Session Description

NDTAC partnered with the U.S. Department of Education to present at this year's National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) Conference in Denver, CO, on February 10-12, 2026. Our session was titled "Unpacking the Secrets of Title I, Part D to Serve At-Risk Youth".

Did you know that Title I, Part D funds can be a powerful tool to support students facing some of the toughest challenges? These funds can be used to serve youth who are at risk of academic failure, involved with the juvenile justice or child welfare systems, dealing with substance use, parenting at a young age, struggling with chronic absenteeism, or who have dropped out and returned to school. They also support English learners, students behind grade level, and those affected by gang involvement. Unfortunately, many school systems receiving Subpart 2 funding are not fully accessing this critical resource. This session shined a spotlight on the often-overlooked potential of Title I, Part D to uplift at-risk students. We explored how to effectively access and use these funds and shared proven strategies for student success, to help ensure that no student falls through the cracks.

Session Presenters

Daniel Froemel, Ed.D., Senior Technical Assistance Advisor, has spent the majority of his career serving and leading in the N&D community. Prior to joining the NDTAC team, Daniel served as the Senior Director of Non-Traditional and Nonpublic Programs with the Tennessee Department of Education. He has also worked at the local level, spending almost a decade as a Principal and then Executive Director of a psychiatric residential treatment facility for children and adolescents. Additionally, he has served in various administrative levels at the building- and district-level for special education in public school districts in TN and SC.

Heather Denny, MEd, ED Program Officer, joined the Title I, Part D team at the U.S. Department of Education in January of 2022. Prior to that she served as Montana’s State Coordinator for the Title I, Part D program for seven years, as a school district homeless liaison, and as a classroom teacher for students in grades 6-12. Heather has a BA in History and Certification in Secondary Education from the University of Texas at El Paso, and a MEd in School Counseling and a MEd in Educational Leadership from Montana State University. She is currently pursuing an EdD in Educational Leadership at the University of Montana. Heather has focused her career on serving students experiencing homelessness and impacted by juvenile justice with an emphasis on rural students.

Session Resources

Unpacking the Secrets of Title I, Part D to Serve At-Risk Youth