Title II, Part A · ESSA funding guide
Title II Professional Development
How Title II, Part A funds work under ESSA, and how schools and districts use them for evidence-based, job-embedded teacher professional development.
Learn the guidelines, get answers to common questions, and see how Model Teaching's online PD courses fit Title II requirements at a price that stretches your budget.
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Title II, Part A
Improving teacher quality through professional development
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) made significant changes to how Title II funding is applied to teacher and educator professional development. The guidelines bring a greater focus on teaching excellence while giving states, education departments, districts, and schools more authority to decide what their students need.
ESSA removed some of the accountability and punitive standards prescribed under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), expanded the allowable use of Title II funds to teachers of every subject, and renewed the focus on job-embedded, evidence-based, classroom-oriented activities. The sections below summarize the key changes to Title II professional development guidelines under ESSA.
What changed
Expanded definition and use of Title II funds for professional development
The most recent Title II guidelines change both the definition of professional development and how Title II funds can pay for professional development activities for teachers and educators. Key changes include:
Personalized and job-embedded
Professional development that is personalized and includes ongoing, job-embedded activities that help educators become more effective and apply what they learn to improve instructional practice.
All educators, not just core subjects
Allowable use of funds expanded to all teachers, staff, school leadership, and paraprofessionals such as teaching assistants, instructional support personnel, interventionists, and any educator who works directly with Title I children.
Collaborative, data-driven, and evaluated
Professional development can be collaborative, data-driven, and classroom-focused, and should be regularly evaluated for effectiveness using multiple measures such as classroom observations.
Part of school improvement
Title II professional development can support broader school improvement efforts, with a larger share of improvement funds going to teacher improvement, including Title I school improvement funds used for PD and for recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers.
School leadership included
Funding now includes professional development, recruitment, and support for school leaders and principals.
Educators have a voice
Increased requirement for educators to take part in decision-making about professional development and other school improvement programs.
How Model Teaching helps
Make your Title II dollars go further
Our online courses are built the way Title II expects professional development to work: evidence-based, classroom-focused, and job-embedded. Every course ends with an actionable plan teachers can implement in their own classroom.
- Teachers choose their own courses from our full PD menu, so training matches each classroom's needs.
- Self-paced and 100% online. Teachers work independently or take the same course together as a PLC or group.
- Administrator dashboards track every teacher's progress, completions, and certificates for your Title II reporting.
- Discounted school and district pricing. We accept POs and complete any vendor documentation your business office needs.
- Live support for teachers and administrators from enrollment to certificate.
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Side by side
Changes to Title II professional development guidelines: ESSA vs. NCLB
Under NCLB
Requires state departments of education to provide scientifically-based professional development for teachers in core academic subjects.
Under ESSA
Replaces "scientifically based" with "evidence based": strategies must be backed by evidence, not theory, including a methodology supported by at least one study. Expands Title II PD funding to educators in all subjects, not just core academic subjects, covering 17 subject areas.
Under NCLB
Designates professional development as activities that increase teachers' knowledge in the subjects they teach, make them more qualified in their content area, and build general instructional strategies.
Under ESSA
Maintains this standard and adds a requirement for ongoing, job-embedded, and classroom-focused activities. Broadens it to include collaborative, data-driven plans shaped by input from teachers and educators.
Under NCLB
Requires 100% of teachers in core academic subjects to be "highly qualified": a bachelor's degree, demonstrated subject-matter expertise, certification in the subject taught, and subject-matter tests for new teachers.
Under ESSA
Eliminates the "highly qualified" requirement. Maintains that all programs must ensure teachers and paraprofessionals meet state certification and license requirements.
Under NCLB
Requires schools using Title II funds to prepare, support, and retain qualified teachers and principals. The allocation formula weights 35% on the state's school-age population and 65% on school-age population living in poverty.
Under ESSA
Expands the use of Title II funds for alternate certification and training routes and adds a focus on school leadership training and retention. Updates the allocation formula to 20% school-age population and 80% school-age population living in poverty.
Title II, Part A
State grants
The main source of Title II funding to states. Covers teacher training, retention, evaluation systems, and the activities listed below. Part A is where most school and district professional development is funded.
Title II, Part B
National activities
Far-reaching national programs including the Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program, Literacy Education for All, American History and Civics Education, and other programs of national significance.
Allowable uses
How can Title II, Part A state grants be used?
Most Title II funding flows through state grants. States pass these funds to school districts for four broad kinds of work:
Educator pipeline and retention
- Teacher licensing, preparation, and evaluation
- Certification and licensure, including alternate certification routes
- Improving teacher and school performance, recruitment, and retention
Instruction, data, and STEM
- Technology integration and better use of classroom data
- Formative and in-classroom assessment
- Professional development centered on STEM education
Student and family support
- ESL, early childhood, and students with disabilities
- Trauma, mental health, and at-risk student training
- Increasing family engagement
Leadership and readiness
- Support for principals and school leaders
- Post-secondary readiness and 21st-century skills
- Other evidence-based programs that improve educator effectiveness
Districts may also fund other evidence-based training or programs designed to improve educator effectiveness. Check with your federal programs office to confirm local eligibility.
Questions answered
Title II professional development FAQs
For a full listing, see the ESSA transition FAQ document (PDF).
Where can I find a full copy of the ESSA guidelines?
How has the definition of professional development changed under Title II ESSA?
What are the new requirements for Title II professional development programs?
How have educator evaluations changed under Title II with ESSA?
Can Title II funds be used for online professional development courses?
Can teachers choose their own Title II professional development?
Go deeper
Helpful Title II professional development resources for educators
Non-Regulatory Guidance: Using Evidence to Strengthen Education Investments
U.S. Department of Education, September 16, 2016
Read more →Non-Regulatory Guidance for Title II, Part A: Building Systems of Support for Excellent Teaching and Leading
U.S. Department of Education, September 27, 2016
Read more →The Every Student Succeeds Act: Supporting Educators with Professional Development in Title II of ESSA
Megan Wolfe, Government Relations Manager. ASCD webinar
Title II: Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers and Principals
U.S. Department of Education. Part A, Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund, Sec. 2101
Read more →ASCD: Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Frequently Asked Questions
ESSA implementation resources for educators
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