What is Title 1?
What is a Title 1 School?
Most educators, parents and community members have heard the term Title 1 School. Being able to answer what is a Title 1 school as established by the U.S. Department of Education, however, is more difficult. Originally, the idea of Title 1 was enacted in 1965 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. This policy committed to closing the achievement gap between low-income students and other student. The policy was rewritten in 1994 to improve fundamental goals of helping at-risk students. With the implementation of No Child Left Behind, schools must make adequate yearly progress on state testing and focus on best teaching practices in order to continue receiving funds.
What is the Purpose of Title 1 Funding?
According to the U.S. Department of Education the purpose of Title 1 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.”
The basic principles of Title 1 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 1 funds, at least 40% of students must enroll in the free and reduced lunch program.
How is Crestwood Elementary using their Title 1 Funding?
At Crestwood, funding is used to target "at-risk" students ( those in lowest 25% on diagnostic reading test) by supplementing their in-class instruction with additional small group practice with a Reading Specialist. These small groups meet daily for about 45 minutes to work on specific reading strategies seen as needs for these students. Needs are determined through one-on-one assessments administered by the Reading Teacher.
