What is Title I?
Title I is the largest program of federal funding in education, signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson. President Johnson recognized the extremely difficult problem that children throughout the country were having with their reading and mathematics. In an effort to help them catch up, extra attention, materials and teachers were provided by the Elementary Secondary Education act, Title I (ESEA). Title I has continued to be funded and supported in reauthorizations of the law with the latest being the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
What is a Title I Schoolwide program?
Schoolwide programs serve all children in a school. All staff, resources, and classes are part of the overall Schoolwide program. The purpose is to generate high levels of academic achievement in core subject areas for all students, especially those students most in need. To be eligible as a Schoolwide program, free and reduced lunch counts must be at or above 40%.
Why is being a Title I Schoolwide Program better than a Title I Target Assistance Program?
Title I Schoolwide programs have the flexibility to organize the funding sources available to them. The funding is used to improve the academic achievement of all students while addressing the needs of at-risk students. In a Target Assistance Title I school, students receive help only if they are below a certain benchmark and there is room in the program for them. As a schoolwide program, we are able to work with any student who needs help for as much or as little time as needed. Our resource teachers are able to be more flexible and our students and classroom teachers receive more support.
What are the core parts of a Schoolwide Program?
1. A comprehensive needs assessment is conducted to identify the school's strengths and challenges in key areas that affect student achievement.
2. The school must develop a comprehensive schoolwide program plan that describes how the school will achieve the goals it has identified as a result of its needs assessment.
3. An annual evaluation is conducted to determine if the goals and objectives of the plan were achieved and if the plan needs revision or an update.
How do Schoolwide Programs achieve high levels of performance?
The purpose of high levels of achievement is reached through:
1. High quality instruction by highly qualified teachers
2. Reform strategies and methods based on the use of scientifically based research
3. Strategies to improve teacher quality and professional development
4. Consolidated and flexible use of funds
How much Parent Involvement does the Title I program have?
Parent involvement is very important within the Title I program. All Title I schools must develop a parent-student-teacher compact (written agreement) that states what parents, students, and the school will do together to raise student achievement. This compact is created jointly with the parents and a leadership team, which parents are encouraged to be part of. Title I hosts at least two meetings: a Fall Orientation meeting to review the Schoolwide Title I program and in the spring for the Annual Review meeting, to analyze student academic growth and needs and plan for the following school year. Title I also uses a percentage of it's funding to support family involvement activates. Please check out the Title I Activities page for more information.
If you would like to know more information, please click on the link below to go to Wisconson's DPI website about Schoolwide Title I.
http://dpi.wi.gov/titleone/schoolwide.html