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Title IV, Part A - Capacity Building Initiative

Well-Rounded Education Home

Well-Rounded Education

One purpose of T4PA is to provide all students access to an enriched curriculum and educational experiences, activities, and programming in subjects such as English, reading or language arts, writing, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, geography, computer science, music, career and technical education, health, physical education, and any other locally or state determined subjects.

For an LEA that receives at least $30,000, use no less than 20% of funds to develop and implement programs and activities that support access to a well-rounded education and that—

  • are coordinated with other schools and community-based services and programs;
  • may be conducted in partnership with an institution of higher education, business, nonprofit organization, community-based organization, or other public or private entity with a demonstrated record of success in implementing activities; and
  • may include one or more activities or programs that provide well-rounded educational opportunities to all students. 

 

A local or state mandate requiring schools to provide these services would raise the presumption that use of these funds would violate the Supplement, not Supplant requirement and thus would not be allowable.  – US Dept. of Education (3/2023)

 

Call To Action

Three boys are standing outside. They are smiling and laughing.

Four children gather around a laptop, looking at the screen together.
A group of young athletes run indoors, focused on their training.
Four people sit around a wooden table, engaged in conversation outdoors.
A team of athletes celebrates a victory, raising their arms in triumph.
A group of people, including children, are gathered around a table.
Swimmers compete in a pool, propelling themselves forward with powerful strokes.

Examples of Title IV, Part A activities include:

  • Use music and the arts to support student success in Integrated Arts

  • Provide college and career guidance/counseling

  • Improve student engagement and instruction in STEM

  • Raise student achievement through accelerated learning programs—programs and/or exams that provide opportunities for students to earn post-secondary credit while in high school (dual credit, concurrent enrollment, Early College High Schools, AP and AP exams)

  • Promote American history, civics, economics, geography, and government

  • Provide foreign language instruction

  • Promote volunteerism

  • Integrate multiple disciplines

  • Social emotional learning (SEL)

State Requirements with Potential Supplant Implications

19 TAC Chapter 74

19 TAC Chapter 74 outlines the curriculum and graduation requirements for Texas public schools. Managed by the Texas Education Agency, it mandates the essential knowledge and skills students must master, establishes the Foundation High School Program, and defines college and career readiness standards.

  • Subchapter A (Required Curriculum)
  • Subchapter B (Graduation Requirements)
  • Subchapters C, F & G (Other Provisions & Graduation Scales)
  • Subchapters AA - DD (Commissioner's Rules)

 

View 19 TAC Chapter 74

 

 

State requirements in this content area have been provided so that LEAs know what the mandate is that they must meet, in order to determine how they choose to go above and beyond with their T4PA funds. 

TEA Required Curriculum

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) webpage outlines the state-mandated "Required Curriculum," which explicitly requires school districts to provide instruction in both Foundation subjects (ELA, math, science, social studies) and Enrichment subjects (fine arts, health, physical education, LOTE, CTE, and technology applications).

Because Texas law already mandates that districts deliver instruction in these well-rounded subject areas using state or local funds, using federal Title IV, Part A funds to cover baseline costs for these required courses would constitute a supplanting violation. Therefore, school districts must ensure Title IV, Part A funds are used strictly to supplement, expand, or enhance well-rounded educational opportunities beyond state-required minimums.

 

TEA Subject Areas webpage