What Is Title I?
Title I is a federal grant program designed to give educational assistance to students living in areas of high poverty. The Title I program originated in 1965 when Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and was reauthorized in 2015 with the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Title I is one of the oldest and largest federal programs supporting elementary and secondary education in existence and over 90% of the school systems in the United States receive some sort of Title I funding.
The Title I program provides financial assistance through state educational agencies to local educational agencies and public schools with high numbers or percentages of low-income children to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic content and student academic achievement standards. Title I reaches about 12.5 million students enrolled in both public and private schools. Title I funds may be used for children from preschool age to high school, but most of the students served (65%) are in grades 1-6; another 12% are in preschool and kindergarten programs.
Title I Family – School Compact
VISION: Growing Determined Scholars
MISSION: In order to be successful, we will grow the whole child by encouraging a growth mindset and creating opportunities for our scholars to be determined and be inspired to reach their full potential.
STUDENT AGREEMENT
I will…
- Be a positive role model and leader in my classroom and in school.
- Be kind to and encourage others.
- Show respect throughout the day to all.
- Be an active participant in my education.
FAMILY/PARENT AGREEMENT
We will…
- Communicate with teachers and my child/children about their progress.
- Be a partner in maintaining a learning environment at home.
- Make sure my child/children attend school regularly and on time.
- Log into and check my Parent Vue account regularly.
TEACHER/STAFF AGREEMENT
We will…
- Provide a caring environment that respects the diversity of learners.
- Build relationships with students and their families.
- Provide high quality instruction to reach all students.
- Host family nights to encourage family engagement.
Title I Family Engagement School Policy
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Title I program is established to improve student achievement so that every student will graduate on time with the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community.
Leesylvania Elementary School will ensure effective involvement of families and will support a partnership among the school, parents, guardians, and community to improve student achievement in the following ways:
SCHOOL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT POLICY
- Review the Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy which is jointly developed and distributed to parents.
- Provide all parents with information about the schools’ participation in Title I at the Annual Meeting and inform parents of their right to be involved.
- Invite and encourage all parents to attend all Title I Family meetings and events. Inform parents that the school may provide support for them to attend meetings.
- Involve family participation in the planning, review, and improvement of the schools’ Title I Schoolwide/Continuous Improvement Plan
- Provide parents with information about the Title I program, the curriculum, academic assessments, and students’ expected proficiency levels.
- Notify the PWCS Title I Office if the Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children.
SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HIGH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
- Invite parents to volunteer, observe, and/or participate in their child’s class(es) and school.
- Include a schedule for parent-teacher conferences and progress reports.
- Invite parents to participate in events related to academics.
BUILDING CAPACITY FOR ENGAGEMENT
- Assist parents to understand the state’s academic content, achievement standards, and assessments.
- Communicate with families on a regular basis regarding their child’s progress in school; including school performance information and student assessment results.
- Provide materials and training to help parents support their children’s academic progress.
- Develop, in consultation with families, a Family-School Compact, stating how the school and families will share the responsibility for high student performance. Review the Family-School Compact annually with families and school staff.
- Educate teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and how to communicate and work with parents as equal partners.
- Coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement programs and activities with other federal and state programs supporting preschool, multilingual students, and students with disabilities.
- Ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to parents in a format that is practicable and in a language that parents can understand.
- Distribute annual parent surveys encouraging parents to respond to additional support needed to participate in parent and family engagement.
- Provide opportunities to participate in decision making at Parent Advisory Council meetings, Parent Teacher Organization meetings, and meetings related to Title I program planning.
ACCESSIBILITY
- Provide opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency and parents with disabilities in a format that is practicable and in a language that parents can understand.
Important Dates and Upcoming Title I Events
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Elementary Schools
- November 4, 2024
- January 22, 2025
LAST DAY OF GRADING PERIODS
- October 31, 2024
- January 17, 2025
- March 27, 2025
- June 12, 2025
TITLE I PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS (ADDITIONAL DATES MAY BE ADDED)
- Title I Annual Family Meeting September 24, 2024 and September 25, 2024
- Math Family Engagement Night December 5, 2024
- Reading Family Engagement Night March 6, 2025
- Title I “Summer Thrive” Family Event May 2025
PWCS Title I Program Site https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/title_i/index
School ESSA Summary https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/leesylvania-elementary#fndtn-desktopTabs-essa