What is Title I?
The federal government through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides school districts with funds to support programs for students at-risk of not meeting state standards in reading, mathematics, science and social studies. These funds are called Title I funds and are a significant source of funding for K-12 schools. The purpose of the funding is to ensure that all students have a chance to receive a high quality education.
How is funding calculated?
The NYS Department of Education distributes Title I funds to local school districts. The amount of funding a district receives is determined by a formula that includes wealth ratios, census information, and poverty numbers for the school district. A school is designated as a Title I school if its poverty percentage is above the district average. Students do not have to be of low income to participate in Title I programs.
What are Title I programs?
Title I funds may be used for:
- Academic intervention services (AIS) or remedial services in reading, math, science and/social studies
- Health related supports
- Supplemental supplies
- Parental involvement activities
Title I districts must:
- Develop programs to support student progress towards meeting state standards
- Monitor student progress towards meeting state standards
- Give parents information on their child’s progress
- Involve parents in the Title I decision-making process
- Hold annual Title I meetings
- Annually review Title I programs and policies
What do Title I services look like?
- Small group instruction
- Pull-out programs for reading and/or math
- After school remediation programs
- Targeted academic interventions based on student need
- Programs are in addition to regular classroom instruction
How are students identified for Title I services?
- Students can be identified for Title I services through any of the following:
- Parent recommendation
- Teacher recommendation
- Classroom performance
- Falling below proficiency on a NYS ELA/math assessment
What are parents’ rights in Title I programs?
- Parents must be given information about Title I in a timely manner and in a language they understand
- Parents have the right to request the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher
- Parent must be informed if their child is taught by a teacher that is not highly qualified for 4 or more consecutive weeks
- Parents must be informed of their child’s progress in reading and math, as well as their child’s results on NYS assessments
- Parents have the right to be a part of the development, review and improvement of Title I programs
- Parents are encouraged to attend parent involvement workshops
- Parents are encouraged to ask questions about their children’s education