What is Title I?

Title I provides federal financial assistance to meet the individual needs of educationally at-risk students by providing supplemental services and resources to support students identified as failing or most at risk of failing to meet expected performance levels of the PA Core Standards in the English Language Arts (ELA) and Math. The purpose of Title I is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency with challenging academic standards and assessments.

The ultimate goal of Title I is to close the existing achievement gap between high performing and historically low performing students through extended learning time, a high-quality curriculum, and instruction by a highly-qualified staff. In the St. Marys Area School District all the elementary schools and the middle school are Schoolwide Title I schools and all teachers are highly qualified.

What is Schoolwide Title I?

South St. Marys Elementary, Fox Township Elementary, Bennetts Valley Elementary, and the St. Marys Area Middle Schoool are identified Schoolwide Title I programs. Schools operating a schoolwide program can use their Title I funds to benefit all children in the school. Schoolwide schools do not have to separately document the use of federal funds or certain state funds as long as their activities upgrade the school's overall education program and meet the intent and purposes of each of the federal and state programs included. Each schoolwide program must include a number of specific components.
 

• Implement schoolwide reform strategies that are based on research, have been proven effective in improving student achievement, and address the needs of all children in the school in an integrated way. 
• Use effective instructional strategies that increase the amount and quality of learning time.
• Help provide an enriched PA Core standards-aligned curriculum.
• Meet the educational needs of historically underserved populations, including economically disadvantaged students, minority students, and limited English proficient students.
• Use highly qualified professional staff and provide professional development for teachers and other staff.
• Implement strategies to increase parental involvement.