Title I

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), reauthorized in 2015 as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), identifies certain federal grant programs that provide funding to school districts. The Title I grant program (Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards) has been in place in some form since 1965. The Title I grant provides funding to local school districts to assist struggling students in meeting the state’s challenging academic standards. Title I is composed of four smaller grants. In any given year, Brookline is eligible to receive funding from one to three of these sub-grants, depending on federal census data on the town’s economically disadvantaged population.

Schools with over 35% of their students designated as economically disadvantaged can operate a school-wide program. Schools with fewer than 35% of their students designated as economically disadvantaged can offer “Targeted Assistance” programs. A Targeted Assistance school’s eligibility may change from year to year, depending on the number of students whose families are identified as economically disadvantaged. One measure used in Brookline to determine this is the number of students receiving free and/or reduced lunch at a school. Each year, information is gathered from every school in Brookline, yielding a system-wide average of students whose families are considered economically disadvantaged. Schools with a number of students from economically disadvantaged families higher than the system average are considered by the state as eligible for Title I funding.

For the 2019–2020 school year, Coolidge Corner School, Lawrence, Pierce, and Lincoln received funding as Targeted Assistance schools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does Title I provide?

Title I funds a number of activities, depending on the amount of yearly funding. These activities include:

• Supplementary literacy instruction for struggling students in grades K–6 during the school year. Services are provided to supplement, rather than replace, classroom instruction. Literacy specialists work with classroom teachers to reinforce curriculum and support continued literacy development.
• Inclusion specialist support. These educators are highly skilled in creating effective inclusive classrooms and work collaboratively with teachers to support struggling students, including students with learning disabilities and English language learners.
• Professional development for teachers in Title I schools to strengthen their ability to support all students.
• Activities that help families support their child’s academic growth.
• Summer supplementary academic support programs and extended learning opportunities.

Who provides the supplemental instructional services?

In all Brookline schools, highly qualified literacy specialists provide supplemental instruction to improve student learning. Schools receiving Title I funds have a larger team of literacy specialists than other schools. Literacy specialists reinforce classroom concepts and provide targeted support in reading. They collaborate with classroom teachers and other specialists to ensure consistency in instruction.

Is there a difference in services between schools that receive Title I funds and those that do not?

The services provided to struggling students are consistent across all Brookline schools. However, Title I eligibility indicates a higher number of students needing academic support. Title I funding allows for additional staffing at these schools beyond the standard district allocation.

Are there additional requirements for schools receiving Title I funds?

• Schools must notify families and are encouraged to provide resources to support parent involvement in student learning.
• Teachers must complete specific reporting requirements in the fall and spring related to student eligibility and progress.

Can private schools participate in Title I programs?

Private schools that serve Brookline resident students are eligible to participate in Title I programs. A school’s allocation is based on the number of eligible Brookline students in grades K–6 who are economically disadvantaged and would attend a Brookline Title I Targeted Assistance school.

Private schools must consult with the public school district to determine services and must follow comparable requirements for testing, evaluation, service delivery, and reporting for each participating student.

Important Documents

Contact Us

Joelle Pedersen, Ph.D.
Interim Senior Director of Teaching and Learning
(617) 730-2354
joelle_pedersen@psbma.org