2026 Title I, Part D State Coordinators Annual Meeting
Our 2026 Annual Meeting for Title I, Part D State Coordinators was held virtually the week of May 18, featuring our conference theme, From Compliance to Confidence: A Coordinator’s Guide. This year’s fully virtual format made it easier than ever to participate and connect with colleagues from across the nation. Sessions were designed to build your expertise and effectiveness in administering Title I, Part D programs. We began the week with an introduction and refresher on program requirements for building a compliant Title I, Part D program. As the week progressed, we built upon that foundation with a wide array of promising practices regarding monitoring, data collection, eligibility, data-driven program improvement, and examples of high-quality programs across the nation.
Program and Agenda
Please see the Annual Meeting Program for the agenda and details about speakers, Department of ED team, and NDTAC team biographies. See the Agenda Overview for a brief overview of the session schedule.
Coffee Hour
We kicked things off each day at noon ET with our Coffee Hour – an energizing drop-in where attendees could reconnect with familiar faces and meet someone new. Members of the NDTAC and ED teams were there each day, offering a great chance to connect!
Contact Us
We encourage you to contact NDTAC if you have questions or need additional information. You can reach out about this, and other questions related to the conference at: ndtac@longevityconsulting.com
Monday, May 18: NDTAC and ED Welcome
1:00 pm - 1:15 pm EDT
NDTAC and the TIPD Program Office gave a formal welcome to attendees of the 2026 TIPD State Coordinators Annual Meeting. Speakers included Lynn Bauer, Jeffery Buehler, and Heather Denny.
Jeff Buehler, Program Officer, Title I Part D, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Heather Denny, Program Officer, Title I Part D, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Monday, May 18: Agenda and Tech Overview
1:15 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
Before diving in, we took 15 minutes to get oriented for the week. NDTAC walked through the meeting agenda and covered the tools and platforms used throughout, so attendees felt comfortable and prepared to engage.
Monday, May 18: From Compliance to Confidence: Turning Title I, Part D Requirements into Real Outcomes for Youth
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
This opening session challenged State coordinators to reimagine compliance as a powerful lever for improving outcomes for youth, working through three core objectives: understanding the "why" behind requirements and reconnecting them to the student problems they were designed to solve; transforming data collection into genuine data use by turning what coordinators already collect into actionable tools for program improvement; and shifting from a monitoring mindset into a supportive, coaching role that moves facilities beyond minimum requirements toward truly high-quality programs. Through discussion activities and practical reflection, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and at least one concrete step toward building higher-quality TIPD programs.
Presenter
Helen Avis, Methodist Home for Children, National Partnership for Juvenile Services
Monday, May 18: Basics 101: Leveraging Title I, Part D Funding to Improve Educational Outcomes
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm EDT
Whether you are new to TIPD or looking to strengthen your foundational knowledge, this session offered a comprehensive refresher on the essentials of the program including how TIPD funding is generated, who it serves, what it can be used for, and how the yearly cycle comes together. The session then shifted into a dynamic panel conversation with both new and seasoned State coordinators, exploring real experiences navigating their role: from identifying programmatic priorities and building collaborations, to documenting processes for continuity and finding purpose in the work. Attendees left with a clearer command of program fundamentals and practical wisdom from colleagues who have been in their shoes.
Monday, May 18: Is it Eligible? A TIPD Eligibility Challenge
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm EDT
Eligibility determinations remain one of the most persistent challenges in TIPD administration. This interactive session used live polling and case scenarios to put participants' eligibility knowledge to the test. Participants weighed in on whether each facility qualifies for TIPD funding, and where applicable, whether it falls under Subpart 1 or Subpart 2. Each scenario followed a guided discussion to unpack the reasoning and address common misconceptions. Whether a newcomer building your foundation or a veteran looking to sharpen your instincts, this session was designed to move every State coordinator from uncertainty to confidence when evaluating the facilities in their State.
A brief closing session to wrap up the day and look ahead, offered participants a snapshot of what to expect in the next day's sessions so they could come prepared, curious, and ready to engage.
Tuesday, May 19: Resource Walk-Through – Facility Eligibility Tipsheet
This tipsheet is designed to support State educational agencies (SEAs) and their subgrantees in identifying institutions with eligible children and youth to be served under TIPD of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). This tipsheet emphasizes the requirements to determine which State agencies (SA) and local educational agencies (LEA) are eligible to receive a subgrant under TIPD and which students may be served by those subgrants, regardless of their inclusion in the annual count.
Tuesday, May 19: State Coordinator Recognition
1:15 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
A celebratory moment to honor the dedication and commitment that State coordinators bring to the TIPD program every day. This year, we recognized coordinators reaching their third, fifth, and tenth anniversaries in the role, and shined a spotlight on the collective impact of their work.
Tuesday, May 19: Federal Program Updates
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
The U.S. Department of Education TIPD Program Office provided an overview of anticipated program changes, delving into crucial topics such as the use of funds and data. Speakers included Heather Denny and Jeff Buehler.
Presenters
Heather Denny, Program Officer, Title I Part D, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Jeff Buehler, Program Officer, Title I Part D, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Tuesday, May 19: Connecting Justice-Involved Youth to Good Jobs: What Title I, Part D State Coordinators Can Do Now
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm EDT
Youth face some of the steepest barriers to employment and Title I, Part D State coordinators are uniquely positioned to help break them down. This session opened with a 15-minute presentation from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, followed by a 45-minute-deep dive led by the National Youth Employment Coalition (NYEC). Drawing on state examples, this session explored how Part D and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) can work in tandem to connect youth in the justice system to good jobs, without requiring new programs or funding. Participants left with a concrete action roadmap covering everything from mapping transition points and locking in workforce partnerships to prioritizing paid work experience and using data strategically to spot disparities and drive improvement.
