Program Description
“Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.
LEAs target the Title I funds they receive to public schools with the highest percentages of children from low-income families. The school must focus Title I services on children who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet State academic standards. Title I schools with less than the 40 percent schoolwide threshold or that choose not to operate a schoolwide program, offer a ‘targeted assistance program’ in which the school identifies students who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet the State's challenging academic achievement standards. Targeted assistance schools design, in consultation with parents, staff, and district staff, an instructional program to meet the needs of those students. Targeted assistance programs must use instructional strategies based on scientifically based research and implement parental involvement activities.
Under Title I, LEAs are required to provide services for eligible private school students, as well as eligible public-school students. In particular, section 1120 of Title I, Part A of the ESEA, requires a participating LEA to provide eligible children attending private elementary and secondary schools, their teachers, and their families with Title I services or other benefits that are equitable to those provided to eligible public-school children, their teachers, and their families. These services must be developed in consultation with officials of the private schools. The Title I services provided by the LEA for private school participants are designed to meet their educational needs and supplement the educational services provided by the private school.” (U.S. Department of Education)