What is Title I?

Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards (https://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/index.html).

The Title I program is designed to provide compensatory educational support to disadvantaged children. Services are based solely on academic need. A primary goal of Title I is to raise student achievement in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. We also focus on Family and Community Engagement (FACE) and the McKinney-Vento Student Assistance Act. 

Why do Title I funds matter?

Today, high school graduation rates are at all-time highs. Dropout rates are at historic lows. And more students are going to college than ever before. These achievements provide a firm foundation for further work to expand educational opportunity and improve student outcomes under ESSA. (https://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/index.html)

How are Title I funds being used?

Funds are dependent upon low-income rates and performance data across the State. You can review this information on the Delaware Report Card site. Funding allocated to the school district and individual schools is based on their level of poverty. The Title I program may also provide supplemental educational services so that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Each identified Title I school is allocated funds to be spent toward FACE each year during the consolidated grant process. The McKinney-Vento Student Assistance Act requires that sufficient funds be set aside to address the educationally related needs of homeless children who are in Title I and non-Title I schools.  Additional funds are set aside to provide services to Red Clay students attending private schools in New Castle County who have identified academic needs in math or reading and reside within an attendance zone for a Red Clay Title I school.