Families and community stakeholders are invited to attend the second Eastern Shore Regional Conference, "Parenting Matters: Raising Successful Children". The conference will take place on Saturday March 6, 2010 from 8:15 AM - 3:00 PM at Wor-Wic Community College. We hope that you will attend this exciting event. Please visit the website for more details www.mdpirc.org
Title I – Overview
What is Title I?
Title I is a grant program authorized through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The purpose of Title I is to provide supplemental resources to economically disadvantaged schools to support the achievement of its students.
Additional information can be accessed through the U.S. Department of Education at
In Kent County’s Public Schools, elementary and middle schools that have Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) percentages of 35% or higher, are ranked in order and then identified for Title I participation. As a result of this participation, each of these schools receive a supplemental allocation to provide additional staffing, extended time for learning, family involvement, and professional development activities, as well as supplemental purchases of materials and equipment.
Which of Kent County’s Public Schools receive Title I funds?
• Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School, serving grade levels preK-4
• Rock Hall Elementary School, serving grade levels preK-4
• Chestertown Middle School, serving grade levels 5-8
• Rock Hall Middle School, serving grade levels 5-8
All of Kent County’s Title I schools are schoolwide programs. Schools are designated as schoolwide when at least 40 percent of the students are eligible for Free and/or Reduced Meals (FARMS). Title I funds are used to upgrade the entire school’s educational program so that the overall education of ALL children who attend the school can be improved. All children enrolled in the Title I school, including those with disabilities and children with limited English proficiency, are eligible to receive Title I services.
How Do Schools Receive Title I Funds?
The federal government provides funding to each state. State educational agencies send this money to school districts. The number of low-income students attending each school is the determining factor for how much money each school will receive, if any.
How Will Title I Help My Child?
The Title I program will provide your child with extra educational assistance beyond the regular classroom. In most cases, these additional services will include all or some of the following services:
• Smaller classes or special instructional areas
• Additional teachers and/or instructional assistants
• Opportunities for professional development for school staff
• Extra time for teaching Title I students the skills they need
• A variety of supplementary teaching methods
• An individualized program for students
• Additional teaching materials for the regular instructional program
Who to Contact?
County-wide
Dawn VanGrin
Coordinator of Federal and State Grants
410-778-6594
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School-based
Cheryl Vauls
Principal
Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School (schoolwide Title I school)
410-778-8107
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Brenda Rose
Principal
Rock Hall Elementary School (schoolwide Title I school)
410-639-2770
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Ed Silver
Principal
Chestertown Middle School (schoolwide Title I school)
410-778-8109
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Gary McCulloch
Principal
Rock Hall Middle School (schoolwide Title I school)
410-639-2773
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NCLB and Title I Law mandates that parents be informed of the following information:
Parent Involvement Policy
The parent involvement policy describes all Title I parent activities, meetings, trainings, and other opportunities for involvement that will be offered to Title I parents.
• Refer to the KCPS Board Policy – Parent Involvement Policy
Parent-School Compact
This is a jointly developed account of the partnership between the school, parents, and students for improving student achievement of state academic standards.
Title I Annual Parent Meeting
Parents must receive notice that the Title I program will host a required meeting detailing parents’ rights, the program’s intent, the services that will be provided, and overview of the Title I parent involvement policy, and the parents right to provide feedback on the Title I program.
Report of AYP Status
A copy of the school’s AYP report (Annual Yearly Progress) must go out to parents along with a description of what AYP means and the current status of the school in terms of AYP. The AYP report reviews the school’s annual progress on the state assessments to determine if AYP is being met and it identify schools and districts in need of improvement.
Schools Identified for Program Improvement or Corrective Action
A district must notify parents if they have been identified as a school in improvement. This notice must contain the following information:
1. An explanation of what the identification means
2. A comparison of how the school compares academically to other schools in the district and state
3. The reasons for the identification
4. What the school is doing to raise achievement
5. How parents can be involved in addressing academic problems
6. Opportunity for school choice (Chestertown Middle School and Rock Hall Middle School)
7. Opportunity for supplemental [tutoring] services (Chestertown Middle School)
8. Descriptions (if applicable) of corrective action and restructuring plans
Notice of Parent Right to Request Teacher and/or Paraprofessional Qualifications
Parents must receive a notification of their right to request information on teachers’ qualifications. If such a request is made, parents should receive information on whether teachers meet state certification requirements for the grade level and subjects they’re teaching, whether they are teaching via provisional waiver or emergency permit, their degree major and field of discipline as well as any graduate certification they hold. If their child receives any services from paraprofessional, parents should also be notified if the paraprofessional has met paraprofessional qualifications. All Kent County Title I schools have teachers and paraprofessionals that have met the state certification requirements, therefore all teachers and paraprofessionals are “highly qualified”.
Highly Qualified Means…
• The instructor has a degree from an accredited college or university in the subject which they teacher and they have passed all necessary tests to prove competency in the subject area.
