Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1994 provides children in targeted assistance schools a portion of Title I funds if other public and private sources do not meet a variety of needs including basic medical equipment; eyeglasses and hearing aids; compensation for a school-linked services coordinator; development and training for parents in identifying and meeting the comprehensive needs of their children; and professional development for teachers, pupil services personnel, and other staff.
Title XI of ESEA allows local school districts the flexibility to reallocate up to 5 percent of the funds they receive under ESEA to programs of school-linked comprehensive services. Districts must submit a separate application to use ESEA funds in this way.
The Goals 2000: Educate America Act recognizes and supports the need for a more comprehensive approach by providing resources to states and communities to develop and implement comprehensive education reforms aimed at helping all students reach challenging standards for academic achievement and occupational skills. The law addresses school readiness; school completion; competency in challenging subject matter; science and mathematics achievement; literacy; safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools; and parental participation. Goals 2000 asks states and local education agencies to create broad-based planning groups that include educators; parents; business leaders; and representatives of health, community, and human service agencies.
The Family Preservation and Support Program provides funding for states to improve the well-being of vulnerable children and their families, particularly those experiencing or at risk of abuse and neglect. States are encouraged to use the program as a catalyst for establishing a continuum of coordinated, integrated, culturally relevant, and family focused services. Activities range from preventive efforts that develop strong families to intervention services for families in crisis.
The Head Start Program, as reauthorized in 1994, funds state collaboration project grants that help build early childhood systems and access to comprehensive services as well as supports for low-income children in every state.
Even Start, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, provides federal "glue money" for local collaborative efforts to improve family literacy through early childhood education, parenting education, adult basic education, and parent-child interactions. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1994 contains provisions that suggest collaboration between Even Start, Head Start, and Title I efforts.
Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities, administered by the Department of Education, supports comprehensive strategies that include drug prevention curricula and programs linking schools and communities.
