Are you a Title I
school?
Title 1 funds aim to
bridge the gap between low-income students and other students. The U.S.
Department of Education provides supplemental funding to local school districts
to meet the needs of at-risk and low-income students.
- What's it All About?
Most educators,
parents and community members have heard the term Title 1 School thrown loosely
around, but what is it? Title 1 is the nation’s oldest and largest federally
funded program, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Annually, it
provides over $14 billion to school systems across the country for students at
risk of failure and living at or near poverty. In fact, over the course of the
20015-20116 school year, federal funding through this program was used by over
56,000 public schools nationwide in order for struggling students to meet state
standards in a variety of subject areas.
Originally, the idea of Title 1 was enacted in 1965 under the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This policy committed to closing the achievement
gap between low-income students and other students. The policy was rewritten in
1994 to improve fundamental goals of helping at-risk students. With the
implementation of No Child Left Behind, schools must make
adequate yearly progress on state testing and focus on best teaching practices
in order to continue receiving funds.
- What is the Purpose of Title 1 Funding?
According to the U.S.
Department of Education, the purpose of Title 1 funding, “is to ensure that all
children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high
quality education and reach, at minimum, proficiency on challenging state
academic achievement standards and state academic assessments."
The basic principles
of Title 1 state that schools with large concentrations of low-income students
will receive supplemental funds to assist in meeting students' educational
goals. Low-income students are determined by the number of students enrolled in
the free and reduced lunch program. For an entire school to qualify for Title 1
funds, at least 40% of students must enroll in the free and reduced lunch
program.
- How are Title 1 Funds Used?
How to use Title 1
funds rests with each school. Title 1 funds can be used to improve curriculum,
instructional activities, counseling, parental involvement, increase staff and
program improvement. The funding should assist schools in meeting the
educational goals of low-income students. According to the U.S. Department of
Education, Title 1 funds typically support supplemental instruction in reading
and math. Annually, this program reaches over six million students, primarily
in the elementary grades.
Types of students
that might be served by Title 1 funds include migrant students, students with
limited English proficiency, homeless students, students with disabilities,
neglected students, delinquent students, at-risk students or any student in
need. Students can be classified as at-risk for numerous reasons. A few reasons
they might be classified as at-risk students include: low academic performance,
being held back a grade for one or more years, or being homeless. There are
other criteria that may place students in an at-risk category as well.
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