Title II, Part ADon't scrap it, don't dilute it, fix it

Washington is taking a close look at Title II, Part A (Title IIA) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as Congress debates reauthorization. Although state, district, and school leaders may use these funds on a long list of permissible activities, most districts spend the bulk of their Title IIA dollars on professional development and class-size reduction. This brief lays out what Title IIA is and what it could be, and points to some district and school leaders who are figuring it out for the rest of us. The authors recommend that Congress redefine professional development and reengineer Title IIA to focus strictly on continuous performance improvementof people and organizationswhile keeping implementation flexible. A new Title IIA would make certain that state, district, and school leaders have the capacity required to manage professional development activities and resources more effectively to achieve Title II's vital student achievement goals.