Title I, Part A

Title I, Part A – Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies

All Scott County Schools are Title I schools.

What it is...

The purpose of the Title I, Part A program is to provide federal dollars to supplement educational opportunities for student who attend schools with high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families and are most at risk of failing to meet the state’s challenging academic achievement standards. Title I, Part A funds are to be used to provide all students significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) awards Title I grant funds to the Tennessee Department of Education (department), which subgrants funds to districts. Districts reserve funds for mandatory set-asides and other optional district-level instructional initiatives. The remaining Title I funds must flow to eligible schools through a formula known as “spiraling” (also referred to as “ranking and serving”). Eligible schools are determined by the district and are identified as Title I schools. Districts determine the amount of funding to be awarded to each Title I school based on the school’s student poverty percentage. Each Title I school determines the services provided by the Title I allocated funds through a series of steps. These steps include the development of a school-wide plan, a review to ensure the services meet the intents and purposes of Title I, and as defined by federal rule.

What it can fund...

To utilize funds for expenditures, all of the following must be met:

Reasonable in scope and cost
Necessary to meet program requirements
Allocable to the benefit received
Based on a comprehensive needs assessment

At the school level, there are two Title I program models:

School-wide program model: Any school with at least 40 percent poverty, or a state approved waiver, may operate a Title I school-wide program as long as the school conducts a comprehensive needs assessment and develops a school-wide plan for meeting those needs. The school-wide plan and its implementation must be regularly monitored and revised as necessary based on student needs to ensure that all students are provided opportunities to meet the challenging state academic standards. The premise behind the school-wide model is that comprehensive improvement strategies – rather than separate, add-on services – are most effective in raising academic achievement for the lowest achieving students in a school. This is best accomplished by a school addressing the root causes of low performance.

All students and staff may participate in Title I-funded activities.
The school may use Title I funds to support any reasonable activity designed to improve the school’s educational program as long as it is consistent with the school’s needs and school-wide plan.
Depending on its needs, a school-wide program school could use Title I funds for various activities
Upgrade the instructional material and equipment for
Implement an early warning system
Extend the school day or school year
Reorganize class schedules to increase collaborative teacher planning time
Provide tutoring or intervention services
Coordinate health and social services
Improve the school’s discipline process
Hire intervention teachers
Restructure classes to promote personalized learning
Implement career academies
Provide early postsecondary opportunities
Implement school safety programs
Address school climate or culture issues
Provide counseling and services such as mental health or school counselors
Fund dropout prevention services
Organize professional development
Increase family engagement
Non-Traditional: Funds for the arts including instructional personnel,
professional development, supplies, or education experiences/field trips
Non-Traditional: Provide early learning opportunities with preschool options