In order to ensure that improvements made as a result of the grant are sustained after SIG 1003(g) funding ends, the department has instituted annual budget caps that taper over Years 3, 4, and 5.

As provided by Guidance on School Improvement Grants posted by the U.S. Department of Education in March 2015, "Sustainability plans should place an emphasis on building structures, systems, and processes to support reform efforts, including the creation of formal mechanisms and feedback loops to capture data from the field to inform continuous professional development and effective program implementation; shifting existing resources to support activities that have demonstrated success; and creating and sustaining strategic partnerships with community stakeholders that assist in maintaining community support and leveraging resources after the grant period ends.

"Some examples of activities to sustain reforms include training trainers within the LEA or school to develop staff capacity; developing performance management and continuous improvement processes; creating SIG budgets that invest funds strategically and gradually decrease each year; developing leadership pipelines, including distributed leadership strategies; creating ongoing, meaningful family and community engagement opportunities on planning committees, advisory boards and work groups; and involving students in age-appropriate leadership opportunities to increase self-direction and responsibility."