Title I (Part A) is the largest federal program in grades K-12 education. The money from this program is used to improve the quality of education in high-poverty schools and/or to give extra help to struggling students. The Martin County School District currently serves seven schools with "school-wide programs," that in combination with other federal funds, are used to upgrade the entire school. Title I also serves Hope Rural School, a private school in Indiantown, and students at-risk in other facilities in accordance with Federal law.
The Title I Program provides funds to school districts in order to assist schools to:
1. Improve student achievement
for all participating children;
2. Improve staff development; and
3. Improve parental and community involvement.
Which schools are Title I schools for 2009 - 2010?
Hobe Sound Elementary School http://hse.sbmc.org/
J. D Parker School of Science, Math & Technology Elementary School J. D Parker web site
Pinewood Elementary School http://pwe.sbmc.org/
Port Salerno Elementary School Port Salerno web site
SeaWind Elementary School http://swe.sbmc.org/
Warfield Elementary School Warfield web site
Indiantown Middle School Indiantown Middle web site
How do schools qualify to receive Title I funds?
Each year, the school district ranks its public schools in order of poverty and then selects the schools to be served. The district must serve all schools above 75% poverty in rank order. After funding those schools, the district may serve schools ranked lower than 75%. In this school district, all elementary schools below 75% and above 38% poverty level are served. The poverty level is determined by the number of enrolled students who get free or reduced price lunch meals.
Why are Title I funds allocated exclusively to high poverty schools?
Research studies conducted over the past 30 years show conclusively that schools with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students generally demonstrate lower levels of achievement than do schools with lower concentrations of economically disadvantaged students. As a result, Congress, in the reauthorization of Title I under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires school districts to allocate Title I funds to those schools with the highest concentrations of such students, particularly to those schools falling above 75%. Districts may extend Title I benefits to schools lower than 75%, yet not below the district average percentage of free/reduced price meals.
Which children receive the Title I services?
The Title I Program in this district operates only
school-wide programs so there are technically no
Title I students in the district; only Title I schools.
All children in these schools are served but they are
not classified as Title I students. .
How can Title I funds be used at school sites?
Title I funds must be used to promote:
1. High academic achievement for all children;
2. A enhanced focus on teaching and learning;
3. Flexibility to stimulate local initiatives coupled with responsibility for student performance;
4. Improved linkages among schools, parents and communities.
Do Title I funds follow the child if he/she moves to another district?
As indicated in the NCLB Act, the intended purpose of these funds is to improve the school. That is why funds are allocated to schools not to children. As a result, if a child leaves a Title I school and transfers to another school, there is no transfer of Title I funds to the receiving school.
Do private schools also receive Title I assistance?
Federal regulations require that school districts provide access to academic support services in private schools that qualify to receive Title I funds. Assistance includes remedial reading and/or mathematics tutorial services that support the regular instructional program for certain students in qualifying private schools.
How does each school plan their Title I Program?
The School Improvement Plan guides the activities to improve student performance and the quality of services provided by the school. Schools engage in a comprehensive needs assessment process that helps them prioritize program services and assists them in the development of the School Improvement Plan. The needs assessment is based on academic information about all students in the school, including economically disadvantaged students, students from identified racial and ethnic groups, students with disabilities, English Language Learners and migrant students. This assessment helps schools understand the subjects and skills for which teaching and learning need to be improved. In addition, it assists schools in identifying the specific academic needs of students and groups of students who are not yet achieving Florida's academic proficiency standards.
Schools' Report Cards, Supplemental Educational Services (tutoring) and School Choice
Click immediately below on the 'Accountability' to learn about requirements Title I schools must meet for student achievement and to see schools' report cards. Click on the "SES/School Choice" button immediately below to learn about Supplemental Educational Services (tutoring) and school choice offered at some Title I schools.