2016-2017 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 2016-2017.
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
Historical Data
2011-2012 Supplemental Educational Services (SES) information.