Title I: Improving Academic Achievement
The purpose of Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is 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.
Part A: Improving Basic Programs Operated By Local Education Agencies
Title I, Part A provides financial assistance to school districts and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. School districts target the Title I, Part A funds they receive to schools with the highest percentages of children from low-income families. Unless a participating school is operating a schoolwide program, the school must provide Title I, Part A services in a targeted assistance program.
Targeted Assistance Program
A Targeted Assistance Program provides services to specific, identified children who are failing, or at risk of failing, to meet state academic standards. The services must be supplementary to the regular education program, and coordinate with and support the regular education program.
Schoolwide Program
In a Title I, Part A Schoolwide Program, state, local and federal funds may be consolidated to upgrade the entire educational program of a school which serves at least 40% of students from low-income families.
40% Poverty Threshold Waiver
ESEA section 1114(a)(1)(B) permits a State educational agency (SEA) to waive the 40% poverty threshold requirement, after taking into account how a schoolwide program will best serve the needs of the students in the school in improving academic achievement and other factors. LEAs with Title I-A participating school that does not meet the 40% poverty threshold and wish to obtain a waiver to operate a schoolwide program must complete the RIDE’s wavier process.
Further Information about Title I, Part A