Title I School Improvement Components by

Statutory Requirement
And New Regulations for the 2009-10 SY Parent Notification – Required Contents of Letter to Parents of All Children in School Identified
• • • • • • • • • • • Explanation of School Improvement (SI) Reason for School Improvement Identification Academic Comparison to Other Schools in LEA and SEA Action Plan Explanation for Parent Involvement Explanation of School Choice and (if required) Supplemental Education Services Explanation of Choice Schools and Transportation or Why School Choice Options may be Limited or Not Available NEW! Clear and Concise, Clearly Distinguishable from other District Correspondence NEW! Mailed Sufficiently in Advance of, but not later than 14 days prior to start date of school year NEW! Post information on the district website NEW! Allowance for Parent Outreach: .2% of Title I LEA allocation (or 1% of 20% set aside)

School Choice - Letter to Parents of All Children in School Building Identified
May be combined and mailed with the Parent Notification Letter above • Choice required in year one of Improvement and every subsequent year identified • Set Aside for Transportation Costs: 5% to 20% of Title I LEA allocation (before set asides) • Must Offer Choice of at Least Two Schools if More than One is Available • Schools of Choice Can Not be in School Improvement • Prioritize Requests only after 20% of Title I is Exhausted (may give priority to the lowest achieving children from lowincome families if number of transfer requests exhausts the set aside for transportation) • Investigate Cooperative Agreements with Other LEAs • Create Additional Capacity for Other Schools (if Needed) or Provide Additional Choices • Report to DFP: Cost and Participation Data via eGrant System • NEW! Mailed sufficiently in advance of, but no later than 14 days prior to start date of school year • NEW! Post on Website beginning with SY 2007-08 and all subsequent years identified Number of students eligible Number of students who participated List of available schools to which students may transfer

Supplemental Education Services - Letter to Parents of All Low Income Children Only
May be combined and mailed with the Parent Notification Letter above (but mailed to LI families) • Must Offer SES in Schools identified as SI2, CA1, CA2 (or Restructuring) • Set Aside Title I Funds for SES: 5% to 20% of Title I LEA allocation (before set asides) • Use Maximum Per Pupil Participant Cost for SES (posted on DFP Website) • Prioritize Requests only when Funding is Not Sufficient • Low Income Determined by Title I criteria i.e. Free & Reduced Lunch • Letter requirements: Explain how parents can obtain SES for their child Where and when to return a completed application When and how the district will notify parents about enrollment and start dates Whom to contact at the LEA for more information Identify SES Providers in Home County and “All County” (Distance Learning Providers) Describe the services, qualifications and evidence of effectiveness of each provider If the LEA anticipates that it will not have sufficient funds to serve all eligible students letter must include how it will set priorities in order to determine which students will receive services Request Parent Disclosure Forms - FERPAS Suggestion: Offer 3 choices should initial request not be available NEW! Must include an explanation of the benefits of receiving SES Benefits substantiated by research No cost to the parents, productive use of student time, safe environment May select provider which best meets the student’s needs Potential to improve student’s academic proficiency NEW! Must be clear and concise, clearly distinguishable from other school communication NEW! Must include indication of providers who are able to serve students with disabilities or LEP students • Allow Adequate Time for Parent Responses (Minimum of two weeks) • Suggested: Provider Fairs or Opportunity for Further Information • Sign Agreements with SES Providers: o Timeline and requirements for student achievement goals and progress reports o Process for Informing Parents and Schools of Student Progress
Division of Federal Programs July 8, 2009 

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Provisions governing Payment for Services Provision Prohibiting Disclosure of Student Information Provision for Termination if Provider Fails to Meet Student Goals or Timetables, as well as Health, Safety, and Civil Rights Laws Report to DFP: Cost and Participation Data via eGrant System NEW! Offer two enrollment windows during the school year NEW! Post on Website beginning with SY 2007-08 and all subsequent years identified Number of students eligible Number of students who participated List SES providers approved by the state to serve the LEA with service locations o o o

School Improvement Plans (due within 3 months of Identification)
Getting Results includes All Title I Requirements: • Written Notice to Parents • Significant Consultation in the Development of the School Improvement Plan • Academic Achievement Problem that Caused Identification • Scientifically Based Strategies to Strengthen Core Academic Subjects • Adoption of Policies and Practices to Strength Performance of all Students • Assurance of Funds for Professional Development • Use of Funds for School Improvement • Establish Specific, Annual, Measurable Objectives • Specify Responsibilities of School, LEA and SEA • Strategies for Effective Parent Involvement • Before/After School, Summer and School Year Extension Activities • Teacher-Mentoring Program Getting Results includes All Required Components of a Schoolwide Plan: • Comprehensive Needs Assessment • Reform Activities for All Children • Scientific Based Methods and Strategies to Strengthen Core Academic Program • Increase the amount and Quality of Learning Time • Strategies to Meet the Needs of Historically Underrepresented Students • On-going Plan to Assess Implementation of Progress • Professional Development Plan • Strategies to Attract High-Quality, Highly Qualified Teachers • Strategies to Increase Parent Involvement • Transition Strategies for Preschool Children • Plan to Involve Teachers in Assessment Plan • Identification of and Intervention for Students Experiencing Difficulty • Plan for Coordinating all Federal, State and Local Services and Programs • List of Resources and Programs to Support Schoolwide Reform • Plan to Provide Individual Student Academic Assessment Results to Parents • If Applicable, Enhance Pre-Kindergarten Programs or Other Programs for Children Under the Age of Six

Criteria an LEA must meet to spend less than the 20% Obligation
• • Partner with outside groups: Faith Based and Community Based Organizations (FBP, CBO) and business groups Ensure that students/parents have a genuine opportunity to sign up for Choice/SES Timely and accurate notices to parents Ensuring that sign up forms for SES are distributed directly to all eligible and are available through a broad means of dissemination: Internet, media, public agencies Provide a minimum of two enrollment windows for SES at separate points during the school year Ensure that eligible SES providers are given equal access to school facilities using a fair, open and objective process Maintain records demonstrating that the above criteria is met Notify DFP that the required actions are met and the remainder of the 20% obligation will be spent on other Title I allowable activities, specifying the amount of that remainder

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Update Consolidated Application

• LEA Plan updates (if changes are needed) o Program Description o Targeted Audience o Professional Development • Reservation of Funds (required Choice transportation and SES set asides) • Budget (reflect professional development and Choice/SES expenses)

District Improvement Requirements District Improvement Plans
• • Develop District Improvement Plan Reservation of Funds o Set Aside 10% Title I Funds for Professional Development (Includes any possible set asides for buildings in improvement.) o Budget changes to reflect plan

Division of Federal Programs

July 8, 2009