Title I
Title I is a section of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was first enacted in 1965 and later reauthorized as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015. Title I is the largest federal assistance program for K-12 public schools in the United States and aims to ensure that all children have the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Goal of Title I
The overall goal of Title I is to provide schools with the resources they need to improve educational outcomes for low-income students and help them meet state academic standards. Title I funds can be used for:
- Extra academic help (e.g., tutoring or additional teachers)
- Professional development for teachers and staff
- School-wide programs aimed at improving student achievement
- Parent involvement programs
In Missouri and other states, Title I funding helps provide a more equitable education system by targeting resources to where they are most needed.
Key Features of Title I
Focus on Low-Income Students:
Title I is designed to provide additional funding to schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families. The goal is to bridge the achievement gap between students from disadvantaged backgrounds and their more affluent peers.
Targeted Assistance Programs:
These are for schools with less than 40% low-income students. Title I funds are targeted to help specific students who are identified as needing additional help to meet academic standards.
Funding Allocation:
Title I funding is allocated based on the number of low-income students in a school or district. The more students who are from low-income families, the more funding a school or district may receive.
Accountability and Reporting:
Schools receiving Title I funds must meet certain accountability standards, including annual testing of students and public reporting of results. The purpose is to ensure that the additional resources are being used effectively to improve student performance.
Title I Reports
Each school's Schoolwide Program Plan and School, Parent, and Family Engagement Policy involve parents/guardians in providing input, as well as helping with the decision-making process on how Title funds are used.
Schoolwide Program Plan
These are aimed at schools with 40% or more low-income students. They use Title I funds to improve the overall educational program for all students, not just those identified as struggling. These funds can be used for a variety of programs and services that benefit the entire school community. In Missouri, schools are required to seek input from parents and families when developing or revising a Schoolwide Program Plan, and this input is incorporated into the strategy for improvement.
School, Parent, and Family Engagement Policy
Title I emphasizes the importance of family engagement in a child's education. Schools are required to develop a School, Parent, and Family Engagement Policy and involve parents in decision-making about how the school plans to use Title I funds.
How to Access these reports:
All of this information is found on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website.
1. Go to the DESE Applications Sign-in page.
2. Click ePeGS on the left side of the screen, under the Public Applications section.
3. Using the dropdown arrow, select 048077 --- INDEPENDENCE 30 -or- uncheck the Verbatim Search checkbox, start to type in Independence, and click Select when the list narrows to 048077 --- Independence 30.
4. On the left side of the screen, click Funding Application Menu in blue.
5. From the gray bars in the middle of the screen. Navigate to the one that says Quality Schools. Click Show.
6. From the dropdown list that appears, click ESEA Consolidated.
7. On the left side of the screen, click Budget Application in blue.
8. There is now a table in the middle of the screen. Click Initial in blue, in the Version column.
9. On the left side of the screen, click ESEA Consolidated Plan in blue.
10. There is now a list in the middle of screen. Click School Level in blue.
This page that lists all ISD schools. From this page, select your student's school. This is where you will find both the Schoolwide Program and School, Parent, and Family Engagement Policy for your student's school.
PDF: How to access Title I reports