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Title I Schoolwide Programs - FAQ
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| Schoolwide Programs |
| What is a Schoolwide program? |
A Title I Schoolwide program is a method of delivering Title I services in eligible schools. It allows the school to address the educational needs of children living in impoverished communities with comprehensive strategies for improving the entire school so every student achieves high levels of academic proficiency.
Schoolwide programs have great latitude to determine how to organize their operations and allocate the multiple funding sources available to them. They do not have to identify particular children as eligible for services or separately track federal dollars. Instead, Schoolwide programs can use all allocated funds to increase the amount and quality of learning time. In this way, they can embrace a high-quality curriculum, according to a comprehensive plan that ensures all children meet the state's challenging academic standards.
Schoolwide programs serve all children in a school. All staff, resources, and classes are part of the overall Schoolwide program. The purpose is to generate high levels of academic achievement in core subject areas for all students, especially those students most in need. This purpose is achieved through:
| • High quality instruction |
| • Comprehensive reform strategies and methods that are based on the use of scientifically based research |
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| • Strategies and methods to improve teacher quality and professional development |
| • Consolidated use of funds |
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| Schoolwide Program Advantages |
| What are the advantages of becoming a Schoolwide program? |
| • When an entire school is the target of change, schools serving the most disadvantaged youth can achieve success. |
| • A Schoolwide program is built upon whole school reform strategies rather than separate, fragmented or add-on services. |
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| • The whole school takes responsibility for the success of each student. |
| • Integration and coordination of efforts toward unified goals provide for greater success. |
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| Eligibility Requirements |
| What are the eligibility requirements for Title I Schoolwide programs? |
| • The school's poverty level must be at least 40%. |
| • The school and district together decide the school should become a Schoolwide. |
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| • High-quality assistance and support is available to the school. |
| • The district approves, (with external technical assistance provider recommendations) the school's Schoolwide plan. This plan is developed over a one-year period by a diverse group of stakeholders, including teachers, principals, pupil services personnel, external assistance providers, and parents and community members. |
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| Developing an Acceptable Plan |
| What must be done to develop an acceptable plan? |
- Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment that identifies specific areas of academic need for all of the various populations of students at the school (including migrant students). As a result of this needs assessment, the resulting plan should reflect:
| • Challenging goals |
| • Identified areas of instructional strengths and weaknesses |
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| • Use of data driven decision-making |
| • A strong understanding of instructional approaches |
- Employ reform strategies designed to improve instruction throughout the school so all children can meet the State's proficient and advanced academic levels. Some of the strategies that should be included are:
| • Strengthen the core academic program through use of effective methods and strategies that reflect scientifically based research. |
| • Increase the amount and quality of learning time (such as extended school year, before and after school and summer school programs and opportunities) and help provide an
enriched and accelerated curriculum. |
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| • Include strategies to meet the needs of historically underserved populations, and those students who are most at risk of not meeting the State standards. |
- Ensure that instruction is provided by highly qualified teachers.
- Provide high-quality and ongoing professional development for teachers, principals, paraprofessionals and others as appropriate.
- Implement strategies to attract high-quality and qualified teachers to high-needs schools.
- Increase parental involvement in student achievement, in accordance with the requirements in section 1118.
- Assist children in the transition to the next level, such as from early childhood programs (i.e. Even Start, Head Start) to local elementary school programs.
- Include teachers in the decisions regarding the use of academic assessments in order to improve the achievement of individual students and the overall instructional program.
- Provide timely and effective assistance for students having difficulty meeting the proficient and advanced levels of academic performance.
- Coordinate Title I with other Federal, State and local resources, services and programs.
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| Resources |
| Where might one look for additional information on Schoolwide programming? |
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For more information contact Elaine Granke at (608) 267-1294 or Monica Notaro at (608) 267-9141.
Last updated on 6/12/2008 9:22:10 AM
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