Title I

Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides financial assistance to schools with high numbers or percentages of low-income students. The Purpose of Title I programming is to ensure that all children have a fair, equitable, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on state and local academic achievement standards and assessments.

Title I Schoolwide Programs

Title I schools with percentages of low-income students of at least 40 percent may use Title I funds, along with other federal, state, and local funds, to operate a schoolwide program to upgrade the instructional program for the whole school. Currently, all elementary schools in Lancaster City Schools receive Title I funding to operate a schoolwide program.

Title I schoolwide programs may serve all students in a school, rather than providing separate services as required under the targeted assistance program. A schoolwide program allows the school significant flexibility, as it considers all students to be Title I-eligible students and all teachers to be Title I teachers. To be eligible to be a schoolwide program 40 percent or more of the students must be identified as low-income or the school has been identified as a Priority or Focus school. A school must complete a comprehensive one-year planning process or receive permission from the Office of Federal Programs before operating a schoolwide program. (Source: Ohio Department of Education, Office of Federal Programs Resource Guide, September 2015)

Title I Targeted Assistance Programs

Title I schools with less than 40 percent low-income students or that choose not to operate a schoolwide program offer a targeted assistance program in which the school identifies students who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet the state's challenging academic achievement standards. Non-public elementary schools located in Lancaster receive Title I funding to operate targeted assistance programs.

Targeted assistance programs are supplemental Title I services provided to a select group of eligible children who are identified by schools (or districts) as failing or most at risk of failing to meet the state’s reading and mathematics standards. Children must be ranked and served from highest to lowest risk using multiple educationally related criteria. Schools are eligible to operate Title I programs if the school’s poverty is above 35 percent or the district-wide poverty average. Targeted assistance programs must offer supplemental services beyond what is offered in the required curriculum. Typical services include additional instruction or tutoring; professional development on Title I programs to administrators, teachers and parents; additional books and other supplies; additional equipment and increased parental involvement activities. (Source: Ohio Department of Education, Office of Federal Programs Resource Guide, September 2015)