Virginia Department of EducationDivision Leadership Liaison Meeting

January 7, 2013

Authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)

Ensure children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education; and

Reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state standards and assessments.

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The program focuses on promoting reform in high-poverty schools and ensuring student access to scientifically-based instructional strategies and challenging academic content.

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Targeted Assistance Schoolwide Program

Supplemental assistance to eligible students

Eligible students are identified as “failing or at most risk of failing, to meet the state’s academic achievement standards.”

Whole school reform

Integration and coordination of efforts

Services are supplemental to what normally would be provided and all students are eligible

Schools with 40* percent or more poverty have the flexibility to use Title I, Part A, funds along with other federal, state, and local funds to upgrade the entire educational program in a school to improve the academic performance of all students, particularly the lowest achieving students.

* With the approval of Virginia’s ESEA Flexibility Request, schools identified as priority or focus may become schoolwide even if the school does not have a poverty percentage of 40 percent or more.

ESEA, Section 1114

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The school division/school must be able to demonstrate that Title I, Part A, funds have been used for the specific purpose of serving those students who are identified as being in greatest need of Title I, Part A, assistance based on the school division’s and school’s Title I, Part A, student selection criteria.

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Documentation from federal programs monitoring (FPM):

Title I, Part A, participant list Student selection criteria List of staff paid with Title I, Part A, funds and

accompanying documentation including: ◦ job descriptions; ◦ time on task; ◦ students served; ◦ description of Title I, Part A, funded activities; and ◦ description of activities that are required for all

students. School division interviews

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A school may consolidate its Title I, Part A, and other federal, state and local funds to upgrade its entire educational program and implement its comprehensive plan. However, the following apply:◦Each school must identify the specific

programs that are included in its schoolwide program and the amount each program contributes to the consolidation; and

◦Maintain records that demonstrate that its schoolwide program addresses the intent and purposes of each of the federal programs whose funds are being consolidated to support the schoolwide program.

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Leverage state and federal funds to address the needs of all students, with emphasis on supporting at-risk students, including students with disabilities, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students◦ Algebra Readiness Initiative ◦ Virginia Preschool Initiative◦ Early Intervention Reading Initiative◦ Project Graduation◦ Virginia’s Early Warning System◦ School-level Academic Reviews

Can Title I funds be used to provide remediation to Tier 2 and Tier 3 (RTI) students at a Targeted Assistance school that are not on the eligibility list?

ResponseTo provide remediation to Tier 2 and Tier 3 students at a targeted assistance school, the division must use Title I funds set aside at the division level. Funds allocated to the school cannot be used because of its targeted assistance status.

Can Title I funds/School Improvement funds be used at a targeted assistance school to pay for substitutes in grade levels that are not on the targeted level? (Members of School Leadership team not from the targeted grade level.)

ResponseIn order for Title I funds/School Improvement funds to be used to pay for substitutes in non-targeted grades, funds set aside at the division level must be used. Funds allocated to the school cannot be used because of its targeted assistance status.

Can Title I funds/School Improvement funds be used to pay for before- or after-school tutoring even though some of the students that are attending are not on the targeted grade level?

ResponseYes, if the funds come from the division-level set aside and not the school set aside.

Can Title I funds/School Improvement funds be used to pay for a parent workshop for parents of students that are in the Tier 2 & Tier 3 Intervention groups?

ResponseYes, the funds have to come from the division-level set aside, not the school set aside.

How can a school use the Indistar School Improvement plan as a Schoolwide Plan since the Cross-walk has been removed?  What is the new process for applying for Schoolwide Title I, now?

ResponseWe are working on this and anticipate having a process in Indistar soon.

Title I CoordinatorBecky Marable, (804) 371-0044, rebecca.marable@doe.virginia.gov

Title I Specialists

Regions I , II, and VIIIChris McLaughlin, (804) 225-2901, chris.mclaughlin@doe.virginia.gov

Regions III and VIIGabie Frazier, (804) 225-2907, gabie.frazier@doe.virginia.gov

Regions IV, V, and VIDr. Philip Iovino, (804) 371-2934, philip.iovino@doe.virginia.gov

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