2019-2020 Title I Participating Schools
For additional assistance, contact the Title I Office
Frequently Asked Questions
Click the Questions in the categories below for Answers:
Title I Schools – General Information
Title I Schools – Targeted Assistance Program
Title I Schools – Schoolwide Program
Title I Schools – General Information
Q:
What is a Title I school?
A:
Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) has 33 Elementary schools. Of this number, 8 are designated as Title I for 2019-2020.
The identification of a school for Title I status is based upon one thing and one thing only—the
poverty level of the families and students who reside in the attendance area of the school. The
designation as a Title I school has nothing to do with the academic level of the students in
the school. It is strictly and solely based on the economics of the surrounding area.
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Q:
What are my rights as parents?
A:
Parents are encouraged to provide input on the development of the Parent Involvement Plan and Parent-School Compact;
provide input on how parent involvement funds should be spent; provide input on how school staff
can work with parents as equal partners in their child’s educational process; volunteer at their
child’s school; and participate in parent-teacher conferences.
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Q:
Is there a Side by Side comparison of the Title I Schoolwide program vs the Targeted Assistance
Program?
A:
Yes.
A Side by Side comparison of the benefits of Title I Schoolwide program vs the document is available.
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Q:
How are schools in Harford County selected to be Title I?
A:
The law requires each school system to use a standardized measure to determine the poverty level of each school’s attendance
zone. One of those options is the free-lunch count. In HCPS Schools, the percentage of free-lunch
students determines whether or not a school is eligible to receive the added resources of
Title I funding.
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Q:
How does that happen?
A:
Each year there are two critical dates that determine the school’s poverty level. The first date is September 30th.
That is the date on which the school’s official enrollment is recorded. The second critical
date is October 31st. That is the date on which the free-lunch eligibility of all students
in the school is determined. Those two numbers, enrollment and free-lunch, are then used
to calculate a ratio or percentage known as the school’s Poverty Index. The two dates of
September 30th and October 31st are established by regulations. The dates cannot be changed
and the same dates must be used for all of the schools in the school system.
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Q:
Can you provide an example of how a Poverty Index ratio is calculated?
A:
On September 30th a school’s enrollment has officially been recorded at 400 students. On the following October 31st
(one month later), after all of the lunch applications have been collected and recorded,
that school has 300 students eligible for free-lunch, 50 students eligible for reduced-lunch,
and the remaining 50 students ineligible for any lunch subsidy. The Poverty Index is then
calculated by dividing the free-lunch number (300) by the enrollment number (400). When you
divide 300 by 400 the result is 75%. Therefore, this school’s Poverty Index is 75% (300 divided
by 400 equals 75%).
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Title I Schools – Targeted Assistance Program
Q:
What is a Title I Targeted Assistance Program?
A:
When a school becomes a Title I school, the school must operate a Targeted Assistance program for two years. During
these two years, the additional funds are used to focus on a targeted group of students the school
has identified. After implementing the Targeted Assistance program for two years, the school
may choose to operate a Schoolwide Program by developing a Schoolwide plan.
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Q:
How does the Targeted Assistance Program benefit my child?
A:
The program provides additional funds to support the achievement of students at-risk of not achieving state standards
by providing targeted students with extended learning opportunities using small group Instruction
and access to supplemental resources.
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Q:
What are the requirements of this grant?
A:
In addition to spending the funds for student achievement of targeted students, the school also has a parent involvement
obligation amount that must be spent on parent involvement activities for parents of Targeted
Assistance students.
These activities should build:
parent capacity to assist in their child's education,
parent-school communication, and
parent, school, and community partnerships.
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Q:
Is there a pamphlet available in which I can get more information?
A:
Yes,
a HCPS Title I Targeted Assistance Schools pamphlet is available
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Title I Schools – Schoolwide Program
Q:
What is a Title I Schoolwide Program?
A:
All students can receive additional services. No student identification is made that renders them eligible or ineligible
for services. Students identified as most at risk are given additional assistance.
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Q:
How does the Schoolwide Program benefit my child?
A:
Program promotes improved instruction for all students and constitutes comprehensive school reform. Title I funds are
used to provide professional development for all staff to support all students.
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Q:
What are the requirements for a school to be a Title I Schoolwide Program?
A:
The requirements for eligibility for a Schoolwide Program are:
• Must have been a Targeted Assistance School (TAS) for at least two years
• Meet state approval for moving from TAS to Schoolwide.
• Meet annual Poverty rate % cut-off (can vary each year)
• Meet annual Grade Span being serviced (elementary, middle, high)
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For additional assistance, contact the Title I Office