D. Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs

Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs (AITQP) administers a portfolio of formula and discretionary grant programs that total over $4.5 billion per year. These programs, authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, include the following:

• Improving Teacher Quality State Grants (ESEA Title II, Part A)
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (ESEA Title IV, Part B)
• Comprehensive School Reform (ESEA Title I, Part F), including the National Clearinghouse on Comprehensive School Reform
• Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (ESEA Title I, Part B, Subpart 4)
• Mathematics and Science Partnerships (ESEA Title II, Part B) and Mathematics and Science Initiative
• Native Hawaiian Education (ESEA Title VII, Part B)
• Alaska Native Education (ESEA Title VII, Part C)
• Javits Gifted and Talented
• High School Initiative
• Smaller Learning Communities
• Dropout Prevention
• Advanced Placement
• Reading First
• Striving Readers.

These programs provide financial assistance to State and local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, community and faith-based organizations, and other entities for activities focused on the improvement of student achievement. AITQ programs improve student achievement through a variety of strategies designed to: recruit and retain a high-quality teaching staff for America’s schools; strengthen the quality of elementary and secondary education, including through after-school programs; validate and disseminate information on new approaches for improving educational results; and provide high-quality educational opportunities to at-risk students, such as Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native children and youth. In addition, the Reading First and Striving Readers programs, in cooperation with other principal offices, provide coordination and guidance for the Department’s reading initiatives.

The administration of these programs includes the development of legislative proposals; the formulation of regulations, non-regulatory guidance, and policies; the formulation of program and operational budgets; the establishment of management goals and priorities; the provision of leadership and technical assistance to the education community on issues addressed by the programs (including through partnerships with private foundations and other non-governmental entities); the design and conduct of grant competitions; program monitoring; and technical assistance and guidance to grant recipients to promote program success and ensure compliance with statutory requirements.

AITQ is headed by a Director who reports directly to the Assistant Secretary and/or a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education and advises the Assistant Secretary, Deputy Assistant Secretaries, and other top officials of the Department on policy and administrative issues related to programs in the office.

AITQ is divided into three Groups:

Academic Improvement Group is responsible for the management of State-administered grants and discretionary grants that support services offered during school hours as well as non-school hours to students and their families for academic improvement. The programs included in this group are the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Improving Literacy Through School Libraries, Alaska Native Education Program, and Native Hawaiian Education Program. This Group is responsible for the development and recommendation of policy that affects these grant programs.

High School Group is responsible for the management of program and initiatives focuses on improving the high school curriculum.  In particular, this Group administers the high school initiative, Dropout Prevention, Smaller Learning Communities, Striving Readers, and Advanced Placement.

Teacher Quality Group is responsible for the management of State-administered and discretionary grants that are focused on improving the content-knowledge and pedagogical skills of America’s current and prospective teaching force.  This Group will accomplish this by elevating teacher and principal quality, improving the mathematics and science knowledge of teachers, improving teachers’ knowledge of issues related to the education of gifted and talented children, and improving teacher and principal ability to manage and instruct in a comprehensive school setting.   In particular, this group will administer the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants, Mathematics and Science Partnerships, Mathematics and Science Initiative, Reading First, Javits Gifted and Talented, and Comprehensive School Reform programs, as well as monitor nationwide progress in meeting the highly qualified teacher challenge of the No Child Left Behind Act.

In administering its assigned programs, AITQ establishes cooperative relationships with other Departmental Principal Offices and with other Federal agencies and governmental and nongovernmental organizations as appropriate.  For example, AITQ administers the Mathematics and Science Partnerships program cooperatively with the National Science Foundation and carries out joint activities in support of 21st Century Community Learning Centers with one or more private foundations.  Administration of the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants program involves frequent interaction with other offices in the Department that administer programs that train and provide professional development to teachers.