The ESEA contains 45 separately authorized programs, plus approximately 20 specified sub-programs. The methods by which federal funds are provided to grantees under these programs fall into five general categories:
programs under which federal funds are allocated by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to states, as well as to all or most LEAs via one or more formulas specified in the ESEA (example: ESEA Title I, Part A, Education for the Disadvantaged); programs under which federal funds are allocated by ED to states via a statutory formula, while state educational agencies (SEAs) suballocate these funds either on a competitive or discretionary basis, or via a state-developed allocation formula consistent with general statutory guidance (example: ESEA Title IV, Part B, 21 st Century Community Learning Centers); programs under which federal funds are allocated by ED directly to LEAs via formulas specified in the ESEA (example: ESEA Title VIII, Impact Aid); programs under which federal funds are allocated by ED to state and/or local grantees on a competitive or discretionary basis (example: ESEA Title V, Part D, Subpart 6, Gifted and Talented Students); and programs under which federal funds are allocated by ED to a single eligible grantee specified in the ESEA (example: ESEA Title II, Part C, Subpart 2, National Writing Project). They take the form of mathematical equations through which ED, and possibly also SEAs, calculate specific grant amounts for each potential grantee meeting statutory eligibility criteria. They almost always include one or more population factors, but typically include a number of additional factors. This report will be updated infrequently, when major changes occur in ESEA program allocation formulas. As illustrated in Table 1 , the recipients of a majority of the funds under almost all ESEA formula grant programs are LEAs. Under most of these programs, grants are provided to LEAs via SEAs: that is, they are "state-administered formula grant" programs. Funds are allocated by ED directly to LEAs only under a limited number of ESEA programs. As listed in Table 3 , there are five ESEA programs under which grants are made, in part or in full, on the basis of LEA grants calculated under Title I, Part A. A few programs have only one, but not both of these fiscal accountability provisions. Eligibility Threshold. The Secretary may also reserve funds for research. Expenditure Factor. Population Factor. LEA Minimum Grant. Expenditure Factor. As seen in Table 13 , the share of public K-12 education revenues that is provided under ESEA programs varies substantially among the states, although ESEA funding constitutes only approximately one-tenth or less of total public K-12 education revenues in all cases except Puerto Rico. This variation results largely from 3 factors: the varying impact of "caps" placed on state minimums under the Title I-A allocation formulas; variations in school-age child poverty rates (a higher poverty rate is associated with higher grants per school-age child but, at least in the smallest states, lower grants per school-age child from a poor family); and the eligibility of Alaska for substantial funds under Titles VII and VIII. Thus, the smallest states receive approximately 1.7 times as much as the remaining states per school-age child, and approximately 2.2 times as much per school-age child from a poor family. First, the average grant per school-age child increases as the state average poverty rate rises, from $309 per child for low poverty states to $363 for states in the middle range to $445 for high poverty states, 1.44 times as much as for low poverty states. At the same time, an opposite trend is found in average grants per school-age child in a poor family.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) contains 45 separately authorized programs, plus approximately 20 specified sub-programs. The largest of these programs distribute funds by formulas that prescribe how funds are to be allocated among state educational agencies (SEAs) or local educational agencies (LEAs) nationwide. They take the form of mathematical equations through which the U.S. Department of Education (ED), and in many cases also SEAs, calculate grant amounts for each potential grantee meeting statutory eligibility criteria. They almost always include one or more population factors and may also include state or LEA minimum grant provisions, eligibility thresholds, expenditure factors, fiscal accountability provisions, and reservations of funds for a variety of purposes.
The recipients of a majority of the funds under almost all ESEA formula grant programs are LEAs. Under most of these programs, grants are provided to LEAs via SEAs: that is, they are "state-administered formula grant" programs. Funds are allocated by ED directly to LEAs only under a limited number of ESEA programs. The most influential ESEA allocation formulas are those under the Title I-A program, both because this is the largest ESEA program and because there are five ESEA programs under which grants are made, in part or in full, in proportion to grants calculated under Title I, Part A. As a result, a majority of ESEA funds are allocated under formulas in which the primary population factor is school-age children in poor families, and state expenditure factors are applied.
The share of all public K-12 education revenues that is provided under ESEA programs varies substantially among the states, although ESEA funding constitutes only approximately one-tenth or less of total public K-12 education revenues in all cases except Puerto Rico. The average ESEA program grant per school-age child (poor and non-poor) increases as the state average poverty rate rises, with the third of states having the highest poverty rates receiving 1.4 times as much as low poverty states. At the same time, an opposite trend is found in average ESEA grants per school-age child in a poor family, with low poverty states receiving 1.3 times as much as states with the highest poverty rates.
Most ESEA allocation formulas include state or LEA minimum grant provisions. As a result, states with the smallest school-age population receive approximately 1.7 times as much as the remaining states per school-age child, and approximately 2.2 times as much per school-age child from a poor family.
This report will be updated if substantial changes are made in one or more ESEA program allocation formulas.