Ferderbar Elementary Title I Parent Handbook 2024-2025

Ferderbar Elementary Title I Handbook

OVERVIEW OF TITLE I PROGRAM

OVERVIEW OF TITLE I PROGRAM Title I is a 100% federally funded supplemental education program that provides financial assistance to local educational agencies to improve educational opportunities for educationally disadvantaged children. Title I programs are designed to help children meet the state content and performance standards in reading, language arts, and mathematics. In buildings with 40% or more poverty, LEAs may use the funds to upgrade the entire curriculum of the school and are Schoolwide Programs. In buildings with less than 40% poverty, programs are designed to help specific children and are targeted assisted programs.

The funds are allocated each year based on a grant proposal submitted by the Neshaminy School District and can be used solely for providing help to these children. Evaluation of the program is continual during the year. Specific guidelines must be followed to qualify for funding. The guidelines are as follows: Title I funds flow to states and school districts on a formula basis. The formula takes into account the number of low-income children and the statewide average per pupil expenditures. Resources within the state are targeted to the districts and schools with the greatest need.

SELECTION OF SCHOOLS There are presently five elementary schools within the Neshaminy School District which qualify for Title I services (Joseph Ferderbar, Herbert Hoover, Walter Miller, Albert Schweitzer, and Tawanka). The selection of the schools is based on the number of students receiving free or reduced lunches in the individual schools. This selection method is mandated by the state, although there is not necessarily a correlation between a child requiring free lunches and the same child experiencing difficulty in reading/math.

CURRICULUM The Title I curriculum is designed to support the classroom programs. Lessons are designed to strengthen the reading and/or math ability of the students. All the literacy materials and teaching techniques used in the Title I program are designed to complement and reinforce the existing reading instruction in the regular classroom. In addition, support will be provided in the area of math based on student needs. Our goal by the end of the school year is to improve reading and/or math performance of all participating students based on identified areas of need.

EVIDENCE OF EFFECTIVENESS Annual testing results indicate that on average, Neshaminy Title I students show gains which exceed gains shown in most Title I programs throughout Pennsylvania. The NSD Title I program has been recognized by the United States Department of Education as an Unusually Effective Schools Program. Performance assessment data collected at the end of each year indicate that students show measurable growth during the first year in the program and continue to improve their literacy skills from year to year.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT The Neshaminy School District recognizes that the involvement of parents and their support of student learning are important factors in helping students meet with success. School Board Policy #918 states that: The Board recognizes that meaningful parent and family engagement contributes to the achievement of state academic standards by students participating in Title I programs. The Board views the education of students as a cooperative effort among the school, parents, family members, and community. Neshaminy recognizes the importance of developing and maintaining ongoing communication with parents of students receiving assistance in our Title I program. It is important that parents receive information concerning their opportunities for involvement, their child's eligibility for the Title I program, their child's educational progress, and their rights of parents to receive information and to participate in the education of their children. To assist parents in becoming active participants, the following programs and procedures are followed

: • An annual meeting is held at the beginning of each school year to explain the Title I program, goals, each school’s involvement in the Title I program, specific information about the format of the program, and the rights of parents to be involved.

• Parents of students in the Title I program are given the opportunity to provide feedback about the Title I Parent & Family Engagement Policies at the district and school level.

• Parents also have the opportunity to help the Neshaminy School District 4 | Page and the individual school staff in planning, reviewing, and improving the Title I program.

• Parent surveys are used to solicit feedback about programs and policies, and information is provided to parents in many other ways including: presentations and workshops held throughout the school year, school newsletters, parent conferences, and the school district website.

• Of particular importance are parent teacher conferences where teachers will discuss with parents the progress of their child, ways to monitor progress, individual student assessments, proficiency levels, grade level standards, and the Title I program. In addition to the scheduled conference, other conferences are scheduled upon request.

• Parents are also invited to participate in school events and volunteer in activities at the school.

• Parent training and workshop sessions are held in schools that are specific to Title I and are planned based on feedback and interests of parents.

•Parents are also given the opportunity to participate in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs.

•Information at the school and district level is provided regarding the rights of parents to information about school staff working directly with their children.

•A Complaint Resolution Process is in place and outlined for parents on the district website. Important Parent Involvement Terms & Opportunities: The Home-School Compact outlines how parents, teachers and students will share the responsibility for improved student achievement.

*A Parent & Family Engagement Policy/Plan is developed with parents early in the year. Back-to-School Night is held each fall in all the public elementary schools. Parents are invited to meet with classroom teachers. Title I Literacy Specialists are available to answer any questions or concerns you may have at this evening session.