The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) requires each State to establish a methodology for identifying schools for support and improvement, based on data from the statewide system of annual meaningful differentiation. This guidance is designed to support State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and schools as they implement school improvement requirements such as identifying schools for improvement, developing support and improvement plans, selecting interventions and monitoring and improving on their effectiveness, determining when identified schools have demonstrated sufficient improvement (exit criteria), investing school improvement funds under ESEA section 1003, and delivering direct student services under ESEA section 1003A. In addition to describing statutory requirements, this document provides recommendations based on the U.S. Department of Education's (Department's) work with States. In developing this document, the Department also sought to answer frequently asked questions posed by teachers, school and LEA leaders, SEA representatives, civil rights organizations, education advocates, and policymakers. Nothing in this document should be construed to proscribe a particular approach or limit or prohibit SEA, LEA, or school flexibility permitted in the ESEA.