Title I

The federal government provides Title I funds to Indiana each year. To obtain the funds, Indiana must submit a plan describing the academic standards children are expected to meet (i.e. Indiana Academic Standards) and how we will measure their academic progress. Indiana then allocates Title I funding to school corporations. The amount of money a school district receives is based on census data indicating the proportion of low-income children. Districts with the highest percentage of children from low-income families receive the most money. School corporations target the Title I funds they receive to the schools with the highest percentage of children from low-income families. In addition, under Title I, participating public school corporations are required to provide supplemental educational services for eligible private schools students.

Nationwide there are more than 50,000 public schools, approximately 12.5 million students, that receive Title I funds. Title I funds may be used for children from preschool to high school. However, 65% of the students served are in grades 1-6 while another 12% are in preschool and kindergarten. In Indiana, 97% of school corporations receive Title I funding.

Schools with poverty rates of 40% or higher are eligible to implement a school-wide Title I program. The purpose of a school-wide program is to improve student achievement throughout the entire school. Individual students are not identified as eligible to participate. Rather, every child will benefit from the added services and programs that a school-wide Title I educational program provides, which will improve the achievement of all students, particularly those who are low achieving. In addition, a school must develop and implement the improvement plan with the involvement of parents, teachers, principals, and administrators. Essentially, a school-wide program helps a school do more for all of its students.

Administrators, teachers, and Title I staff work to:

 

• Identify students most in need of educational help, regardless of income
• Measure student progress utilizing state and local standards
• Set goals for improvement
• Implement research-based instruction to supplement regular classroom instruction.
• Improve professional knowledge and skills through continuing education.
• Involve parents in all aspects of the school's Title I program.

Schools receiving Title I funds are evaluated each year by administrators, teachers, and parents using state and local assessments to determine if the school has made adequate yearly progress. If the program goals have not been met, program and school improvement plans are revised.

Parental involvement is a critical component of the Title I legislation. Schools receiving Title I funding are obligated to implement programs, activities, and procedures for the involvement of parents in school-related programs. Schools may also provide opportunities for parents to increase their knowledge and skills related to their children's education. Such programs, activities, and procedures must be planned and implemented for parents of participating children. Parents can also find information and resources on the Parent Portal at the Indiana Department of Education as well as Indiana Partnerships Center.

The more involved parents are in their child's education, the more success a child will have in school. We encourage all parents to become an active member in their child's education. You can become more involved by:

 

• Joining parent organizations
• Supporting school activities
• Volunteering at school
• Attending parent-teacher conferences
• Communicating with your child's teacher regularly by writing notes, telephone, or e-mail
• Sharing ideas with parent organizations, parent meetings, and your child's teacher are other ideas for parent involvement

The 2023-2024 Annual Meeting video can be found here.