What is a Title I School?

1. What is a Title I School? Schools qualifying for Title I Federal funds are schools with free and reduced populations of 75% or greater, and these schools must be served. All schools above the district poverty average (63.79%) must be served in rank order, from highest to lowest. The goal of Title I schools is to offer a high-quality education to every student and Federal funds are used to help meet the needs of our Title I schools.

2. Whatis different at a Title school? • Title I Schools often have additional staff such as teachers and/or paraprofessionals. • Additional time may be offered for academic instruction. • Teachers and staff may receive additional training. • At elementary schools, parents, teachers, and students are required to sign an agreement called a school/parent compact. • Title I schools welcome parental input on the Parent & Family engagement plan, school compact, and school improvement plan.

3. What is a Compact? • The compact is basically a school, student, and parent agreement which spells out the shared responsibilities for high student academic achievement, between parents, students and school staff. • School compacts are required for every student attending a Title I school and the signed copies will be housed at the school.

4. Title I Schools &parent Engagement • Parents are invited to review the Parent & Family Engagement Plan (PFEP) and give input on parental involvement activities. • Parents are encouraged to participate in school organizations such as the PTO, and functions put on by the school such as open house and parent-teacher conferences. • Research shows parent engagement in school activities has a direct effect on student achievement.

5. Parent engagement Parent engagement comes in many forms: • Attending parent conferences, guidance meetings, MTSS meetings, etc. and attending some school events • Getting your child to school on time and keeping absences to a minimum • Have an adequate space for homework • Regularly talking to your child about school, academics, daily occurrences, and about their friends • Completing parent surveys • Communicating with your child’s teacher or other school faculty • Having a set bed time and set time to wake up • Being consistent with your child and letting them know you care & want to be involved in their school days

6. Communication • Communication is KEY to student success. • Parents are encouraged to notify teachers of concerns as soon as possible. • Keep teachers informed of things that might affect your child’s behavior. • Request meetings with teachers if you need to discuss something. Sending a note or email in advance indicating your concerns, is a good practice. • Talk to your child regularly about their friends and their school day.

7. The Local Education Authority (LEA) will: • Provide school’s support in the planning and implementation of school activities. • Integrate Title I parent involvement strategies with various federal programs. • Conduct an annual evaluation of the PFEP. • Offer literature in various languages, as needed.

8. Parents have the right to know: • if a teacher has met State certification and licensing requirements for the grade levels and subjects for which the teacher provides instruction; • if state certification and licensing requirements have been waived (is not being required at this time) for the teacher under emergency or other temporary status; • if your child’s teacher is teaching in the field of discipline for which they are certified or licensed; • if your child’s teacher has met State-approved or State-recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements. These requirements apply to the professional discipline in which the teacher is working and may include providing English language instruction to English learners, special education or related services to students with disabilities, or both; and • the qualifications of an interventionist if the interventionistis providing Title I or Special Education services to your child.

9. Questions/Comments?