics, geography, or government; and
program appropriations are $1.1 billion.
programs to promote volunteerism and community
Due to congressional concerns regarding the level of
involvement.
program funding that was provided for FY2017, the
FY2017 appropriations act (P.L. 115-31) allowed states to
Safe and Healthy Students (§4108)
provide subgrants to LEAs by formula or to award LEA
The programs and activities the LEA selects to support in
subgrants of no less than $10,000 on a competitive basis.
this category must be used to develop, implement, and
Competitive grants to LEAs had to prioritize the LEAs with
evaluate comprehensive programs and activities that are
the greatest need based on their number or percentage of
coordinated with other schools and community-based
Title I-A formula children, while also ensuring geographic
services and programs; foster safe, healthy, supportive, and
diversity among grantees. States were required to make
drug-free environments that support student academic
competitive awards that, in the aggregate, reflected the
achievement; promote parent involvement in the activity or
required distribution of funds among the three categories of
program; and may be conducted in partnership with another
activities (e.g., 20% for well-rounded education). LEAs
organization (e.g., IHE, private entity) that has a
receiving competitive grants of $30,000 or more were not,
demonstrated record of successful implementation of
however, required to meet the distributional requirements
relevant activities. Examples of allowable activities include
by category. LEAs receiving a competitive grant only for
the following:
technology could use up to 25% of the funds for purchasing
technology infrastructure.
drug and violence prevention programs and
activities;
Rebecca R. Skinner, Specialist in Education Policy
school-based mental health services;
IF10910
bullying and harassment prevention programs and
activities;
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Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) Grants
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