Introduction

Pursuant to SB 1847 Section 111 B., the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) will award a competitive grant of $250,000 through the Wrestling Appropriation Fund to a single Arizona high school that offers instruction to grades 6-12 and incorporates wrestling into its mission.

For more information, please email the Title IV-A inbox at [email protected]

For questions regarding Grants Management please contact: (602) 542-3901 | https://helpdeskexternal.azed.gov

Legislative House Bill 2395 (HB2395) Establishes the Arizona School Fitness Program in the Arizona Department of Education to recognize public schools participating in a nationally recognized physical fitness test or event through the the AZ School Report Cards system as part of their annual school reporting. 

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-249.20, to read:
15-249.20. Arizona school fitness program; school report cards states:

A. The Arizona School Fitness Program is established in the Department of Education to recognize public schools that elect to participate in a nationally recognized physical fitness test or event. The department shall develop guidelines and identify best practices and resources for schools that participate in the program.

B. A school that elects to participate in the program established by subsection A of this section may include the Arizona School Fitness Program designation in the school report card required by section 15-746.

The 9th Grade On Track Grant is a multi-year grant designed to provide funding to local education agencies and charter schools to improve the ninth-grade student experience to ensure that students enrolled in ninth grade develop the skills they need to successfully proceed to the tenth grade on time and ultimately graduate from high school and launch successful careers. Applicants commit to implementing the key components of the 9th Grade Success model and should use funds to support implementation in four broad categories:

• Highly Effective 9th Grade Success Teams
• Proactive & Data Driven Interventions Based on Timely, Actionable Data
• High Quality Instruction
• Comprehensive System of 9th Grade Transition Supports

Applications will be completed in the GME (Grants Management Enterprise) Website.

Program Questions: [email protected]

Grants Management Questions: https://helpdesk.azed.gov or call (602) 542-3901

Eligible Applicants

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are eligible to apply for this opportunity and will identify the school(s) that will participate (maximum of 3,500 students per LEA). Available grant funding will be granted for complete applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Districts with an in-person 9th-grade class with a graduation rate. (AOI students are excluded from the 9th Grade On Track grant.)
• District applications include a partnership with an organization that has at least five years of experience providing 9th grade on-track programs and services to school districts and charter schools to increase grade nine on-track rates.

Governing Body Approval: Each grant application has an uploaded "Intent to Apply" approved by a majority vote of the school district governing board or charter school governing body.

To learn more, please review the 9th Grade On Track Grant Guidance - Yr 1 Competitive.

Title IV-A in School Support and Improvement will provide focus, coordination, research, and leadership to assist local education agencies in implementing efforts to reduce the dropout rate, increase graduation and completion rates related to the goals of the 9th Grade On Track Grant Program.

Eligible Applicants (Years 2-5)

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are eligible for 9th Grade On Track Grant Funding years 2-5 if they have a Director-Approved Year 1 application in the performance period AND continue to meet the grant eligibility and participation requirements, as follows:

• Districts with an in-person 9th grade class with a 4-year graduation rate. (AOI students are excluded from the 9th Grade On Track grant.)
• District applications include a partnership with an organization that has at least five years of experience providing 9th grade on-track programs and services to school districts and charter schools to increase grade nine on-track rates.

To remain eligible for continued funding throughout the duration of the five-year grant cycle, programs must maintain Substantial Compliance, including timely submission of required applications and reports, adherence to state requirements, and demonstration of satisfactory program performance as evaluated by ADE's Title IV-A program office.

• Submit the Completion Report for Year 1 (or the most recent prior year) requesting carryover amount.
• Application: the current year application may be submitted prior to the project period start date.
• Submit an updated budget for the current year. Explain any significant budget adjustments in the budget narrative.
• Update the progress on the program goals using the 9th Grade Success Grant Program Evaluation found in Related Documents.

To learn more, please review the 9th Grade On Track Grant Guidance - Yrs 2-5 Entitlement.

In July 2026, the Title IV-A team hosted the Funding for the Future: Title IV-A Leadership Workshop, bringing together federal programs directors, district leaders, school leaders, and other education professionals from across Arizona to strengthen their knowledge and application of the ESSA Title IV, Part A grant.

The workshop provided professional learning opportunities aligned to the three Title IV-A content areas: Well-Rounded Education, Safe and Healthy Students, and the Effective Use of Technology. Participants selected from a variety of sessions focused on topics such as Arts Education, School Safety and Security, Title IV-A Grant Evaluation and Monitoring, and innovative strategies for supporting student success.

We appreciate everyone who attended and contributed to the success of this event. Workshop presentation materials are available below for continued learning and reference.

