What Does It Mean To Be A Title I School?

Title I is a federal education program that supports low income students throughout the nation.  Funds are distributed to high poverty schools, as determined by the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. The funds can be used to hire additional teachers or teaching assistants, to provide computers or software, to fund before, after and summer school programs, and to purchase additional materials or equipment.

Whale Branch Middle School was selected to become a Title I school because of the percentage of our students who qualify for free or reduced lunch and breakfast.

Because all of our Title I schools are  designated as “school-wide” Title I schools, all children in the Title I schools are eligible for services. When data indicates the need for interventions either because of low performance or at-risk behaviors, any student is eligible for Title I services.

The Benefits of Title I

Your child may qualify for tutoring, before or after school programs, technology support, a classroom with fewer children or summer school. In addition, when Title I schools receive additional programs, they are available to all students for which they are designed regardless of their free or reduced lunch status.

All children in Title I schools benefit from the additional teachers and assistants.  Because there are more adults to help children, all children receive more individualized and small group instruction.  The goal of Title I services is to accelerate academic achievement so that all children meet or exceed state and federal standards of performance.

The School/Parent Compact

A major purpose of Title I is to increase the involvement of parents in a child’s education.  Under Title I regulations, all schools receiving Title I funds have developed a compact, an agreement between the school and the parents.  The compact is designed to help parents and teachers work together to provide the best possible education for each student.  Parents have opportunities each fall to provide input and participate in the School/Parent Compact.

How to Get Involved in Your Child's Education

There are many ways to get involved in your child’s education.  To begin, Title I funding is based on the percentage of children who qualify for free or reduced lunch.  You can help your child’s school by filling out the Federal Lunch Program application and turning it in at the office of your local elementary school.  You can also help by volunteering in your child’s classroom or by serving on the school Community Council.  This committee makes decisions about school programs, safety, goals and how funds are used in your child’s school. To volunteer, contact the school office or school principal.

Parent Right To Know - Title I