• States must ensure that all teachers teaching core academic subjects are highly qualified by June 2006
• States and districts must support professional development to ensure that ll teachers become “highly qualified”
Parents…you can make a difference in the educational success of your child! Here’s how:
• Become an active participant in the Title I Programs at your child’s school
• Be a positive role model
• Teach your child that education is important
• Monitor your child’s academic progress
• Read to and with your child
• Practice math facts
Title I schools play an active role in engaging parents in the education of their child by:
• Making an effort to help families get involved by providing opportunities to teach parents how to help their child at home
• Establishing home-school compacts on how the school plans to work with parents to increase learning opportunities
• Creating environments in which teachers are valued and parents feel like partners
• Communicating with parents in an appropriate manner addressing any language barriers
Title I recognizes the vital role that parents, guardians and community members play in the education of their children. Decades of research have confirmed that students with involved parents are more likely to succeed in school. In accordance with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, the Title I office has developed a comprehensive parent/community involvement program, in collaboration with the Title I Parent Advisory Council (PAC).
Home-School Compacts
Each Title I school must develop, in collaboration with parents, a home-school compact, or agreement. It outlines how parents, the school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved academic achievement. This compact will be shared with and signed by all stakeholders. For more information about home-school compacts, contact your child’s school or http://ed.gov
Kent County Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
The PAC consists of stakeholder representation from all of Kent County’s Title I schools. This council collaborates with and can included representatives from Kent County Public Schools, parent/community offices, and/or other community organizations.
The PAC meets annually to:
• Discuss the impact of the federal, state, and local policies on Title I initiatives in KCPS and then participate in the dissemination of this information
• Plan and implement county-wide activities that build capacity for parent to work with their children to improve their academic achievement
• Provide advise and recommendations related to parent involvement and the Kent County Parent Involvement Policy
School-level Initiatives
Title I schools are required to develop, with parents, both a parent involvement statement and a home-school compact. In addition, each school develops a parent involvement program consisting of at least four parent/family outreach activities.
School Choice/Transfer Option in Kent County Public Schools
Under the federal law, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), students at certain schools receiving Title I funds may be eligible to request a transfer to another school in the district. Some Title I schools are identified as possibly eligible for this transfer option because they have not made adequate progress on the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) over a two year period. For more information about transfer option, please call Dawn VanGrin, Coordinator for Federal and State Grants at 410-778-6594.
What does it mean if my child’s school is labeled as being in
Title I School Improvement or Title I Corrective Action?
It means that the school receives Title I funds and at least one subgroup of students in that school has not met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in either reading or math or both subjects for at least two years in a row.
What happens to schools that are in Title I School Improvement or
Title I Corrective Action?
Parents/guardians must be offered the chance to send their child to a school that is not in Title I School Improvement. All Title I schools must develop and implement a School Improvement Plan that will enable the school to continue meet AYP in reading and math.
Who is eligible for school choice (transfer option)?
Parents/ guardians of children who attend a school that is in Title I School Improvement or Title I Corrective Action must be offered the chance for their child to attend a school that is not in school improvement.
How will I know if my child is eligible for school choice (transfer option)?
You will receive a written notice from the central office in the mail as soon as AYP data is available from the state.
How many choices will my child have?
State and federal regulations limit the 2008-09 choice to Galena Middle School.
How long will I have to make a decision about transferring my child?
Approximately two weeks.
How will I let Kent County Public Schools know if I want to transfer my child to the choice school (Galena Middle School)?
You will mail, fax, or deliver in person the Title I School Choice (Transfer Option) Form to the central office.
What kind of information will I receive about school choice (transfer option)?
You will receive information that describes the academic performance of students in the school offered for choice, as well as for your current school.
What if a new student enters school after the year begins; can he/she exercise school choice (transfer option)?
Yes, students who enroll in a Title I School that is in School Improvement or Corrective Action for the 2008-09 school year may exercise choice.
How long can a student attend a school of choice?
• If the school continues to be a Title I School in Improvement or Corrective action, the student can attend until the exit grade of the school.
• If the school is no longer a Title I School in Improvement or Corrective Action, the parent/guardian must apply for Out of Attendance Zone Placement. Parents/guardians will be responsible for transportation.
Who pays for transportation?
• Kent County Public Schools must set aside Title I funds to transport student.
• If a school is no longer a Title I School in Improvement or Corrective Action, the parent/guardian will be responsible for transportation.
Can parents transport their children to schools of choice?
Yes, but they will not be reimbursed by the school system.
Will Kent County Public School pay private companies to transport children to schools of choice?
No.
What happens if the school my child transfers into becomes overcrowded?
Lack of space cannot be a factor that prohibits school choice.
Will my child have access to all of the programs in the school he/she transfers to under a choice option?
Yes. However, parents must provide transportation home if their child wants to participate in the extended day program.
Must students with disabilities be offered school choice?
Yes, but they may or may not be offered the same choice as non-disabled students from the same home school. Kent County Public Schools will match the needs of students with disabilities with schools that have the ability to provide them a free and appropriate education.
