Title I
Title I is a federal grant program designed to give educational assistance to students living in areas of high poverty. The Title I program originated in 1965 when Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and was reauthorized in 2015 with the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I is one of the oldest and largest federal programs supporting elementary and secondary education in existence and over 90% of the school systems in the United States receive some sort of Title I funding.
The Title I program provides financial assistance through state educational agencies to local educational agencies and public schools with high numbers or percentages of poor children to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards. Title I reaches about 12.5 million students enrolled in both public and private schools. Title I funds may be used for children from preschool age to high school, but most of the students served (65%) are in grades 1-6; another 12% are in preschool and kindergarten programs.
Key Requirements of Title I
Schools are ranked according to the percentage of students who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch. Schools with 75% of students in poverty are automatically allocated Title I funding. Schools with 35% (or higher than the county's average) of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch are eligible to receive Title I funding; however, it is the discretion of the School Division as to the number of schools to serve. There are currently 5 Title I elementary schools in Fauquier County.
Two Models Of Title I Programs
Title I Schools choose to implement a Schoolwide program or a Targeted Assistance program.
Schoolwide Program
Schools must have 40% poverty or greater to implement a Schoolwide program. Funds are used to improve the overall academic program of the school.
A Title I Schoolwide team must annually develop or review a Schoolwide plan that includes the following:
- Comprehensive needs assessment
- School-wide reform strategies
- Provision for instruction by highly qualified professional staff
- Strategies for increasing parental involvement
- Plans to facilitate the transition from preschool to elementary school
- Measures for including teacher input to improve student performance and the overall instructional program
- Provision of assistance to struggling students
Targeted Assistance Program
- Students are screened using multiple assessments and must meet certain academic criteria to be eligible to receive Title I services
- Title I students work with a Title I reading specialist in either a pull out or push in model to accelerate their progress in reading
- Academic growth made by Title I students is tracked and reported to parents and families
- Parents and families of Title I students are invited to participate in activities that support learning at home