Spring-Ford Area School District

Links to topics on this page:

    What is Title I?

    What schools receive Title I funds?

    Selection Criteria

    Title I Teachers

    Parent Involvement

    Parent Notification

    Parent Statement

    School Plan

    Related Policy

What is Title I?

Title I is a federally funded educational program designed to supplement local and state funds for education.  The purpose of the Title I Program is to help students succeed in the regular classroom by aiding in the development of basic and advanced skills in Reading and Math.  A school qualifies for Title I funds based upon the number of students in that school who are approved to receive free or reduced lunch.  Once the program is established, it is available to all students in the school, based upon their educational needs.

Eligible students will receive additional time of instruction in Reading and/or Math throughout the school week.  The Title I teachers work closely with the classroom teachers to provide supportive and supplemental instruction to help meet the needs of each individual student.

What schools receive Title I funds?

1. Royersford Elementary School

2. Spring City Elementary School

3. Spring-Ford Intermediate School

Selection Criteria

Students are re-evaluated annually and must qualify on the selection criteria below for each year’s service:

1. Standardized Test Scores on Terra Nova and/or PSSA

2. Classroom teacher (or parent referral

3. Classroom and District assessments

4. Evaluation by Reading Specialist and/or Math Support Teacher

Students may be referred for service or be tentatively exited at any point during the year.

Title I Teachers

Jennifer Donovan McGlade    Spring-Ford Intermediate School Reading Specialist

                                                   Masters Degree of Science in Education

                                                   Certifications: Elementary K-6, Instructional II

                                                               Reading Specialist, Instructional II

Marylu Onorato                        Spring City Elementary School Reading Specialist

                                                  Masters Degree of Reading

                                                  Certifications: Elementary K-6, Instructional II

                                                               Reading Specialist, Instructional II

Kathryn Pogwist                      Royersford Elementary School Reading Specialist

                                                  Masters Degree of Education

                                                  Certifications: Elementary K-6, Instructional II

                                                               Reading Specialist, Instructional II

Holly Smith                              Spring-Ford Intermediate School

                                                 Masters Degree of Technology in Education

                                                 Certifications: Elementary K-6, Instructional II

                                                               Early Childhood, Instructional II

Parent Involvement

The Spring-Ford Area School district recognizes the importance of parent/guardian input into the education of their children.  Parents and teachers must work together as partners with the aim of providing the best possible education for their children. To that end, the following activities are included in the Spring-Ford Area School District’s Title I program:

1. Notifying each child’s parents in a timely manner that the child has been selected to participate in Title I.

2. Informing parents that Title I activities and regular classroom activities will be coordinated.

3. Reporting to each child’s parent(s) on the child’s progress.

4. Establishing conferences between individual parent(s) and teacher(s).

5. Providing suggestions to parent(s) to help them promote the education of their children at home.

6. Facilitating participation by parent(s) in school activities.

7. Soliciting parent suggestions in the planning, development and operation of the Title I Program.

Parent Notification

Under the “No Child Left Behind Act,” parents of any student in a school receiving Title I funds have a right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher including:

1.  Whether the teacher has met state credential or license criteria for grade level and subject matter taught.

2. Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status.

3. The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification of degree held.

4. Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications.

Parent must also be notified if their child is taught by a teacher that is not “Highly Qualified” for four consecutive weeks.

If you have any questions on the Title I Reading/Math Programs, or the professional qualifications of your child’s teacher(s), contact the principal at your child’s school.

Title I Parent Involvement Statement

The faculty, staff, and administrators of Spring-Ford Area School District recognize the necessity and value of parent involvement to enable our school to provide opportunities for students served to acquire the knowledge and skills contained in the State’s challenging content and student performance standards that all children are expected to meet.  In order to assure collaborative partnerships between parents and schools, Spring-Ford Area School district is committed to pursuing the following goals in ways that recognize and respect the diversity and differing needs of families.

• Involving parents as partners in the development and implementation of Title I instructional programs.

• Establishing effective two-way communication with all parents.

• Developing strategies and programs which enable parents to participate actively in their child’s education.

• Providing support and coordination for school staff and parents to implement and sustain appropriate parent involvement at all grade levels.

• Utilizing community resources to enrich the educational environment and promote family and student success.

• Supporting parents in their roles as the child’s first and most important teacher.

The overall goal of Spring-Ford Area School District’s Title I program is to promote partnerships that will increase parent involvement and participation in promoting the social, emotional, and academic growth of children.

Title I Parent Involvement School Plan

A school plan for the involvement of Title I parents in the education of their child will be developed, reviewed yearly, and revised as appropriate to include the following:

• Cover letter explaining the Title I program

• Notification forms for student participation

• A “Home-School Compact,” which outlines how the parents may be involved in the partnership with the school in improving their child’s achievement.

• An annual meeting for Title I parents to review and receive input for possible revisions of the policy and program.

• Reasonable access to staff and school as well as ways to inform parents of student progress.  Communication with parents will include conferences, individual written reports, newsletters, phone calls and home visits as needed. Special notices and activity packets will also be sent home when appropriate.  Parents are encouraged to call their child’s teachers and visit classrooms.

• Provision of specific instructional strategies for assistance at home with reading and/or math.

• Parents will evaluate the content and effectiveness of the Title I parent involvement program.  The evaluation will include an assessment of the status of parent involvement in Title I programs. The evaluation will be completed by June 1 of each year.

Policy Related to Title I

Policy 918. Title I Parent Involvement