Title I, Part A
Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
Title I is a federally-funded program that provides financial assistance to school districts and schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. Title I schools are determined by the percentage of students at each school who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Title I provides supplemental funding that may be used towards additional instructional staff, professional development, extended learning programs, and other strategies for raising student achievement in high poverty schools. Title I funds promote high academic achievement for all children, a greater focus on teaching and learning, flexibility to foster local initiatives coupled with responsibility for student performance, and improved connections among schools, parents, and communities.
As part of Title I Compliance requirements, we must make specific Title I information available to parents and families and the public (Parent and Family Engagement Plans, Home-School Compact, Parents Right to Know, etc.).
2023-2024 Sarasota County Schoolwide Title I Programs
Related Documents
Schoolwide Improvement Plans
Title I Common Questions
What is Title I?
Title I is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to school districts and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.
What is the Purpose of Title I?
The purpose of Title I is to provide supplemental funding that may be used to provide additional instructional staff, professional development, extended learning programs, and other strategies for raising student achievement in high poverty schools.
Critical program elements of Title I Schools:
Comprehensive needs assessment and schoolwide plan
Support for Title I Focus and Priority schools
Support for neglected and delinquent and migrant students
Coordination of services for homeless students
High-quality teachers and paraprofessionals
Professional Development
What Is A Title I School?
Title I schools are determined by the percentage of students at each school who are eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch.
Title I funds promote:
High academic achievement for all children
A greater focus on teaching and learning
Flexibility to foster local initiatives coupled with responsibility for student performance
Improved connections among schools, parents, and communities
Parents may find one or more of the following in a Title I school:
Intervention classes providing intensive assistance in reading, math, writing, and/or science
Additional resource teachers and paraprofessionals/assistants who are highly qualified
Additional training for school staff
A variety of teaching methods and materials
Special learning events for parents and families
Training for parents and families to help their child/children do better in school
Extended Day and Year Programs such as Before and After School Tutoring and/or Summer Learning Programs
What is Required of a Title I School?
Title I schools will provide parents and families of participating children with:
timely information about Title I programs;
a description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school;
academic assessments – such as the Florida Standards Assessment (FSA) and i-Ready - used to measure student progress and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet; and
if requested by parents, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and to respond to any such suggestions as soon as possible.
What if I want to find out how funds are spent?
As a parent, you have a voice in your child’s education. You are invited to give your input, suggestions, ideas, and opinions on:
The School Improvement Plan (SIP) also known as the Title I Schoolwide Plan
The Sarasota Parent and Family Engagement Plan (PFEP)
Your child’s School Parent and Family Engagement Plan (PFEP)
Your child’s School Home-School Compact
How Title I Parent and Family Engagement Funds should be spent
The full-text documents may be found at your child’s school. We value parents and families as partners and request your feedback.