Title I -What Parents Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions about Title I
Title I Annual Parent Meetings, August, 2009
What is Title I?
 “Title I” is short for the “Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965, reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.”
 Title I is the nation’s largest federal assistance program for schools.
 The purpose of Title I is to ensure that all children regardless of race/ethnicity or
social-economic status have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a
high-quality education and to reach high academic standards of achievement on
state assessments/tests. Snowden School is a “school in good standing” based
on the 2008-2009 TCAP scores. This means that Snowden has met academic
achievement standards of adequate yearly progress for its students as set by
the State Department of Education in compliance with expectations of the No
Child Left Behind law.
 Title I serves millions of elementary and secondary students in schools each year
through either schoolwide or targeted assistance programs. Snowden is a Title I
schoolwide program.
1) Schoolwide Title I programs serve all students in a school. Schools in which
a specified percent of the students meet certain income guidelines are
designated as schoolwide programs. Schoolwide programs can combine Title
I funds with other federal, state, and local funds to improve school programs.
2) Schoolwide Title I programs allow schools to offer more services to help
students in the classroom, such as tutoring; to provide extra resources for
instruction and learning, such as computers and additional instructional
materials; to provide teachers/staff with extra professional
development/training; and to provide a variety of teaching methods and
materials.
How Does Title I Work?
Federal, state and local governments work together in the following ways:
 The federal government provides funds to states submitting a plan that describes
(1) what all students are expected to know and be able to do; (2) the standards of
performance that all students in that state are expected to meet; (3) ways to
measure the progress of schools in that state.
 The state educational agency sends the money to school districts that qualify.
 The local school district identifies eligible schools and distributes Title I
resources.
How Does Title I Help Students?
Title I schools strive to:
 Identify students most in need of educational help;
 Set goals for improvement; state standards help schools measure progress by
comparing assessments of all students;
 Measure student progress using standards set in the state’s Title I plan; student
progress is measured each year by administrators, teachers and parents to ensure
all students are reaching the goals set for improvement;
 Involve parents in all aspects of the program; a school family engagement plan
helps parents understand and take part in the school’s efforts;
 The parent/student/teacher/school compact states the goals and responsibilities
of parents, students and schools.
How do parents become an important part of the Title I team?
You can make a difference by participating in your child’s education by doing the
following:
 Attend school events
 Join parent organizations (PTA, Watch D.O.G.S., etc.)
 Attend parent-teacher conferences; review progress reports/communications
concerning your child and the school
 Be a volunteer in your school
 Meet other parents and teachers
 Talk about homework with your child
 Show how schoolwork relates to daily life
 Keep teachers informed about events and issues that may affect your child’s work
or behavior
How are Title I schools evaluated?
 The Title I Schoolwide program is reviewed and revised each year by
administrators, teachers and parents. An annual school improvement plan is
written that supports the goals and needs of the school.
 Title I programs are monitored for compliance each year by personnel from local,
state, and federal agencies.
Everyone benefits from Title I. Thank you for being a part of
a winning team at Snowden School.
Memphis City Schools does not discriminate in its programs or employment on the basis of race, color,
religion, national origin, handicap/disability, sex or age.