Title I Overview
Title I began with the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, which provided federal funding for high-poverty schools to help students who are behind academically and at risk of falling behind. The intent of Title I is to help ensure that all children have the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on challenging State academic content and performance standards.
Services can include hiring teachers to reduce class size, tutoring, purchase of instructional equipment, materials and supplies, parental involvement activities, professional development, pre-kindergarten programs, and hiring teachers and paraprofessionals.
Title I schools are identified based on the poverty percentage for each school. Schools that are identified as Community Eligibility Schools receive a 1.6 multiplier since the poverty levels in these schools are based only on direct certification. Poverty levels in non-CEP schools are determined based on free/reduced lunch applications.
Components of a Title I School
A Title I schoolwide program is a comprehensive program used to upgrade the complete educational program in a Title I school thus raising academic achievement for all students. The schoolwide program is available to schools with a student base where at least 40% come from low-income families. The primary goal is to ensure all students, particularly those who are low-achieving, demonstrate at least proficient levels of achievement. Within the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) all school-wide programs that want to continue receiving funds must conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and an appropriate plan, and conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of the program.