What does this mean, and what is the benefit for the elementary students in the West Central School District?

Title I is a federally funded program designed to ensure that all students have a fair and equal opportunity to obtain a high quality education, particularly those identified as most at-risk for meeting our state’s academic standards. Both Hartford Elementary and Humboldt Elementary are Title I school wide schools and have the assistance of Academic Interventionists to help support students in the content areas of reading and mathematics. The staff in these buildings regularly examine all students’ assessment data. Students displaying a deficit in an area of reading or math may receive additional support to help them become proficient. 

A schoolwide program may use its Title allocation to upgrade the entire educational program of the school in order to raise academic achievement for ALL students at the school.  Intervention services are offered to struggling students without the stigma attached to the Title I student classification. Flexible instructional groups based on assessment data and using Response to Intervention (RtI) continue to allow for specific, targeted instructional practices in all classrooms. School-wide Title I allows for increased differentiation opportunities and support based on student needs. School-wide allows for greater flexibility and more effective use of time. While parent notification of additional services to students is not required in a Schoolwide program, it remains important to us at West Central that families are communicated with on a regular basis.

As a part of the Title I program’s federally required documentation, all Title I families will be provided a school-parent compact in monthly elementary newsletters. This compact is a promise that the school, the parents, and the student will all work toward helping the student meet academic standards.  Family engagement  is very important, and in fact, one of the components of a schoolwide program requires the school to employ strategies to increase family engagement. We believe that active family involvement is essential and is a shared responsibility for the success of each and every student. Our goal is a school-home partnership that will help all students to succeed. 

Professional Qualifications of Teachers

Parents/guardians of each student attending a building that receives Title I funds may request and the district must provide in a timely manner, information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers and any paraprofessionals providing services to their child.

​In addition, parents/guardians of students attending a building that receives Title I funds will be notified if their child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks, by a teacher or a person who is not appropriately certified.