Parents’ Guide to Title I Programs in ACSD
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your school uses title 1 funds
What is Title I?
Title I is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to states and school districts to meet the needs of educationally at risk students. Some Title I schools offer school wide programs available to all students, while some offer a targeted assistance program for eligible students. Both program types provide extra educational assistance beyond the regular classroom.
What is the purpose of Title I funding?
According to the US Department of Education, the purpose of Title I funding “is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach, at minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.”
What do Title I programs offer?
Supports offered through Title I include:
- small group instruction in or outside the classroom to supplement and support practices to increase classroom learning
- extra time for teaching students the skills they need
- a variety of teaching methods to reach academic goals
- additional teaching materials which supplement a student’s regular instruction
- instructional goals targeted to your student’s needs
- opportunities for professional development for school staff
How can I get involved?
You can influence the success of your child by becoming an active participant in your child’s school.
Communicate: Stay informed and respond in a timely fashion to communications from your child’s teacher and school and from Addison Central School District.
Be an example: Demonstrate the importance of education by reading, attending school events (like parent teacher conferences and open houses), and chatting with your child about school.
Volunteer: Volunteer at your child’s school. Consider helping with extracurricular activities and field trips. Participate in and support parent involvement at school.
Provide Support: Help your child with class work, homework, and future education plans.
Get involved: Join parent committees (like your school’s PTO) and district and school planning teams.
Collaborate with the community: Participate in parent activities with other families. Tap into local community resources (e.g., libraries, universities, community centers) to increase awareness of services and opportunities available to your child.
Celebrate your student’s progress: Acknowledge your child’s progress when new skills are learned and goals are met.
Parental Rights
Teacher Qualifications: The Every Student Succeeds Act requires schools that receive Title 1 money to notify parents that they can ask for and receive specific information about a teacher's qualifications. As a parent of Addison Central School District, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child's classroom teachers:
- If the teacher has met state licensing requirements for the grade level and subjects in which the teacher is providing instruction;
- If the teacher is teaching under an emergency status for which state licensing requirements have been waived;
- The type of college degree major the teacher has and the field of discipline for any graduate degree or certificate; and
- If your child is receiving Title I services from paraprofessionals and, if so, his/her qualifications.
Assessment: Parents of students in Title I schools have the right to request information about any State or local education policy regarding student participation in Federal, State, or locally required assessments, including information about policy, procedure, or parental rights to opt children out of assessments, where applicable. For information, ask your school principal.
School and Home Compact
The ACSD School and Home Compact is an agreement between home and school regarding the commitments to successful learning. This is necessary to fulfill our educational purpose and mission to provide each student with the knowledge and skills necessary to become an independent learner, a contributing member of the community, and a responsible citizen. Sharing responsibilities and becoming a Home-School Team can make the winning difference in student success.
The ACSD Title I Schools have a common School and Home Compact which highlights shared responsibilities among students, home, and school to enhance academic achievement.
Please share your thoughts, suggestions, questions, and/or ideas regarding this compact. It is hoped that this compact will be helpful for discussions between teachers and parents/guardians about how better student performance can be encouraged and achieved.
Student Commitment
ACSD students will:
- Do their best in class and complete all work on time.
- Respect themselves, their teachers, and others, and be a cooperative learner.
- Make sure that they clearly understand teacher directions and assignments.
- Keep parents and guardians informed about their progress in school.
- Be responsible in bringing all school communications home and back to school as needed.
Home Commitment
ACSD parents/guardians will:
- Send their children to school prepared to learn.
- Attend parent/teacher conferences in order to discuss the academic progress of their children and visit the school or call in order to keep lines of communication open.
- Follow the “chain of command” in expressing concerns (begin with the teacher).
- Provide a regular place, time, and support for their children in order for them to complete their homework responsibilities.
- Help support the school in various ways.
School Commitment
ACSD staff will:
- Convene an annual meeting to inform parents/guardians of school’s participation under Title 1.
- Provide interactions with students that enhance the learning environment.
- Demonstrate knowledge of content and methods of teaching.
- Monitor and evaluate student progress/achievement and communicate that information with families on an ongoing basis.
- Exhibit creativity and vision toward the pursuit of goals for school improvement.
- Demonstrate continued professional development and commitment.
- Provide opportunities for parents/guardians to meet periodically with school staff to promote positive communication between school and community.