Fact Sheet: Title I Title I (Title One) is a federal education program to help low-income students get a good education. Title I money goes to schools in a school district with higher percentages of low-income students. Title I programs must help students meet high standards set by the state. How can I find out if my child's school is a Title I school? Your school or school district can tell you if your child's school receives Title I funds. There are two kinds of Title I schools. Targeted Assistance Schools use their money to give extra help to students who are farthest from meeting the state standards. Schools with over 50% low-income students can become Schoolwide Schools. Schoolwide schools can spend their Title I money on making the whole school better for all students. Even though schoolwide schools can help all students, they must particularly help low-income and limited-English proficient students. What do I have a right to expect in my child's Title I school? A place where all students are expected to meet high standards. Rather than think that some students can't learn, teachers believe that ALL students can learn. The law says that schools must enable all students to meet the standards. A place where all students are taught to meet the high standards. There are no students who are only taught "the basics," while others get to learn more challenging subjects. The law says that all students must have an "accelerated curriculum." An accelerated curriculum helps students learn more in a shorter period of time. A place where the teaching works. If students aren't learning, the school community figures out why. Then the school changes what it is doing until the program works for all students. The law says schools must use "effective instructional strategies." A place where teachers have the skills to teach all students. Title I says that schools must have "highly qualified professional staff." It also says that teachers must spend lots of time learning and updating their skills. A place where students get one-on-one help if they need it. Suppose your child is having trouble learning certain skills or concepts. Whether your child is in a schoolwide school, or is in a Targeted Assistance School's Title I program, he or she must be given one-on-one help. The law says that this help must be "timely" and "effective." A place where parents are welcome and involved in many ways in their children's education. Title I says that parents and school staff must plan the Title I program together. Also, parents must be included in reviewing the programs to see if they are working, and improving them if they aren't. Each school must have a parent involvement policy. This spells out how parents will be informed, trained and involved in planning for Title I, and in all parts of the program. After parents and the school develop the policy together, parents must approve it. Each school and parents must also agree on a school-parent compact. The compact says how the school, parents, and students will each work to make sure students are meeting the standards. How can I tell if the Title I program in my child's school is working? All students meet the standards. If all students aren't meeting the standards now, the school should make enough progress so that all students will meet them. To tell if a school is making progress, we look at "assessment" results -- usually on a statewide test. The results should show whether students served by Title I are meeting the standards set for all students. The school should also assess your child in other ways. The school's assessments should help you, your child, and the school know whether your child is meeting the standards, and how to give your child extra help if she needs it. Find out how your child's school measures progress, when any tests are given, and how the results are used. Compare the scores of your child, students served by Title I (if it is a Targeted Assistance School), and the whole school. Is your child meeting the standards? Are all groups of students meeting the standards? If not, are all groups of students making enough progress to really reach that goal? What else can I look for? Students who are having trouble learning get the extra help they need. Parents are involved in making decisions about the program. The school gives parents the information and training they need to be full partners in making Title I work. The school has good teachers. Teachers get the support they need to become even better. No students are placed in low tracks, where they are not learning to high state standards. from Supporting Our Kids: A Family-School-Community Campaign, copyright Center for Law and Education, 1996.   National Title I and School Reform Advocacy Project