Title II-A

Title II, Part A was originally authorized as Eisenhower Professional Development and the Class Size Reduction programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, was reauthorized in 2001 by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and in 2015 by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). While ESSA was authorized in December of 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 extended the date by which certain parts of the Act would be effective. ESSA is in full effect as of July 1, 2017. Further guidance has been provided by USDE in the form of Dear Colleague Letters and FAQs. In 2012 USDE allowed SEAs to submit Flexibility Waivers, per these FAQs all flexibility requests are null and void as of August 1, 2016.

The purpose of the Title II, Part A program is

to increase student achievement consistent with challenging State academic standards,
to improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals and other school leaders,
to increase the number of teachers, principals and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools, and
to provide low-income and minority student greater access to effective of teachers, principals and other school leaders.

In general, this grant focuses on professional learning and the recruitment and retention of highly effective teachers and leaders, particularly in low-income schools with high percentages of ineffective teachers and high percentages of students who do not meet challenging state academic standards. This grant emphasizes the need to ensure that minority and low-income students greater access to effective teachers, principals and other school leaders.

In accordance with Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, all school systems are required to notify parents at the beginning of each school year of their ‘Right to Know’ the professional qualifications of their student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals. See "Sample Right to Know" below.

In compliance with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents may request the following information:

Whether the student’s teacher—

has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and,
is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.
Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications

ALSO, In Georgia, in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, all schools/programs are required to provide timely notice to parents when students have been assigned or taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet applicable state certification or licensure requirements (including professional qualifications developed by the LEA in alignment with an approved charter or strategic waiver application) at the grade level and subject level in which the teacher has been assigned. ESSA Sec. 1112 (e)(1)(B)(ii) In Georgia, notification requirements apply to all teachers in all LEA schools/programs. Notifications must be made within ten business days following the four consecutive weeks. See "SAMPLE 20 Day Notification Guidance" below.