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 below grade level in reading are identified through teacher referral and a review of data from the administration of assessments used regularly throughout the District

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 3 full-time teachers and 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

What are the key concepts of Title I?

Supplemental -- Services must be in addition to reading instruction with the classroom teacher.

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 -- Communication between and among teachers and specialists. Communication with parents.

Parent Involvement -– Dondero parents receive Progress Reports from Title I teachers/tutors. Title I teachers are also available for conferences with parents.