What Is the Compliance Checker?
The Compliance Checker cross-references a school's profile against eligibility rules for 8 major federal education funding programs. Instead of manually reading program guidance documents, you get instant verdicts: PASS, CAUTION, FAIL, or NEEDS_REVIEW — with the specific rule citation that drives each verdict.
Data is sourced from NCES, USASpending, state DOE reports, and district financial filings. Eligibility rules are updated annually when new program guidance is released.
Programs Covered
| Program | Eligibility Basis | Key Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Title I, Part A | Poverty threshold (40%+ FRL) | ESEA Sec. 1114/1115, Supplement not Supplant |
| Title II, Part A | All LEAs eligible | ESEA Sec. 2101, Qualified teacher requirements |
| Title III | English Learner enrollment | ESEA Sec. 3115, EL concentration thresholds |
| Title IV, Part A (SSAE) | All LEAs (formula) | ESEA Sec. 4106, Well-rounded education |
| IDEA Part B | Students with disabilities | 20 U.S.C. §1411, Child count methodology |
| E-Rate (USF) | FRL-based discount | 47 CFR §54.505, Category 1/2 rules |
| 21st Century (Title IV-B) | High-poverty communities | ESEA Sec. 4201, Community learning centers |
| Rural Education (REAP/SRSA) | Locale + enrollment | ESEA Sec. 5211, Rural eligibility formula |
Verdict Types
✅ PASS
School meets all program requirements. Include this program in funding proposals with confidence.
⚠️ CAUTION
School likely qualifies, but one or more data points are missing or borderline. Manual review recommended before including in proposals.
❌ FAIL
School does not meet the eligibility threshold for this program. Do not include in proposals.
🔍 NEEDS_REVIEW
Insufficient data to make a determination. Additional data sources may resolve. Check back after the next data refresh cycle.
How to Use
- Search for a school or district in the School Profile tool
- Click the "Compliance Check" tab on the profile page
- Review verdicts for all 8 programs at a glance
- Click any program to see the detailed rule breakdown and data sources
- Export a compliance summary as PDF for grant applications
Grant writers love this: attach the Compliance Checker PDF to your grant application as supporting evidence. It cites the exact federal regulation and shows the school's qualifying data — reviewers notice when you do their homework for them.