Title One Information

What is Title One?

"Title I is one of the nation's oldest and largest federal programs supporting elementary and secondary education. More than 90 percent of the United States school systems receive Title I funding. Through Title I, the federal government disburses money to school districts based on the number of low-income children, ages 5 - 17, in each district as determined by census data. Each district uses Title I money to supplement and improve regular education programs to help students meet state standards. Students served by Title I funds include migrant children and youth; children and youth with limited English proficiency; children and youth who are homeless; children and youth who have disabilities; children and youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk; children in prekindergarten activities; and students who are in academic need."  Vermont Agency of Education

Title One is Based on Three Important Ideas

  • Provide all children with significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education and to close educational achievement gaps.

  • Local districts, schools, and parents know best what their students need to succeed. The Title I program allows them to decide how to use these funds to implement evidence-based practices to help students who are failing or at risk of failing in school.

  • Parents are partners in helping all students achieve. They have the right to be involved in the design and operation of their school's Title I program and, simultaneously, a responsibility to help their children succeed.

Compliance & Rights of Families

Our Participation in Title One

GISU participates in the Consolidated Federal Program. This is a series of federal title grants, including Title One, which funds salaries and educational programs across our supervisory union. We receive over one million dollars through Title One, Two, and Title Four grants. Amounts vary each year and depend on enrollment and the free and reduced lunch eligibility percentage. 

Qualifying for Title One

To qualify for Title One funding, a school must meet certain criteria. Two ways to qualify for Title One are through Targeted Assistance or Schoolwide Program. Eligibility for these programs depends on a school's free and reduced lunch percentage. For targeted assistance, at least 35% of a school’s student population must qualify for free and reduced lunch. Schools in the Targeted Assistance program can only use Title One money for specific students meeting certain criteria. To qualify for Schoolwide Program, at least 40% of a school’s student population must qualify for free and reduced lunch. All Title One eligible schools in GISU qualify for the Schoolwide Program. This means services and programs funded through Title One can be used for all students schoolwide. 

Use of Title One Funds

We use Title I funds to improve and increase student achievement by funding additional teachers to work with students in math and literacy. While our main use of funds is for salaries, we have also used Title One funds to purchase educational materials for students. Materials, services, and programs purchased with Title One funds must be high quality, researched, and evidence-based.

Parent and Family Engagement

  • Grand Isle Supervisory Union encourages parents and guardians to be involved and informed about their student’s education. 

  • Each school has a Compact outlining the commitment of the staff and families to a child’s education. These plans were written using family survey information. Your survey may have been conducted recently or in the past. Compacts are printed in Handbooks. If you cannot find your school’s compact, please contact your school.

  • Schools utilizing Title One funds must hold an annual Title One meeting each year to provide information to families. This is done through the supervisory union in collaboration with schools. 

  • The Grand IsleSupervisory Union is required to have a Parent & Family Engagement policy:

Title 1 Part A Parent and Family Engagement Policy

Your Rights Under Title One

  • You have the right to know the teaching credentials of your child’s teacher. You have the right to know whether your child works directly with a paraprofessional and their qualifications. Learn more about professional qualification requirements.

  • You have the right to see how your child performed on state assessments, and you have the right to know how your child’s school performed on state assessments.

English Language Learners

Schools must notify parents within 30 days of the beginning of school if a child is placed in a Title I- or Title III-funded language instruction educational program. Specifically, they must be told the reasons for the identification, including the child's level of English proficiency, how it was assessed, the status of the child's academic achievement, the methods of instruction to be used in the LIEP, how the program will meet the child's educational needs, and specific exit requirements.

Title One Annual Meeting

  • Each school receiving Title One funds shall hold an annual Title One meeting to inform members of the school community about our Title One program.

  • Families have the right to request additional meetings.