Program monitoring involves the regular and systematic examination of program implementation and administration. Monitoring of Title I, Part D-funded programs is conducted to ensure compliance with applicable State and Federal laws, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended in 2001. Monitoring reviews occur at three levels:
- The U.S. Department of Education (ED) monitors State education agencies (SEAs) that receive funds (Federal monitoring);
- SEAs monitor their State agency (SA) and local education agency (LEA) subgrantees (subgrantee monitoring); and
- Subgrantees monitor the facilities and/or programs to which they allocate funds (facility monitoring).
By monitoring Title I, Part D, programs for compliance, administrators can ensure that students who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk receive a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Monitoring also provides a mechanism for collecting information about State and local needs, so that administrators can target assistance and other resources more effectively.
This page provides resources and tools that Title I, Part D, coordinators at every level of program administration can use to prepare for Federal and subgrantee monitoring.
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Federal Monitoring
The Student Achievement and School Accountability Programs Office (SASA) within ED monitors a State’s Title I, Part D, program, along with other Title I programs. During these reviews, SASA examines the State’s Part D program against a set of consistent, program-specific criteria, or “indicators,” that focus on three areas: (1) standards, assessment, and accountability; (2) instructional support; and (3) fiduciary.
A Guide to Meeting Compliance Requirements for the Title I, Part D, Program
NDTAC designed this guide to help Title I, Part D, State coordinators prepare for a Federal monitoring review. The guide includes practical tips that coordinators can use to meet compliance requirements for the Title I, Part D, program.
The guide can be downloaded in full or as separate sections:
- Download the full guide (PDF)
- Download Section 1: Title I, Part D, Monitoring Basics (PDF)
- Download Section 2: Analyses of Title I, Part D, Federal Monitoring Reviews (PDF)
- Download Section 3: Tips on Preparing for a Monitoring Review (PDF)
- Download the appendices (PDF)
Added November 2009
Title I, Part D, State Coordinator’s Orientation Handbook (PDF)
Designed primarily for new State Part D coordinators, this handbook addresses questions about planning, funding, monitoring, and reporting. Information about Federal monitoring begins on page 14.
Added September 2008
Review the complete listing of the Federal monitoring indicators and requirements. Indicators for Title I, Part D, begin on page 74.
Released August 19, 2009
SASA Federal Monitoring Reports
View past monitoring results in your State.
The Consent Decree Experience: Interview with GA DJJ
Learn how the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (GA DJJ) achieved its goal of Federal compliance in education after coming under a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice in 1997.
Added December 2005
Related Links
- Go to the Title I Program Monitoring Web Page.
- Review the Title I, Part D, program purpose.
- Refer to Section 80.40(e) of EDGAR (PDF), which allows ED to make site visits as warranted by program needs.
- View the NDTAC Monitoring Webinar.
Coming soon!
Subgrantee monitoring
Similar to ED, SEAs are required to monitor SA and LEA subgrantee’s implementation of Title I, Part D-funded programs per the statute and regulations. SEAs must implement a monitoring process that involves conducting reviews on a set schedule and developing related monitoring protocols and tools. In turn, SAs and LEAs are responsible for monitoring the facilities or institutions to which they distribute funding.
Subgrantee Monitoring—How do States Monitor Their SAs and LEAs? (December 2005)
During this Webinar, administrators from Pennsylvania and Alabama shared their processes for monitoring SA and LEA subgrantees. This provided a great opportunity to hear what others in the field are doing in relation to monitoring.
Title I, Part D, State Coordinator's Orientation Handbook (PDF)
Designed primarily for new State Part D coordinators, this handbook addresses questions about planning, funding, monitoring, and reporting. Information about subgrantee monitoring begins on page 16.
Added September 2008
Document Listing for a Title I, Part D, Program Monitoring Visit (PDF)
Use this checklist to review documents that are often requested of LEAs during a State monitoring visit.
Added April 2007
Related Links
- Review the Title I, Part D, program purpose.
- Read about SEA monitoring requirements for SAs under Subpart 1 in Sections F-1 and G-11 of the Title I, Part D, Nonregulatory Guidance.
- Read about SEA monitoring requirements for LEAs under Subpart 2 in Section Q of the Title I, Part D, Nonregulatory Guidance.
- Contact your NDTAC State Liaison for samples of State subgrantee monitoring tools and protocols.
Last Updated November 2009

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National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk