FAQs
Q. What is Title I?
A. “When most people refer to Title I, they are actually talking about Title I, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Part A, Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged Program, is one of the most well known parts of federal education law.” (Education Week, 2004) It is the largest federal education program for elementary and secondary schools. Title I funds are used to provide educational services to students who are educationally disadvantaged or at risk of failing to meet state standards.
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015, and represents good news for our nation’s schools. The new law builds on key areas of progress in recent years, made possible by the efforts of educators, communities, parents, and students across the country, and replaces NCLB. For more information on a comparison between ESSA & NCLB, please click here.
Q. What are the goals of the Title I program?
A. The program is designed to accomplish four primary goals:
· Provide supplementary education to students eligible for services; Linwood Middle School operates as a Title I Schoolwide program, therefore, all students are eligible to receive Title I services;
· Provide extra funding to schools & districts serving high concentrations of children from low-income families;
· Focus educators on the needs of special student populations; and
· Improve the academic achievement of eligible students, reduce performance gaps between advantaged
and disadvantaged students, and assist eligible students in meeting high academic standards (Riddle, 1996).
Q. What does it mean that Linwood and NBTMS are designated as Title I Schoolwide programs?
A. A Title I Schoolwide program is one which serves all children in a school. All staff, resources, and classes are part of the overall Schoolwide program. Schoolwide programs can use all allocated funds to increase the amount and quality of learning time. The purpose is to generate high levels of academic achievement in core subject areas for all students, especially those students most in need. The purpose is achieved through:
High quality instruction
Comprehensive research-based reform strategies and methods
Strategies and methods to improve teacher quality and professional development
Q. How are students chosen for Title I participation?
A. Title I programs are designed to ensure that all students have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and assessments. Because Linwood and NBTMS are designated as Title I Schoolwide programs, all students in grades 5-8 are screened for Title I services/intervention programs using multiple measures including, but not limited to standardized test scores, local assessment results, report cards, and teacher recommendations. Please consult each school's Title I Entrance/Exit criteria document for how students are chosen for the school's specific English/Language Arts and Mathematics intervention programs.