Workshop Presentations

Artistic Literacy in Action- Kelly Montaño

Arts and PE Data- Dr. Russel Potter

Beyond Proficiency: Using Data to Fund Advanced Learning- On Purpose- Catherine Oliver

Effective Use of Technology: Fundable Programs- Keri Schoeff

Exploring Allowability of the Title IV-A Grant- Keri Schoeff

Planning, Writing and Evaluating Your Student Enrichment Programs- Keri Schoeff

Show Me the Money A Guide to Funding Your Artistic Endeavors- Kelly Montaño

 

 

 

The Office of Arts Education is pleased to announce the upcoming statewide arts festival in celebration of Youth Arts Month on March 31st, 2026. ADE YAM Fest will take place at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, just outside the Arizona Capitol Building beginning at 9 am. This public event will feature performances and artwork by students across the state. ADE YAM Fest aims to highlight the positive impact of arts education, showcasing the creativity and skill of Arizona’s young artists. In addition, there is potential for visits by state legislators, who will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the remarkable talents and passion of our students.  

Festival Schedule – March 31, 2026

Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza - 1700 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007

9:00am – Opening Ceremony with Introduction by Superintendent Tom Horne, Visual Arts Gallery open

9:30am – Dobson High School Cantus Concert Choir

10:00am – North Valley Christian Academy Performance Dance & Theatre

10:30am – North Valley Christian Academy Orchestra & Heavenly Harmonies Choir

11:00am – Buena High School Milk Carton Improv

11:30am – Arizona All-State Dance Ensemble

12:30pm – Chandler High School Modazz Dance Company

1:00pm – Gilbert Classical Academy Apollo Quintet

1:30pm – Quechan Xuumar Akuuts Youth Leadership

2:00pm – River Tribes United Dance group, Mohave Bird Dance group – CRIT

2:30pm – Visual Art Gallery closed

Activities at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza 

YAM Fest is open to the public! All are welcome to celebrate Arizona arts education by supporting the student performers, viewing the visual art gallery, and enjoying the food trucks. While on site, attendees may enjoy learning about Arizona history by taking a Self-Guided Tour of Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza or perusing the Arizona State Capitol Museum for free from 9am-4pm. Guided Tours may be reserved on a first come, first served basis. 

YAM Fest Submissions

Submissions for 2026 YAM Fest are closed. District, private and charter school staff are encouraged to submit a visual art piece or performance ensemble when submission forms open for next year's festival. Submissions must be made by school personnel on behalf of student artists in grades 7-12 or performers in grades 9-12. All entries will be reviewed by the ADE Office of Arts Education. Please review the information and requirements for the different types of submissions below. 

Submission Timeline

• Submission forms open – Oct. 30, 2025  
• Performance ensemble selectees notified - Dec. 17, 2025 
• Visual Art Submission Form closed - Feb. 5, 2026 
• Visual art selectees notified - Feb. 21, 2026  

Submission Information and Requirements

Content Requirements

YAM Fest will be open to the public and may be attended by state legislators, community members, and students from other high schools. As such, all YAM Fest performances and artwork must be appropriate for an ADE-hosted event and suitable for family viewing and listening. This applies to visual art content, costuming, choreography, and music selection. Please exercise caution when making selections. Inappropriate content may include, but is not limited to: 

• imagery or movement that is vulgar, profane, controversial, or suggestive 
• imagery or movement displaying acts of violence  
• imagery or music containing words unsuitable for family viewing and listening, including but not limited to, profanity, vulgarity, reference to sexual acts, drugs, and/or violent acts 

Costuming must be well-secured and appropriate for a family-friendly environment, with no visible undergarments. 

Performance Ensemble Submission Form Visual Art Submission Form

Thank you for your support of arts education in Arizona. Together, we can create a vibrant and thriving arts community in our state.  

The resources in this section of the ADE Website refer to Effective Use of Technology (EUT) as defined by the Title IV-A section of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The purpose of this program is to provide support to schools and local education agencies (LEA's) in improving the use of technology to improve the academic achievement, academic growth, and digital literacy of all students. ESSA Sec. 4109(a)

Title IV-A publishes annual reports detailing the accomplishments the Title IV-A team has made toward achieving the objectives for the year including analysis of the state’s use of funds and the local educational agency’s (LEA’s) progress in meeting statutory obligations. 

To be eligible to receive an allocation under the Title IV-A Student Support & Academic Enrichment grant, a local educational agency (LEA) must have received Title I-A funding through an application approved in the prior school year.

