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| Dr. Louis Bledsoe - Supervisor |
Lincoln County Department of Education
Title Programs
The purpose of Tennessee’s federally funded Title I program is to support local school districts in improving teaching and learning for students in high-poverty schools so these students meet the state’s challenging content and performance standards. Title I is one program under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Title I schools can operate either as targeted assistance or schoolwide. Targeted assistance schools identify students who are at risk of not meeting the state’s content and performance standards and provide individualized instructional programs to the identified students so they may meet the state’s standards. Schoolwide programs use their funds to improve the entire program of the school so that all students are helped. (http://state.tn.us/education/fedprog/fgtitle1.shtml)
In Lincoln County we have five Title I elementary schools. Currently, all of them are schoolwide Title I schools. The Title I funds they receive are used to serve all students. In a schoolwide school ALL teachers and students are considered Title I. Our six schoolwide schools use all their Federal, State, and Local funds to plan a program which they feel best helps all students succeed. Once an elementary school reaches a poverty level of 35%, they are eligible to apply for targeted assistance Title I funds. If the percentage is above 40%, the school can apply for targeted assistance or a schoolwide Title program. It is up to the school administration, staff, and the supervisor of federal programs to plan and implement the type of program that will best serve their students.
Federal funding amounts for each elementary school in Lincoln County are based on the individual school’s free/reduced lunch ratio. The school with the highest percent of poverty receives the most funds. Funds are then “spiraled” so that the school with the lowest free/reduced lunch percentage receives the smallest amount of money per student. Funds can be used for personnel, materials and supplies, parent involvement, and professional development. Title I funds can only be used to secure items or personnel that are in addition to the regular educational program. No federal funds can be used to supplant services or materials that are to be provided by the local or state.
Title II A funds focus on preparing, training, and recruiting high quality teachers in all Lincoln County schools. This budget line is used to assist teachers in becoming highly qualified. Funds may be used for testing or coursework in the area a teacher is currently working in. Some Title II A funds are used to provide class size reduction teachers. Professional development is also funded through Title II A.This professional development can be provided in several manners; workshops and presenters brought into the local or teachers attending high quality professional development off site. Title II D funds are used to improve student academic achievement through the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools. The goal is to encourage effective integration of technology resources and systems with teacher training and professional development to establish research based instructional models. The Title I office collaborates with the LCDOE Technology department to blend these limited funds into the county’s technology plan. Title III is designed to serve English as Second Language students. Through Title III, students who have a primary language other than English receive instruction in English in a specialized setting. Although ESL services are mandated, this portion of NCLB is not fully funded through Title III. Currently, the system meets the requirement with an ESL teacher, Georgia Arruda, who is paid from state and local funds.
Title IV A is the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities portion of NCLB. The purpose of this program is to prevent violence in and around schools; prevent the illegal use of alcohol and tobacco by young people; and foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports achievement.
These are only a few “pieces” of the No Child Left Behind law. If you are interested in more information on Title programs, please contact Louis Bledsoe at 433-0045. You can also access a complete listing and description of all Title programs at http://state.tn.us/education/fedprog/
