Research shows that parent involvement in education is crucial. No matter their income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to have higher grades and test scores, attend school regularly, have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school.
The Seminole County District Title I Program promotes the belief that all children can learn and acknowledges that parents share the schools' commitment to education success for all students. We recognize that positive paren/family engagement is essential to student achievement and we enourage parental involvement in school education planning and operations.
Altamonte Elementary is a Title I school.
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), or the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), was signed into law on January 8, 2002, and represents the most significant changes to educational policy in over 35 years. The new law expands the role of the federal government in K-12 education and focuses on four principles:
- expanded options for parents
- increased accountability for results
- instruction based on proven educational methods
- increased flexibility and local control
NCLB includes Title I - Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged, which is the largest source of federal aid to elementary and secondary schools. The purpose of Title I is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education, and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.
Seminole County Public Schools (SCPS) receives an annual entitlement allocation of federal dollars to provide resources to meet the purpose of Title I. Schools that have high percentages of children who qualify for free or reduced lunch receive an allocation, which is spent on resources to support the purpose of Title I and the goals of their School Improvement Plan. Part A funds must also be used to provide appropriate services to homeless children, children in local institutions for neglected children, and to ensure that private schools receive 'equitable' services.
What Is Title I?
Title I is a federally funded program available to school with a high percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch. These funds are above and beyond the district funds given to schools and are used to enhance student achievement. In Seminole County, Title I serves 16 elementary schools, two middle schools, two special centers, and five non-public schools under Part A. All staff at Title 1 schools are required to be highly qualified.
Title I Schools are Required to:
- Develop jointly with parents a written Parent Involvement Plan.
- Hold an annual meeting to inform parents of the school's participation in the Title I program and their right to be involved in school, and to explain the requirements of Title I.Develop jointly with parents a school-parent Compact.
- The compact must state how parents, the entire school staff and students will share in the responsibility for improved student achievement and must be discussed during a parent/teacher conference.
- Provide staff training on parent involvement.
- Provide training and materials to help parents work with their children.
- Provide timely information to parents about the Title I program and offer flexible meeting times.
- Provide (if requested) opportunity for regular meetings to allow parents to participate (as appropriate) in decisions about their child's education and respond to suggestions.
- Ensure that information sent to parents is in a format and language to the extent practicable, that parents can understand
Florida Department of Education SPAR Report
Title I Materials
School Information