The Title 1 Program at the Secaucus Public School District
What is Title I?Title I is a federal grant offered through the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 that provides assistance to schools that meet certain criteria. The purpose of Title 1 is to provide financial assistance for resources and instruction to schools where economically disadvantaged students attend. This is not to say that only the economically disadvantaged receive support. Any student, regardless of their socio-economic status, can qualify for Title 1. Specifically, Title 1 money helps students access the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics and Secaucus’ rigorous curricula in those subjects. Research shows that this assistance has the potential to increase student achievement. Funds can be used solely for programs, materials and services that supplement, and do not supplant, the services that would be provided in the absence of these funds.
There are two kinds of Title I assistance: School-wide and Targeted Assistance. School-wide means the entire school qualifies for Title 1 support and is reserved with schools with very high rates of overall poverty. Targeted Assistance means that while there are enrolled students who come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, it does not reach the level of a school-wide program. Targeted Assistance means that the schools must actively seek out and provide additional resources, materials and instruction only for qualified students. In the 2019-2020 school year, the Middle School and the High School qualified for Targeted Assistance.
Our Title 1 Basic Skills program at the Middle and High School consists of either; 1. Smaller class sizes for ELA and Mathematics, or 2. Two certified teachers in each Basic Skills ELA or Mathematics classroom. Our targeted assistance funding through the Title 1 grant this year funds; 1. Four fully-certified teachers in ELA (two ELA, one middle school, one high school and two mathematics, one middle school and one high school) and 2. Supplemental supplies/services to create an equitable educational environment for our Basic Skills students.
How can did my child qualify for Title I services?
The teachers and administrators spend the late Spring collaborating with each other to ensure only identified students are provided Title I services. Data is gathered from various places including past standardized test scores, Renaissance assessments, teacher-created assessments, as well as teacher, supervisor, and/or guidance counselor recommendations to form as complete a picture of the students' academic performance as possible. Only when the district has achieved triangulation - at least three data points that lead toward support – is the student considered qualified. The student is put into the "Basic Skills" classes in their schedule during the respective student scheduling period for each school. How can parents become more involved with the Title I program?
Title I has a parent involvement mission which is designed to:
As a parent of a student enrolled in a Title 1 program, you have the right to communication from the school. Furthermore, you have the right to "opt out" your child from the program if you do not feel being part of it is in his/her best interest. Finally, the school is responsible for holding a parent information meeting to inform parents and guardians of the program and its benefits. It is strongly encouraged that the parent or guardian becomes an active participant in the students overall education. Research clearly shows that a strong relationship between the school and the parents correlate to improved student academic performance.
If you have any questions about the Title 1 program, please contact your student's Guidance Counselor.
For more information see the presentation below:
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