What is Title I?

Title I is a U.S. federal education program established under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to provide supplemental funding to schools with high percentages of students from low-income families. Administered by the state departments of education, these funds are distributed to local school districts to help ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Schools utilize Title I resources to hire specialized intervention teachers, purchase remedial instructional materials, implement technology upgrades, and host parent engagement initiatives aimed at closing persistant academic achievement gaps.

Purpose

The staff at Sherman Elementary School recognizes that parents and families are children's first teachers and that meaningful partnerships between home and school contribute to student academic success. In accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Section 1116, the school will implement programs, activities, and procedures that encourage and support parent and family engagement in a meaningful manner.

Shared Responsibility for Student Achievement

The school, parents, and students shaare responsibility for improved academic achievement. To support this partnership, the school will jointly develop and distribute a School-Parent Compact that outlines how families, school staff, and students will work togehter to help students meet state academic standards. The compact will be reviewed annually with parent input.

Parent and Family Involvement in Policy Development

1. Involve parents and family members in the planning, review, and improvement of Title I programs and activities.

2. Include parents in the annual review and revision of this Parent and Family Engagement Policy.

3. Seek parent input through surveys, meetings, committees, and other feedback opportunities.

4. Provide opportunities for parents to participate in school improvement planning and decision-making processes.

Annual Title I Meeting

The school will hold and annual Title I meeting at a convenient time to:

• Inform families of the school's participation in Title I programs

• Explain Title I requirements

• Describe parents' rights to be involved

• Review available academic programs and family engagement opportunities

Flexible Meetings and Family Activities

The school will offer a flexible number of family engagement meetings and activities, including morning, afternoon, and evening options when possible.

Building Capacity for Family Engagement

The school will provide information about:

• State academic standards

• Student assessments and achievement expectations

• Curriculum and instructional programs

• Academic progress monitoring

• Literacy, mathematics, and other academic support strategies for use at home

Parent Education Opportunities

• Support learning at home

• Understand child development and grade-level expectations

• Monitor student progress

• Use educational technology and online learning resources

Staff Training

The school will provide professional development for teachers, principals, and staff on:

• Effective family engagement strategies

• Building positive school-family partnerships

• Communicating with families as equal partners

• Responding to diverse family needs

Communication

The school will communicate with families through multiple methods, including:

• Parent-teacher conferences

• Progress reports and report cards

• School newsletters

• School website and social media

• Phone calls, emails, text messages, and family communication platforms

• Parent meetings and family events

Annual Evaluation

Each year, the school will evaluate the effectiveness of this Parent and Family Engagement Policy by:

• Reviewing parent participation data

• Conducting surveys and collective feedback

• Identifying barriers to family engagement

• Assessing the effectiveness of engagement activities

• Using findings to revise the policy and improve future programs