Consortiums: LEAs may choose to submit an application as part of a consortium. LEAs seeking to use this option must contact [email protected] for the next steps. Reference: ESSA Sec. 4105 [20 U.S.C. 7115]

FY26 Transferability Guidance

Transferability for ESEA Consolidated grants will be unavailable until 7/1/25 to allow for Maintenance of Effort compliance.

• For LEAs that intend to transfer their full or partial amounts for Title II and Title IV-A, the transfer window will open for three weeks from the date that transfer activity is available in GME.
• All LEAs must have a submitted application turned in on or before Monday, August 18th.
• All LEAs must have received Director Approval for all grants in the ESEA Consolidated application on or before Monday, September 29th. Failure to receive Director Approval by September 29th will result in a forfeiture of funds.

Under the ESEA, LEAs may transfer funds they receive by formula under certain programs to other programs to better address State and local needs. The ESSA amended the transferability authority by changing the programs from and to which an LEA may transfer funds and removing limits on the amount of funds that may be transferred.
This guidance addresses those changes. Except as provided in this guidance, the Guidance on the Transferability Authority remains applicable.
 

PROGRAMS TO WHICH A LEA MAY TRANSFER TITLE IV-A FUNDS

• Title I, Part A     Improving basic programs operated by LEAs
• Title I, Part C     Education of migratory children
• Title I, Part D     Prevention and intervention programs for children and youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk
• Title II, Part A    Supporting effective Instruction state grants
• Title III, Part A   State grants for English language acquisition and language enhancement
• Title IV, Part A   Student support and academic enrichment grants
• Title V, Part B    Rural education (ESEA section 5103(b)). LEAs seeking to use this option must contact Title IV-A staff for the next steps on how to leverage this flexibility.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Is there a limit on the amount of funds an LEA may transfer? No. An LEA may transfer all or a portion of funds it receives under each of the programs listed under T-1, p.39.

2. May an LEA transfer only those funds that are to be used for equitable services to private school students or teachers? No. An LEA may not transfer funds to a particular program solely to provide equitable services for private school students or teachers. Rather, an LEA, after consulting with appropriate private school officials, must provide equitable services to private school students and teachers based on the rules of each program and the total amount of funds available to each program after a transfer. (See ESEA section 5103(e).)

3. What are the responsibilities of an LEA for the provision of equitable services to private school children and teachers with respect to funds being transferred? Excluding Title I, Part D, and Title V, Part B, each program covered by the transferability authority is subject to the equitable services requirements under Title I or VIII, which may not be waived. (ESEA section 8401(c)(5).) Before an LEA may transfer funds from a program subject to equitable services requirements, it must engage in timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials. (ESEA section 5103(e)(2).) With respect to the transferred funds, the LEA must provide private school students and teachers equitable services under the program(s) to which, and from which, the funds are transferred, based on the total amount of funds available to each program after the transfer.

Title IV-A funds are designed to provide “…programs and activities to support well-rounded educational experiences to all students.” (Section 4104 State Use of Funds – SSAEG – Title IV, Part A). The law stipulates that students' well-rounded education is a civil right and that such activities must be made available to all students. It is best practice to analyze the needs of your LEA through the lens of Title IV-A prior to transferring funds.

How do I transfer funds once the transfer window has opened?

1.    Open the ESEA Consolidated Application
2.    Click on Allocations
3.    Scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you will see all of your LEAs grants
4.    Determine the amount of Title IV money you wish to transfer and to which location(s) (e.g., Title I, Title II, etc)
5.    On the “From Title IV-A” line, enter the amount you wish to transfer under your intended grant. Once you save & continue, you’ll see that amount deducted from the Title IV-A column and the same amount added to the other funding total.
6.    Save and continue
7.    Complete the Transferability Section of the application
8.    Finally, amend the transferred funds to the funding source you choose and update your IAPs to reflect budgeted expenditures for all funding sources.  Note: Approved funds transferred to Title I may not be transferred again later in the year.

Title IV-A Allocations

Title IV-A allocations for LEAs are calculated by formula, based on the proportion of those LEAs’ prior year’s Title I, Part A allocation. SEAs are further required to ensure no LEA receives an allocation less than $10,000 (minus any required Maintenance of Effort reductions), and must ratably reduce LEAs accordingly to ensure the minimum amount requirement is met.

Preliminary Allocations

FY25 Title IV-A Allocations Preliminary

Final Allocations

FY23 Title IV-A Allocations Final

FY22 Title IV-A Allocations Final

FY21 Title IV-A Allocations Final

FY20  Title IV-A Allocations Final

FY19 Title IV-A Allocations Final

Reference: Subgranting FY2017 Title IV-A Funds to LEAs: Questions and Answers

Public View of Approved ESEA Applications

State & Federal Grants