Title I Overview
Title I is the largest federal assistance program for our nation’s public schools. Re-authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2001, Title I funding helps ensure that eligible schools receive additional reading and math support for students in need.
Program Goals
Improve literacy and math skills
Promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Encourage family involvement in the education of children
Funding & Program Models
Title I funds are allocated to each state, and the states, in turn, allocate funds to local school systems based on the percentage of low-income families. Colonial Heights Public Schools use Title I funds to serve students in kindergarten through grade 8 to provide additional reading and/or math support. Title I serves schools with two models:
Schoolwide Programs focus on schools’ overall educational programs to raise academic achievement for all students.
Targeted Assistance Programs provide services to a select group of students identified as having the greatest need in literacy or math development.
All Colonial Heights Public Schools are targeted assistance programs for K-8 students: Lakeview Elementary School, North Elementary School, Tussing Elementary School, and Colonial Heights Middle School.
Title I Schools
Title I schools include parents, teachers, administrators, and support staff who work to:
Promote partnerships with parents and the community
Identify students most in need of educational support
Set goals for improvement
Measure student progress, using state and local standards
Provide academic assistance that supplements regular classroom instruction
Provide opportunities for professional development for school staff
Student Selection for Services
Eligibility is based on academic need; if your child is recommended for Title I services, a letter will be sent home explaining how your child’s educational needs will be supplemented.
Student Exiting Services
If a student’s progress indicates that he/she is capable of working in his/her classroom without additional support from the Title I Program, the child will be placed in “monitoring” status. School staff will monitor the child’s progress to ensure he/she continues to show growth. Parents will be notified when a change in services occurs.
School Advisory Committee
The School Title I Advisory Committee serves the entire school community of students, parents, and staff. Our goals are to increase communication, support the learning environment, and promote meaningful and active parent involvement. The committee is also used to teach parents how to advocate for themselves and their children.
Purpose of the School Title I Advisory Committee:
To build stronger communication between families and the school
To assist families with support and tools for their child’s success
To identify and address school-related needs and concerns
To involve families as resources for their school and their children
To serve as ambassadors for the school community, promoting Title I programs and
events and encouraging participation and support
To develop leaders who will advocate for their child’s education and
To provide opportunities for input into the overall Title I Program design
Our Title I Staff
Title I Teaching Staff
Lakeview Elementary
Sarah Lopez, Reading
Emily McNulty, Math
Jennifer Brown, Math
North Elementary
Joy Kolev, Reading
Jennifer Brown, Math
Katie Ackerman, Math
Tussing Elementary
Jamie Young, Reading
Beth Moody, Math
Kim Boyd, Math
Colonial Heights Middle
Emily Chiodo, Reading
Foster Care Liason
Christy George, Director of the Office of Support Services
Homeless Education Liason
Julie Pond, Social Worker
Division Title I Committee
The Division Title I Committee is a Colonial Heights Public Schools team with representatives from each Title I school. The division committee collaborates with the Title I staff to plan, implement, and evaluate the Title I Program. For more information, or if you would like to participate, contact your Title I teacher or the School Administration Office at (804) 524-3400.
Home-to-School Connection
Title I is committed to developing strong partnerships with families. Families and schools working as partners increase student achievement and help develop positive attitudes about self and school.
Each CHPS Title I school seeks to foster strong collaborative relationships with families that support student learning through Parent Teacher Associations, and often through additional collaborative family groups. Families are informed about the Title I program in their school and have the opportunity to provide input into the planning and design of the program.
Building on the CHPS Family Engagement Policy, Title I schools annually review and revise Family Engagement Guidelines jointly with their students’ parents/guardians. This compact is a written agreement of shared responsibility that defines the goals and expectations of schools and families as partners in the effort to improve student achievement. It serves as a catalyst for collaboration and a guide for ongoing communication, interaction, and exchanges between school and home.
Parental Right to Information
The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) guarantees parents/guardians in Title I schools the right to certain information.
School Quality Profiles
District and School Quality Profiles for all CHPS schools and the district as a whole are maintained of the Virginia Department of Education website at https://schoolquality.virginia.gov/divisions/colonial-heights-city-public-schools.
Parental Right to Information about Teachers
The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) guarantees parents in Title I schools the right to request certain information about their child’s teachers. The information that you have a right to request about your child’s teacher is:
Whether the teacher has met state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subjects for which the teacher is responsible.
Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualifications for licensing have been waived.
The baccalaureate degree major of certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
Whether the student is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
If you would like to receive additional information about this topic, please contact the principal of your child’s school.
Parental Right to Request Information on Assessment Opt-Out
The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) Section 1112(e)(2) guarantees parents of students in Title I schools the right to request information about state or division policies regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by ESSA, including any policy, procedure, or parental right to opt students out of such assessments. All students enrolled in Virginia public schools are expected to take the applicable state tests. Virginia regulations do not provide for what is sometimes referred to as an “opt-out policy” for students regarding the Virginia assessments. If parents refuse to have their student participate in one or more of the required Virginia assessments, they should be aware that their student’s state assessment score report will reflect a score of “0” for any test that is refused. If you would like to receive additional information about this topic, please contact the principal of your child’s school.