Districts depend on flexible federal grants to support student needs, report finds |
A new survey by the Association of School Business Officials International and the Title IV-A Coalition shows that school districts across 43 states across the nation rely heavily on federal Title IV-A grants to fund STEM programmes, mental health services, and classroom technology. Among more than 1,000 finance and operations leaders surveyed during the 2024-2025 school year, 56% used funds to expand STEM and computer science, 36% prioritized school-based mental health services, and 29% invested in blended learning and computer-based assessments. Some 78% cited the program’s spending flexibility as its most valuable feature, allowing districts to address gaps not covered by state or local budgets. While Congress allocated $1.38bn for fiscal year 2026, 61% of respondents said funding levels remain insufficient, prompting calls for increased support in the 2027 federal budget to meet rising student and district needs. “Title IV-A’s flexible structure recognizes that one-size-fits-all approaches don’t always work in education," commented James Rowan, CAE, SFO, CEO/Executive Director of ASBO International. "It empowers education leaders, especially in rural, underserved areas, to strategically invest funds to meet their students’ unique needs, whether by enhancing educational offerings, improving school environments, or expanding student access to digital skills and tools to help them succeed.”
