What is “Title I”:
Title I refers to federal funds which are designated for providing programs to help struggling learners in reading and math. Title I programs provide additional support and intervention beyond the general curriculum. There are two types of Title I programs: Schoolwide programs support all students in a school, and Targeted, which serve students identified for the program based on performance on assessments.
Additional Federal Funding:
In addition to Title I, school districts receive Title II funding for professional development, Title IV-A funding to support a well-rounded education, and Title III programs to support English Language Learners. At South Western, Title II and Title IV-A funds are currently transferred into Title I programs.
Title I Programming at South Western:
- Baresville Elementary and Park Hills Elementary are currently the two district buildings which receive Title I programming. Both operate as Targeted Assistance programs. Buildings are selected based on socio-economic factors, not the school's performance.
- The majority of Title I funding at South Western goes towards salaries and benefits for Reading Specialists, with additional funding set aside for parental and family engagement, non-public set-aside, and homeless set-aside.
- 100% of district teachers, including in identified Title I buildings, are 100% highly qualified within their certification areas. Safeguards are in place to assure comparability in regards to experience and performance of teachers in Title I buildings in comparison to other district buildings.
Parent and Family Engagement:
The following steps are taken by South Western to increase parental and family engagement in the district's Title I programming:
- Federal Programs Complaint Resolution Procedures are disseminated annually to parents/guardians.
- At the beginning of each school year, participating schools notify parents that they may request, and the district will provide in a timely manner, information regarding the professional qualifications of their child's teachers and any para-professionals providing services to their child.
- Notice will be given when a child has been assigned or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks, by a teacher or person who is not properly certified.
- Notification will be given to all parents of children in any title I building if the school is identified as a Focus or Priority School.
- Notification must be given if the Title I building is identified as a persistently dangerous school or if their child is a victim of a violent criminal offense while on school property.
- A variety of Parent and Family Engagement activities will take place throughout the school year that involves educating parents on Title I interventions and on how to support their children at home.
- Each Title building will annually update their Title I Parent Policies and Parent Compact with parent input into both the building policy and compact.
Resources:
More Information:
For more information about district Title I programs, contact your child's building principal, or Brian Cromer, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, at (717) 632-2500 ext. 20003, or by email at [email protected], or Eric L. Seibel, Ed.D., Director of Accountability, Comparability, and Reporting at (717) 632-2500 ext. 20007 or by email at [email protected]