Title I Schoolwide Program

Proposal for Change

What is Title I

Title I — A Federal Program with the goal of Improving The Academic Achievement Of the Disadvantaged.

The purpose of this title is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on New Jersey Common Core Standards and state academic

assessments.

Funding

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.

Understanding Title I Program Models

Targeted Assistance Program (current Bound Brook Elementary School Program).

Schoolwide Program (proposed Bound Brook Elementary School Program).

Targeted Assistance Program(current program)

Eligibility: A school is eligible for a targeted assistance Title I program if it serves an eligible Title I school attendance area.

Allowable Expenditures A targeted assistance school uses Title I funds to support programs for eligible children, i.e., children who are failing, or at risk of failing, to meet the state’s standards.

Student Selection A targeted assistance school is required to identify participants in the Title I program using educationally related, objective, and uniformly applied criteria.

Schoolwide Program(proposed Program 2014-15)

Schoolwide Eligibility: A school is eligible to become a Title I schoolwide program if it has a poverty level of at least 40 percent and it is receiving Title I funding.

Allowable Expenditures: A schoolwide program uses Title I funds to upgrade the entire educational program of the school. Title I funds can be used to serve all children.

Student Selection: A schoolwide program is not required to identify particular children as eligible for Title I services.

Why Change?

Approximately 74% of Bound Brook Elementary School students meet the requirements to receive Free or Reduced lunch.

Approximately 70% of Bound Brook Elementary School students speak a language other than English in their homes

Fifty-six percent of the total student population in Grades three through eight failed to attain proficiency in Language Arts Literacy as measured by NJASK state assessment.

Thirty- four percent of the total student population in Grades three through eight failed to attain proficiency in Mathematics as measured by NJASK state assessment.

Why Change to Schoolwide model?

The numbers indicate the need for comprehensive schoolwide reform to assist all students in meeting the rigorous demands of the New Jersey Core Content Curriculum Standards. That comprehensive reform includes:

Reviewing all current Bound Brook curriculum, resources, and materials and to ensure alignment to the Common Core Standards.

Providing sustained high quality professional development to assist all elementary school teachers and staff in raising the academic achievement of all children.

Next steps

Parents and community are a vital part of the educational program. There will be a Title I Parent Involvement breakfast with the Title I Coordinator at Lafayette School on April 2, 2014, 9:00.

If you are unable to attend, please forward any questions about Title I to Ms. Fischer at efischer@bbrook.org