Title I

Title 1, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to states and school districts to meet the needs of educationally at-risk students. The goal of Title 1 is to provide extra instructional services and activities which support students identified as failing or most at risk of failing the state's challenging performance standards in mathematics, reading, and writing. The Title 1 program will provides students with extra educational assistance beyond the regular classroom. The program serves students in our five secondary schools who have demonstrated that extra assistance is needed. Title 1 also serves students who attend private schools.

What is Title I funding?
The federal government provides funding to each state. Then, each State Educational Agency sends money to its school districts. How much money each school receives is determined by the number of low-income students attending that school. Finally, Title 1 schools:
  • Identify the students at their school who need the most educational assistance based on the criteria that school has chosen. Students do NOT have to be from low-income families to receive Title 1 services.
  • Set goals for improving the skills of educationally disadvantaged students at their school.
  • Measure student progress to determine the success of the Title 1 program for each student.
  • Develop programs for each individual student in order to support/supplement regular classroom instruction.
What can Title 1 programs do for my student? Title 1 programs generally offer:
  • Small group instructional interventions
  • Additional teachers and paraeducators
  • Opportunities for professional development for school staff
  • Extra time for teaching Title 1 students the skills they need
  • A variety of supplementary research-based teaching methods
  • An individualized program for students
  • Additional research-based teaching materials which supplement a student's regular instruction

How can parents get involved?Parents, you can influence the success of your student in school more than any teacher or federal program.  By becoming an active participant in the Title 1 parent involvement and at your school, you will:

  • Serve as a role model, showing your student that you support his/her education
  • Assure that you are aware of your student's educational progress; thereby demonstrating how important that progress is to you
  • Teach your student that your input at the school is appreciated and that you support its efforts

The Franklin Pierce School District is required to have a district Title 1 parent involvement plan.

Franklin Pierce Schools have applied for funding under Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  If you would like to review or give input into the applications, please contact the Learning Support Services office at (253) 298-3048.

Citizen Complaints

A citizen complaint is a written statement that alleges a violation of a federal rule, law or regulation or state regulation that applies to a federal program. More information about this process can be found on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for Washington State’s website at: Citizen Complaints-Federal Programs | OSPI (www.k12.wa.us)

Parents Right to Know:

In compliance with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), we like to inform the parents of children attending Title I, Part A schools (Ford Middle School, Keithley Middle School, Franklin Pierce High School, Washington High School, and GATES High School) that you have the right to request information about the professional qualifications of your student’s teacher(s) or instructional paraprofessional(s) [ESSA Section 1112(e)(1)(A)].

The following professional qualification information may be requested pertaining to your child’s teacher(s):

  1. Whether the teacher has met Washington teacher certification requirements for the grade level and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.
  2. Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency or other provisional status through which Washington qualifications or certification criteria have been waived.
  3. The college major and any graduate certification or degree held by the teacher.
  4. Whether the student is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications.

The following professional qualification information may be requested pertaining to an instructional paraprofessional instructing your child:

Paraeducators must be at least eighteen years of age and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent, (for more detailed information on what is considered equivalent, please read the FAQ (document) at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mS3yqB93IQymwsFxVv3WJd3-2B51Boz0RsAIsSIh5kw/edit.

In addition, a paraeducator must meet one of the following:

  1. Have received a qualifying score on the Education Testing Service (ETS) paraeducator assessment
  2. Hold an associate degree or higher from an accredited college or university
  3. Have earned 72 quarter credits or 48 semester credits at the 100 level or higher at an accredited college or university
  4. Have completed an apprenticeship as a paraeducator, in a program registered with the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council.* For more information go to Minimum employment requirements - Professional Educator Standards Board (whttps://www.pesb.wa.gov/paraeducator-certificate-program/minimum-employment-requirements/a.gov).

Note: Paraprofessionals must work under the supervision of a certified teacher. All paraprofessionals must meet professional qualifications.

If you wish to request information concerning your child’s teacher’s and instructional paraprofessional’s qualification, you may contact the Title I Coordinator at 253-298-3048 or the Human Resources Department at 253-298-3082.