Title I

  • Title I is a financial subsidy that targets resources to certain schools and particular children. This federal funding source began in 1965 through the nation's Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Over the years, Title I has reviewed and revised its regulations and has resulted in the present Title I grant, which is governed by standards-based reform initiatives.

    Again, the Title I grant regulations support the same sound teaching and learning practices that are evidenced throughout Pennsbury's Services and Support efforts. They include attention to high-level thinking skills and problem-solving, the use of educational technology, the importance of clearly articulated standards, and the significance of parental involvement in a child's schooling.
     
    Dr. Elizabeth Aldridge is the Federal Programs Coordinator for Pennsbury, and she can be reached by email at ealdridge@pennsburysd.org. 
     
    Each Title I school has a link to the essential Title I documents listed under "Our School."
     

    About Title I

    Title I is the largest federally funded program for private and public schools in the nation. The Federal Government disburses funds to each state, and the state Department of Education releases those funds to local school districts based on the number of families within the district that fall below a set level of income.

    The goal of the Title I Program is to provide additional instructional services to students who qualify under the guidelines of the No Child Left Behind Law as being in need of some additional support. Parent Involvement is an integral part of the program. 

    Title I in Pennsbury

    The Title I Program in Pennsbury consists of extra support in reading/language arts at the elementary level. Six schools in the district receive these services: Eleanor Roosevelt Elementary, Fallsington Elementary, Manor Elementary, Oxford Valley Elementary, Penn Valley Elementary, and Walt Disney Elementary.

    Parents Right to Know 

    If you are the parent of a student attending a school receiving Title I funds, you have the right to request the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child's classroom teachers:

    • Whether the Pennsylvania Department of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches;  
    • Whether the Pennsylvania Department of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances; 
    • The teacher's college major, as well as any advanced degrees that he or she may have attained; 
    • Whether any paraprofessionals provide services to your child, and, if they do, their qualifications.

    You also have the right to be notified if your child is being taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not considered to be highly qualified for the subject area in which they are teaching.

    If you would like to receive any of this information, please send a request in writing to the principal of your child's school. In addition to specifying the information you would like to receive, please be certain to include your name, address, and a telephone number at which you can be contacted during the day.

    Join the Parent Advisory Committee

    Parent Involvement is an important component of the Title I program. Parent ideas and feedback are encouraged and welcomed in the planning process and throughout the school year.

    The Parent Advisory Committee in Pennsbury consists of parents from the six Title I schools who have an interest in helping to make the program the best that it can be. The committee is headed by Mary-Margaret Pannick, Pennsbury's Federal Programs Coordinator. Meetings are held once a year. During this meeting, the program is reviewed and special parent projects are implemented.

    If you would like to make a difference by becoming a member of the Parent Advisory Committee, please call Mrs. Heather Moran at (215)428-4100 ext.70965 or email her at hmoran@pennsburysd.org.

    Conference Tips

    Parent Teacher conferences are a time for you to get a clear picture of how your child is doing in school.  Since teachers need to conference with many parents, time is limited.  To get the most of the time that you have, think about what it is that you really want to know before the conference and make a list of questions to ask.  Here are some suggestions that may help facilitate the conversation between you and your child's teachers:

    • What skills and knowledge will my child be expected to master this year?
    • How do you evaluate student progress?
    • What standardized tests will you use this year, and how will I be informed of those results?
    • How can I be involved in my child's academic progress?
    • How do you accommodate differences in learning?
    • How can I help my child at home?
    • How much help should I give with homework?
    • How did my child do in the assessments that were used to determine Title I placement?
    • What are my child's needs and strengths?
    • How is my child doing in relation to the other students in the grade level?
    • What is the best way to contact you when I have questions?

    Be prepared to share useful information about your child, and you are sure to have a productive and informative conversation with your child's teacher.