Title I is a federal funding program that provides some schools additional money due to the percentage of free and reduced students in attendance. West Harrison Middle is a Title I school, and our school has received additional funding this year. These funds must be spent based on a plan of school improvement, which is written by the school principal at the end of each school year.
Title I School
The purpose of this title is to ensure that all children 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 state academic assessments.
The basic principles of Title I state that schools with large concentrations of low-income students will receive supplemental funds to assist in meeting student’s educational goals. Low-income students are determined by the number of students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. For an entire school to qualify for Title I funds, at least 40% of students must enroll in the free and reduced lunch program.
How are Title I Funds Used?
Title I funds can be used to improve curriculum, instructional activities, counseling, parental involvement, increase staff and program improvement. 1% of Title Funds are spent on Parental Involvement. The funding should assist schools in meeting the educational goals of low-income students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title I funds typically support supplemental instruction in reading and math. Annually, this program reaches over six million students, primarily in the elementary grades.
Types of students that might be served by Title I funds include migrant students, students with limited English proficiency, homeless students, students with disabilities, neglected students, delinquent students, at-risk students, or any student in need. Students can be classified as at-risk for numerous reasons. A few reasons they might be classified as at-risk students include a high number of absences, single-parent homes, low academic performance, or a low-income family.