Understanding
the Basics of Title 1 Funds:
Please
read the following document that describes the Title I Program.
A downloadable PDF version of this document is available by clicking on the "Important Documents" link on the left side of this page.
http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/11105.aspx
Understanding
the Basics of Title 1 Funds
Written
by: Sarah Malburg
• Edited by: Trent
Lorcher
Updated Oct 5, 2011 • Related Guides: U.S.
Department Of Education
Title
1 funds aim to bridge the gap between low-income students and other
students. The U.S. Department of Education provides supplemental
funding to local school districts to meet the needs of at-risk and
low-income students.
What's
it All About?
Most
educators, parents and community members have heard the term Title 1
School thrown loosely around, but what is it? Title 1 is the nation’s
oldest and largest federally funded program, according to the U.S.
Department of Education. Annually, it provides over $14 billion to
school systems across the country for students at risk of failure and
living at or near poverty. In fact, over the course of the 2009-2010
school year, federal funding through this program was used by over
56,000 public schools nationwide in order for struggling students to
meet state standards in a variety of subject areas.
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 students. 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
are Title 1 Funds Used?
How
to use Title 1 funds rests with each school. Title 1 funds can be
used to improve curriculum, instructional activities, counseling,
parental involvement, increase staff and program improvement. The
funding should assist schools in meeting the educational goals of
low-income students. According to the U.S. Department of Education,
Title 1 funds typically support supplemental instruction in reading
and math. Annually, this program reaches over six million students,
primarily in the elementary grades.
Types
of students that might be served by Title 1 funds include migrant
students, students with limited English proficiency, homeless
students, students with disabilities, neglected students, delinquent
students, at-risk students or any student in need. Students can be
classified as at-risk for numerous reasons. A few reasons they might
be classified as at-risk students include: high number of absences,
single-parent home, low academic performance
or low-income family.
Guidance
to Greatness
Due
to the government's federal initiatives to offer assistance to
students in need such as Title 1 funding, our schools will become
that much more equipped to help the same students achieve greatness
in the future.
References