The Kennedy family illustrates an entitled family. Born into riches, raised in mansions, attended private boarding schools, went to Ivy League Universities. Their paths led to winning the Office of the President, Attorney General, Senate, House of Representatives, and the list goes on. Being a Kennedy is not an easy path to success; it still takes hard work, determination, stick-to-itiveness, learning, failing and achieving.
Like the Kennedys, entitlement grants are not an easy path to success.
Entitlement grants provide funds to agencies based on a formula, prescribed in legislation or regulation, rather than based on a peer or project review. The formula is based on such factors as population, enrollment, per capita income, or a specific need such as free/reduced lunch student percentage. The rules are strict and must be abided by the awardee, including following all federal guidelines, supplement vs. supplant guidelines, completing frequent reimbursement requests and completion reports and documenting all expenditures. Just because entitlement is in the title, does not mean the government awards the funds “willy nilly.” States are also required to complete risk assessments on Local Education Agencies (LEA); in Arizona, LEAs are rated low-risk, medium-risk and high-risk. A high-risk LEA will receive increased monitoring, and may have to return federal funds or not receive them at all in the first place.