Will my child be better off attending a “choice school”?
Not necessarily. Ask yourself if your child’s needs are being met at your current school. Is your child progressing well? Is your child challenged there? If the answers to these questions are “yes”, then you should question the advisability of transfer.
Supplemental Educational Services (SES)
Once a Title I school has failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for three consecutive years that school must offer a program called Supplemental Educational Services (SES). Supplemental services are additional academic instruction designed to increase the academic achievement of students that receive free-lunch and are enrolled in a school in improvement. This year, no KCPS Title I schools will need to offer SES because all have made AYP for at least two consecutive years.
The instruction is delivered by tutoring companies approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) who choose to serve students in Kent County and is free of charge for students and parents. Tutoring companies or providers may deliver services in the school or at home. They each have their own program and the number and duration of sessions varies for each. They must be provided outside of the regular school day and must be focused on increasing student achievement
How Can I Obtain an SES Application For My Child?
Kent County Public Schools will print and distribute of copies of the SES Application as well as a description of each tutoring company, including a short description of their program. The application packet will be distributed to the school where they will be distributed to students or can be picked up by parents. Parents will also have time to attend events to introduce them to the tutoring companies and their programs.
Parents must fill out one form per student. Applications with more than one student’s name will not be processed but returned to the school. Please fill out only one form for each student. If a parent wants a different choice than the ones on the application form, they may call the school or Board Office and request a change.
Please keep in mind that each child may receive only a set amount of service. If a child is transferred after sessions have started with one provider, they may be unable to receive the full benefit of the second provider’s program. It is vital to select a company carefully and to stay with that choice unless the chosen provider decides not to serve your child’s school.
Providers will contact eligible students who have chosen their company. In-school providers will work with principals and Coordinator of Federal and State Grants to establish classrooms for after-school use. In-home and online tutors will contact families to arrange the instructional schedule. In addition, the school and Coordinator of Federal and State Grants will work to verify participation in the SES program, will help students enroll in after school sessions, and may contact parents of at-home students to verify service.
It is the goal of the school that all students complete instruction before the Maryland Schools Assessment (MSA) is administered. In spite of the best efforts, not all students will meet this goal. KCPS works every year to get children enrolled and started early.
Which Title I Schools Are Eligible for SES?
None of the KCPS Title I Schools are eligible for SES because they have all made AYP for at least two consecutive years.
Schools that are required to provide supplemental services must:
• Annually notify parents of the availability of those services, including the identity and qualifications of approved providers and a description of the services they provide;
• Help parents select a provider, if such help is requested; and
• Enter into an agreement with a provider for each student that includes goals and a timetable for improving the student's achievement, regular progress reports, a provision for termination if the provider fails to meet the goals, timetables, and payment terms.
Who provided supplemental services?
Providers can be non-profit, including faith-based organizations, or for-profit entities with a "demonstrated record of effectiveness" in increasing student academic achievement. The provider must be capable of providing supplemental educational services consistent with the instructional program of the district and the state's academic standards. In the past, SES tutoring was provided by ATS Project Success, a computer based but because all of the KCPS Title I Schools have made AYP for at least two consecutive years, this service is no longer a requirement.
In addition, providers must give parents and the school information on the progress of the children served, ensure that instruction is consistent with state and local standards, including state student academic achievement standards, and meet applicable health, safety, and civil rights laws.
2007-2008 SES Data
Eligible School Name - Chestertown Middle School, grades 5-8
Total Funds Available for SES - $62,016.00
Per Pupil Allocation - $1,041.00
Total Number of Eligible Students - 113
Total Number of Funded Eligible Students - 60
Total Number of Students Receiving SES Services - 16
2008-2009 SES Data
Eligible School Name - Chestertown Middle School, grades 5-8
Total Funds Available for SES - $50,000.00
Per Pupil Allocation - $1,101.50
Total Number of Eligible Students - 101
Total Number of Funded Eligible Students - 45
Total Number of Students Receiving SES Services - 19
Title I – Non-Public Schools
Non-Public Schools
No Child Left Behind mandates that Title I services be available to any eligible non-public school. Title I provides funding for tutoring in reading and math to academically needy, income eligible students attending private schools in Kent County. Consultation between private school officials and KCPS occurs on a regular basis to discuss program implementation.
To determine whether or not your non-public school is eligible for Title I services please contact our offices.
Title I – Homeless Children
Servicing Homeless Children
All districts receive Title I funds must ensure that services are provided to children who are homeless. According to the No Child Left Behind law, the term “homeless children” refer to students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate residence.
Homeless students include those who:
• Are awaiting foster care placement
• Are abandoned in hospitals
• Live in motes, hotels or campgrounds
• Live in shelters
For this school year, Title I funds are used to support homeless student on an individual “as needs” basis throughout the county. If you have any questions regarding Title I services to homeless children please contact Darlene Spurrier, Supervisor of Pupil Services at (410) 810-3170 or Dawn VanGrin, Coordinator of Federal and State Grants at (410) 778-6594.
