The purpose of the Title IV-A Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant is to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of States, local educational agencies, schools, and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, improve school conditions for student learning, and improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.
Section 4101
Ensuring all students have access to a holistic well-rounded education is central to the shared work across programs in ESSA. Allowable uses of funds for the SSAE program under each of the three content areas may include but not limited to: direct services for students, professional development for teachers and administrators, salaries of personnel to carry out identified programs and services, and supplemental educational resources and equipment.
A Local Educational Agency (LEA) that receives at least $30,000 in SSAE program funds must conduct a comprehensive needs assessment that includes, at a minimum, a focus on the three content areas identified above.
Section 4106(d)
Based on the results of that assessment, the LEA must use:
Supplement not Supplant Requirement
SSAE program funds shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under the SSAE program.
Section 4110
Special Rule
LEAs shall not use more than 15 percent of funds for purchasing technology infrastructure which shall include technology infrastructure purchased for the activities under Section 4109(a)(4)(A) (development of new instructional models- including blended learning technology software and platforms, digital instructional resources, initial Professional Development (PD) activities, other one-time Information Technology(IT) purchases).
Section 4109(b)
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