Title 1

What is Title I?

In 1965, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) introduced the federal support program that would become known as Title I. Title I, Part A provides financial assistance to local school systems and schools with high percentages of poor children to support the academic achievement of low-achieving students. Nearly all the school districts in New Hampshire receive Title I funds.

What makes a Title I school?
The identification of a school for Title I status is based upon the poverty level of the families and students who reside in the attendance area of the school. The designation as a Title I school has nothing to do with the academic level of the students in the school. It is strictly and solely based on the economics of the surrounding area.

How are schools selected to be Title I?
The percentage of free-lunch students determines the poverty level which determines whether or not a school is eligible to receive the added resources of Title I funding.

Which Portsmouth schools receive Title I funds?
New Franklin and Dondero Elementary Schools qualify for Title I funds.

How are students selected to receive Title I Services at Dondero which is a Targeted Title I School?
Students who are performing below grade level in reading/math are identified through teacher referral and a review of data from the administration of assessments used regularly throughout the school/district as students who may benefit from Title I supplemental support. Permission slips are then sent home to selected students. Students may rotate in and out of Title I based upon need.

How are students selected to receive Title I Services at New Franklin which is a Schoolwide Title I School?

All students at New Franklin can benefit from Title I funds. Funds can be used to provide supplemental support and services for all.

How is Title I Funding used in Portsmouth’s Schools?
Adhering to Federal parameters for the use of Title I money, Portsmouth uses the funds to:

Hire 2 full-time teachers and 4 highly qualified literacy/math tutors who provide supplementary reading and math instruction to qualifying students at the elementary schools depending upon each school's Title I annual plan.
Purchase additional instructional materials.
Offer extended year and/or extended day programming when funding is available.

Do private schools receive a proportion of Portsmouth's Title I funds?

Yes, St. Patrick's Academy receives a proportional share of Portsmouth's Title I funds. These funds are determined by the number of students in grades K-5 and who would have attended either Dondero or New Franklin. Portsmouth's Title I Director works with St. Patrick's Academy to determine how funds will be used each year.

What are the key concepts of Title I?

Supplemental Support -- Services must be in addition to reading instruction with the classroom teacher and above and beyond what is provided by district funding sources.

Coordination -- Supplementary instruction is coordinated with classroom instruction. It is designed to re-teach, reinforce, or remediate. Instruction may also be to introduce or pre-teaching a skill, concept or vocabulary that will be presented in class.

Communication -- Title I funded staff at both Dondero and New Franklin work closely with classroom teachers, building specialists and administration to ensure a coordinated and data-driven plan of support for students.

Parent Involvement -– Parent involvement is an important component of the Title I program. The Title I program partners with parents to work together towards students' academic goals and build knowledge of strategies and resources used to improve student achievement. At Dondero parents receive Progress Reports from Title I teachers/tutors as a part of being a targeted Title I program. The Title I literacy teacher is also available for conferences with parents.