Title I is the United States Federal Government’s largest education program to support public schools. Through Title I, money is given to school districts based on the number of low-income families in each district. Each district uses its Title I money for extra educational services for children most in need of educational help. The focus of the Title I program is to help every child receive a high quality education and to achieve the high academic standards set by the State of Tennessee.

The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) gives a share of Title I funds to each state based on the percentage of poverty in the state. The Tennessee Department of Education (TN.gov) then gives the money to school districts based on district poverty.

• Being a Title I school means receiving federal funding (Title I dollars) to supplement the school’s existing programs.  These dollars are used for:
  • Identifying students experiencing academic difficulties and providing timely assistance to help these students meet challenging content standards.
  • Hiring supplemental staff to provide academic support
  • Purchasing supplemental programs, materials, and supplies
  • Providing high-quality sustained professional development for faculty and staff
  • Conducting parent and family engagement meetings, trainings and activities

Which schools qualify for Title I funding in Fayetteville City Schools?

• • Ralph Askins Elementary School
  • Fayetteville Middle School

• How does Title I support students?
  Title I Schools set annual goals for school improvement, measure student progress using Tennessee State Standards, and provide programs and services beyond what the district usually provides. Such as:
  • • Providing supplemental academic programs and resources
    • Providing additional supports during the school day
    • Supporting teachers with professional development and job embedded coaching in the content areas to improve instruction
    • Providing liaisons to support students and families
    • Providing additional Preschool programs in Title I schools
    • Providing tutoring before or after school or during the summer

How does Title I support families?
Schools are required to plan how they will involve parents in the education of their children. Each school must write, with the help of parents, a school Family Engagement Plan.  The school’s Family Engagement Plan describes how schools and families work together to help children succeed.  Schools also work with parents to develop a School Compact that serves as a contract between caregivers and the school committing to support the student through a partnership where both parties prioritize student achievement.  Schools must include parents in decisions about how to better meet the needs of their students, improve education in their schools, use Title I funds to build the capacity of parents and staff, and increase student achievement.

• • Some ways Title I funds may be used to support parents, build capacity, and include parents in decision making include:
    • Host activities to help families with assisting their children with learning
    • Build parent capacity to support their child’s learning 

• Parents are an important part of the Title I team and are partners with the school in helping all students achieve. Title I parents have certain rights.  As the parent of a child in a Title I school, you have the right to: 
  • • Be involved in the planning and implementation of the parent involvement program in your school 
    • Request progress reports on your child and school 
    • Request information about the professional qualifications of your child’s teacher(s) including the degrees and certifications held, and whether the teacher is certified in their respective area of instruction 
    • Know if your child has been assigned, or taught by a teacher that is not highly qualified for at least four consecutive weeks
    • Help develop your school’s plan for how parents and schools can work together
    • Help decide if Title I is meeting your child’s needs, and offer suggestions for improvement

• A School-Parent Compact is a shared agreement that describes how parents, children, and the school will work together to support the child’s learning. The School-Parent Compact should be shared at the beginning of the school year with parents and then reviewed during conferences. Title I parents have the right, by law, to be involved in the development and revision of the School-Parent Compact.  The Compact has 3 sections - parent section, student section, and school section.  The school section must include 6 required components:
  • Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction
  • Hold parent-teacher conferences
  • Provide parents with reports on their child’s progress
  • Provide parents reasonable access to staff
  • Provide parents opportunities to volunteer
  • Ensure regular two-way meaningful communication between family members and staff, to the extent practicable, in a language family members can understand
  • Ralph Askins Compact in English
  • Ralph Askins Compact in Spanish
  • Fayetteville Middle Compact in English
  • Fayetteville Middle Compact in Spanis