In my district, there are individual Title I "experts" in each school as well as the district supervisor. In each school the "expert" can be either a classroom teacher, teaching assistant or other special subject teacher or principal. That person becomes versed in the requirements placed upon Title I schools and reports back and forth between the district supervisor and the school.
Title I schools have high poverty levels, which generally equate with low performance scores. They do receive additional federal dollars for targeted programs, though those funds must be used in certain ways (i.e. reading intervention, math & science enrichments, etc.).
Title I schools also have tougher accountability standards in that if they do not meet the state target for adequate yearly progress after two, three, four and five years, certain actions can be taken, like allowing parents the option of sending their child to another school in the district (two years), schools must provide extra services such as tutoring to students who are economically disadvantaged (three years), take specific actions such as replacing staff, adopting a new curriculum, or extending the school year (four years), or being "restructured" which might include state takeover of school operations (five years of failure to make adequate yearly progress).
Of course, parents are to be notified if a school fails to meet its standards and any of these actions are required.
Your best bet is to contact your Board of Ed. central office and ask who is in charge of overseeing Title I schools in your district, then ask to meet with him or her to discuss your questions and concerns. You might even plan to have him or her speak to your group as an informative session. Many people don't understand Title I and what it can mean for your school.
Low income areas are at high risk for poor test scores. So really it goes hand in hand.
I think that the Title I supervisor has the descrection of hiring who he/she wants as long as it fits the criteria.
There have been several cut backs in the last couple of years so our Parent Liasion only gets paid 20 hrs. per week. She has another job at the board of Ed. too but she puts in a lot more than 20 hrs. for Title I. It wouldn't hurt to ask your Title I supervisor about that position, there could be additional grants for it.
That explains how we became one. We are a low income, low test score school. I found out that it allowed us to hire an extra reading and math teacher, and get better supplies. I wish we had the Parent Liason though. That would come in very handy. Is it a requirement for becoming a title 1 school?
We are a Title I district because of our income level. We have been in rewards for the past several years. That means our test levels meet or exceed their goals.(If I am not mistaken)
Our Title One uses Sing, Spell, Read, Write for k-1. And uses Leap Frog materials as extra learning materials.These are great programs for beginning readers or children who have problems trying to read. It provides several aides that are well trained and sub aides for our district as well.
This year the other elementary schoolin our district received Title One Math because they have such a high free/reduced lunch level.
It also employees a Parent Liaison for the whole district. The parent liaison along with the Title I supervisor has many parent involvement actives through the year.
A Parent Advisory Council is formed for each participating Title I school in our district. This council makes a "pledge for education" for parents, teachers, and students to sign.
I could probably go on and on about this program. Though I wished the circumstances for having this program was different but I am very thankful we have it.
Title 1 is a Federal Program that identifies low performing (Testing) schools and provides monies to improve the level of performance in those schools. Title 1 money has to be used in specific ways, but is somewhat discretionary as to each school may use it for.
