Title I is a federally funded grant program, part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965. ESEA was reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Title I, Part A provides supplemental funding for resources to help schools with high concentrations of students from low-income families provide a high-quality education that will enable all children to meet the state’s student performance standards. Title I, Part A supports schools in implementing either a schoolwide program or a targeted assistance program. These programs must use effective methods and instructional strategies that are grounded in scientifically based research.

The program is designed to accomplish four primary goals:

• provide supplementary education to students eligible for services;
• provide additional funding to schools and districts serving high concentrations of children from low-income families;
• focus educators on the needs of special student populations; and
• improve the academic achievement of eligible students, reduce performance gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students, and assist eligile students in meeting high academic standards.

TEA Title I Part A Information

U.S. Department of Education Title I, Part A Information

Under ESEA rules, for a school to qualify as a Title I Schoolwide program, the campus must have a student population of at least 40% or more that are economically disadvantaged (i.e. students who qualify for free or reduced meals).  Palestine ISD has applied for and received an Ed-Flex waiver to this rule, which allows the district to receive and distribute Title I funds based on economically disadvantaged student enrollment.

Palestine ISD  currently has 6 schools that are served as Title I Schoolwide Campuses.

• Washington Early Childhood Center
• Northside Primary
• Southside Elementary
• A.M. Story Intermediate
• Palestine Junior High
• Palestine High School

Each of these schools is given an allocation of Title I Part A funds through a specified formula.   The school must spend those funds on strategies that will directly impact student instruction (such as academic interventions, instructional programs, supplemental teachers, etc.), professional development training for teachers, and Parent and Family Engagement activities.

All activities and/or resources paid with Title 1, Part A funds must be:

• identified in the Comprehensive Needs Assessments, and
• included in the Campus Improvement Plan, and
• reasonable, necessary, allocable, and allowable, and
• meet all EDGAR requirements, and
• all district policies and procedures must be followed.

Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction provides supplemental funding to improve student achievement. The funds are used to elevate teacher and principal quality through recruitment, hiring and retention strategies, and to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom and highly qualified principals and assistant principals in schools. The program uses scientifically based professional development interventions and holds districts and schools accountable for improvements in student academic performance. 

Title IV, Part A Student Support and Academic Enrichment:

• Provide all students with access to a well-rounded education.
• Improves schools conditions for student learning.
• Improves the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.