Title I Schoolwide Program

1. Title I Schoolwide Program Proposal for Change

2. What is Title I • Title I — A Federal Program with the goal of Improving The Academic Achievement Of the Disadvantaged. • The purpose of this title 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 New Jersey Common Core Standards and state academic assessments.

3. Funding • The basic principles of Title 1 state that schools with large concentrations of low-income students will receive supplemental funds to assist in meeting student’s educational goals. Low-income students are determined by the number of students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. For an entire school to qualify for Title 1 funds, at least 40% of students must enroll in the free and reduced lunch program.

4. Understanding Title I Program Models • Targeted Assistance Program (current Bound Brook Elementary School Program). • Schoolwide Program (proposed Bound Brook Elementary School Program).

5. Targeted Assistance Program(current program) • Eligibility: A school is eligible for a targeted assistance Title I program if it serves an eligible Title I school attendance area. • Allowable Expenditures A targeted assistance school uses Title I funds to support programs for eligible children, i.e., children who are failing, or at risk of failing, to meet the state’s standards. • Student Selection A targeted assistance school is required to identify participants in the Title I program using educationally related, objective, and uniformly applied criteria.

6. Schoolwide Program(proposed Program 2014-15) • Schoolwide Eligibility: A school is eligible to become a Title I schoolwide program if it has a poverty level of at least 40 percent and it is receiving Title I funding. • Allowable Expenditures: A schoolwide program uses Title I funds to upgrade the entire educational program of the school. Title I funds can be used to serve all children. • Student Selection: A schoolwide program is not required to identify particular children as eligible for Title I services.

7. Why Change? • Approximately 74% of Bound Brook Elementary School students meet the requirements to receive Free or Reduced lunch. • Approximately 70% of Bound Brook Elementary School students speak a language other than English in their homes • Fifty-six percent of the total student population in Grades three through eight failed to attain proficiency in Language Arts Literacy as measured by NJASK state assessment. • Thirty- four percent of the total student population in Grades three through eight failed to attain proficiency in Mathematics as measured by NJASK state assessment.

8. Why Change to Schoolwide model? • The numbers indicate the need for comprehensive schoolwide reform to assist all students in meeting the rigorous demands of the New Jersey Core Content Curriculum Standards. That comprehensive reform includes: • Reviewing all current Bound Brook curriculum, resources, and materials and to ensure alignment to the Common Core Standards. • Providing sustained high quality professional development to assist all elementary school teachers and staff in raising the academic achievement of all children.

9. Next steps • Parents and community are a vital part of the educational program. There will be a Title I Parent Involvement breakfast with the Title I Coordinator at Lafayette School on April 2, 2014, 9:00. • If you are unable to attend, please forward any questions about Title I to Ms. Fischer at efischer@bbrook.org