Learn How To Supplement, Not Supplant

The concept of supplement, not supplant is often difficult for many educators to understand; however, the fiscal implications can be devastating for a district or school when significant funds may need to be repaid. Identifying supplanting issues requires a thoughtful process of each specific expenditure to ensure that federal funds are not being used to provide programs or services that would not be provided if federal funds were not available.

Red Flags

When considering funding sources and programs/services, look for these red flags. If any of these red flags exist, then using ESSA funds will be presumed to be a supplanting violation:

#1. The program is required under state or local law, or under another federal law.

#2. State or local funds were used to provide the same or substantially similar programs or services in previous years.

#3. The same program or services is supported by state or local funds for children who are not eligible for ESSA programs or services.

Schools and districts are required to have thorough and convincing documentation to prove supplementing, not supplanting of ESSA funds.

All use of ESSA funds MUST be documented in each school's and district's Unified Improvement Plan in order for the use of funds to be approved.