Presenters
Maisha Meminger, Department of Labor
Mary Ann Haley, National Youth Employment Coalition
Tuesday, May 19: Together in the Field: A TIPD Listening Session
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm EDT
How can technical assistance better serve your work? In this interactive session, NDTAC invited Title I, Part D State coordinators to help answer that question. Through real-time polling and facilitated discussion, participants reflected on their current strengths and challenges across key areas of TIPD administration, including monitoring, subgrant applications, facility eligibility, use of funds, and data. Attendee input directly shapes NDTAC's upcoming Communities of Practice, Office Hours, webinars, and resources, making this session an opportunity not just to be heard, but to influence the support you and your peers receive in the year ahead.
A brief closing session to wrap up the day and look ahead, offering participants a snapshot of what to expect in the next day's sessions so they could come prepared, curious, and ready to engage.
Wednesday, May 20: Resource Walk-Through – Data Toolkit
This Toolkit is designed for Title I, Part D State coordinators who are responsible for managing the collection, submission, analysis, and use of program data. It provides step-by-step guidance and targeted resources at each stage of the data lifecycle. Coordinators can use it to:
Orient new staff or partners to Title I, Part D data systems
Troubleshoot specific data reporting issues
Find definitions and examples tied to EDFacts file specifications
Strengthen data quality checks and collection tools
Identify strategies for analyzing and interpreting program data
Support continuous improvement through data-informed decision making
Wednesday, May 20: Making Your Data Work: Insights and Action in Title I, Part D
1:15 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
Your state data holds more answers than you might think. This session built on last year's data conversation, taking a deeper dive into how to read, interpret, and act on the information your state is already collecting. Through hands-on analysis and guided discussion, participants explored how to spot trends, ask better questions of their data, and translate findings into program improvements for neglected, delinquent, and at-risk youth. Whether you are just getting started with data-driven decision making or looking to sharpen your approach, attendees left with practical strategies and a clearer picture of what your data is and is not telling you.
Wednesday, May 20: Funding What Works: Using Evaluation to Inform Federal Funding Decisions
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm EDT
This session focused on the importance of evaluating activities for Return on Investment within federal programs, challenging participants to move beyond compliance as a ceiling and embrace a results-driven mindset. Greenville County Schools shared successful and creative ways to facilitate federal program planning and evaluation, including how they transformed their comprehensive needs assessment process, redesigned school planning sessions into strategic data conversations, and built a crosswalk between funding decisions and measurable student outcomes.
Presenters
Leslie Bloss, South Carolina Department of Education
Makesia Sumpter, South Carolina Department of Education
Martha Walker, South Carolina Department of Education
Anna Brink, Greenville County Schools, South Carolina
Wednesday, May 20: Meeting Youth Where They Are: Realistic Career Pathways That Work
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm EDT
Too often, career planning for justice-involved youth does not reflect the realities of their lives or the opportunities available to them. This session introduced a Three Es framework (Exposure, Exploration, and Education) as a practical model for connecting youth with realistic career pathways aligned to local labor markets, from trades and healthcare to military, and credential-based opportunities. The framework is built with accountability in mind, emphasizing the importance of measuring and demonstrating real impact. Building on that foundation, participants saw elements of this framework in action through a spotlight on a TIPD program.
Hayley Sanon, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), joined us for leadership remarks. Ms. Sanon shared priorities and updates from OESE, with a focus on advancing educational opportunities, student achievement, and student support and recognized the vital role Title I, Part D State coordinators play in connecting vulnerable youth to the pathways they need to succeed. Drawing on her experience in K–12 education policy and leadership, she also highlighted the importance of preparing students for college, careers, and long-term success.
Presenter
Haley Sanon, U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Thursday, May 21: Resource Walk-Through – Institution-wide Programs
1:00 pm - 1:15 pm EDT
Thursday opened with a 15-minute guided introduction to a key NDTAC resource to help State coordinators build and expand their professional library. Thursday's resource: Title I, Part D Institution-wide Project Planning Toolkit. Institution-wide projects (IWPs) offer flexibility in using Title I, Part D (TIPD), Subpart 1 funds to enhance educational services for all students in eligible juvenile delinquent facilities with the goal of improving academic outcomes and successful transitions. IWPs enable State agencies (SAs) to adopt a comprehensive, broader institution-wide approaches to education that benefits all students in the facility. Much like a Schoolwide Plan under Title I, Part A, IWPs can be a powerful tool to help improve the entire educational program at a facility.
Thursday, May 21: The TIPD Escape Rooms
1:15 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
In this interactive breakout experience, participants worked through a series of realistic scenarios drawn from the day-to-day work of TIPD State coordinators (informed by NDTAC help desk tickets). Each escape room tackled a distinct problem. Using the resources, tools, and expertise in the room, participants worked collaboratively to analyze the situation, identify the questions to ask, and map a path forward.
Thursday, May 21: Navigating Federal Monitoring of TIPD Programs
2:45 pm - 3:45 pm EDT
Federal monitoring can feel daunting, but it is one of the most powerful catalysts for strengthening TIPD programs. This panel brough together State coordinators who have been through TIPD monitoring and those who are actively preparing for it, offering perspectives from both sides of the experience. Panelists shared candid reflections and practical strategies such as refining grant applications, strengthening guidance and policy documents to set clearer expectations around eligibility and compliance, and illustrating how TIPD monitoring can drive meaningful improvements in systems, accountability, and program integrity.
Presenters
Shannon Cranmore, Wyoming Part D Coordinator
Jessica Fancher, Wyoming Part D Coordinator
Gueringe Richardson, Virginia Part D Coordinator
Makesia Sumpter, South Carolina Part D Coordinator
