What is Title I?

Title I is a federally funded program designed to address the academic needs of students and to assist them in meeting the state's high standards, particularly in the areas of reading, writing, science, and mathematics. The Sarasota County School District receives funds based upon the number of students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The purpose of the Title One Program is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and to reach at a minimum, proficiency on challenging State Academic Achievement Standards and Academic Assessments. See the following link for more information.

What is a Title I School?

Title I schools are determined by the percentage of students at each school who are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Emma E. Booker is considered a Title I School based upon the eligibility of over 60% of students qualifying for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Title I is intended to ensure that all children can obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on challenging state academic standards and assessments. It provides flexible funding that may be used to provide additional staff, professional development, extended-time programs, and other strategies for raising student achievement.  

Parents may find one or more of the following in a Title I school:

• Intervention classes - provide intensive assistance in reading and math

• Additional resource teachers and assistants who are highly qualified

• Additional training for school staff

• A variety of teaching methods and materials

• Special learning events

• Training for families

• After-school tutoring

Title I schools offer training to support parents in the education of their child. Areas of training may include:

• Academic enrichment in reading, writing, math, and science

• Literacy learning styles

• Behavioral management

• Technology

What is expected of parents?

Each school receiving funds under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) must develop a written Student-Parent-School Compact jointly with parents for all children participating in Title I Part A activities, services, and programs. The Compact is part of the school's written Parental Involvement Plan developed by the school and parents under Section 1118(b) of the ESEA. The Compact must outline how parents, the entire school staff and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state's high standards. Title I schools must have one parent contact (via written signature, phone call or face-to-face meeting) for each student stating that the student, parent and school will meet the responsibilities of the Student-Parent-School Compact.

Federal law requires that the Sarasota County School District notify parents of all children in Title I schools of their rights to receive timely information on the professional qualifications of their child's teacher. Parents may request information about the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teacher including, at a minimum, the following:

• Whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.

• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria has been waived.

• The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certificate or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.

• Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

For all Title I schools, parents have the right to ask the school, and the school has the responsibility to let parents know about the qualifications of their child's teacher. Please contact your school, who will respond in writing within a week. All paraprofessionals at Sarasota County School District Title I schools meet the state requirements for highly qualified. 100% of all Title I teachers meet state requirements for highly qualified. The School District will continue to have 100% of Title I teachers highly qualified.

We recognize that 1) parent and family engagement is a shared responsibility and that 2) parent and family engagement encourages high quality instruction for all learners. We strive to offer needed family engagement sessions through parent survey feedback regarding desired sessions.