Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged

The Title I-A program provides supplementary services and materials for economically disadvantaged children. The focus of these funds is to promote academic success for at-risk students in core content areas (math, reading, language arts, science, and social studies). Some examples of support are: additional teachers/paraprofessionals, a strong family engagement component, and added technology. Parent involvement is an important component of Title I-A programs.

How do you determine who qualifies?

Poverty, economic disadvantage, is determined by those students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

What is the source of the funding?

Funds are provided by federal taxes paid by individuals and businesses.

Are there special guidelines?

Schools must meet specific poverty percentages (40%) to qualify. Schools may provide services as Targeted Assistance Programs (TAP) (to specific children who qualify), or as School-Wide Programs (SWP) (to all students attending the school). Funds may only be used to provide additional, supplemental services and materials. They may not replace (supplant) services already provided to the general student population through state and local funds. Funds must be made available to private schools serving children living in the district.

How much funding does WCS receive?

Funding varies from one year to the next because it is based on the number of poverty children who qualified in the previous October student count (fall FTE count).

Services are provided to students in 20 schools. All elementary schools , all five middle schools, and two high schools in Whitfield County Schools (WCS) are Title I-A funded.

Who benefits from the funding?

In school-wide programs, all students benefit from Title I funds. In targeted-assistance programs, only the group of students meeting criteria set by the school benefit from the funds. Schools must operate for one full year as a targeted program before they may become school-wide.

All elementary and middle school students are directly impacted by Title I-A funds in WCS as well as qualifying students in the two high schools served by Title I-A. Additional homeless and migrant children in grades 9–12, plus students designated as neglected who attend WCS schools also benefit through tutoring services.