What is Title I?
Title I is the largest federal assistance program for our nation’s schools. Title I is short for Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Act of 1965 , reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Schools with 40% or more children from low income families can develop schoolwide programs to serve all students in the school. Each Title I schoolwide program is focused upon three important goals:

1. All students should work toward the same high standards.
Title I’s job is to provide academic assistance to students who qualify to make sure they reach the same high standards as all students in their school district. Standards describe what students should know and be able to do at each grade level. Schools cannot have different standards for Title I students compared to other students.

2. Local districts, and parents know best what their students need to succeed.
Title I allows them to decide how to use Title I money to help students in need. Because each school designs its own Title I program, every program will be different.

3. Parents are partners in helping all students achieve.
Parents have the right to be involved in the design and operation of their school’s Title I program. At the same time, parents have a responsibility to help their children achieve in school.

How can Title I money be used?
Districts, schools, and parents have a great deal of choice in how they set up their Title I academic program, as long as it helps students meet the school’s standards, which are based upon the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum. Title I money can also be used to:

• Provide after school or summer school programs
• Train teachers or other staff
• Buy equipment and learning materials
• Support parent involvement activities

How can Title I help me as a parent?
Title I money can be used for many types of parent involvement activities.

• Family literacy activities
• Parent meetings and training activities
• Materials that parents can use to work with their children at home
• Parent/Family resource centers

How can I find out about what my Title I program offers parents/families?
All Title I programs must have in place a Parent Involvement Plan which explains how the school and district support the important role of parents in education. The Parent Involvement Plan must include a Compact, which is a written statement of what schools and parents are planning to do to help students achieve.