TITLE I

What is Title I?

Title I is one of the nation's oldest and largest federal programs supporting elementary and secondary education. Title I is based on three important ideas:

  • Provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.
  • Local districts, schools, and parents know best what their students need to succeed. The Title I program allows them to decide how to use these funds ti implement evidence-based practices to help students who are failing or who are at risk of failing in school.
  • Parents are partners in helping all students achieve. They have the right to be involved in the design and operation of their school's Title I program, and, at the same time, a responsibility to help their children succeed in school.

Polson School DIstrict participates in the Consolidated Federal Program. This is a series of federal title grants, including Title I, which funds salaries and educational programs across our district. Amounts vary each year and depend on enrollment and percentage of free and reduced lunch eligibility.

Qualifying for Title I

To qualify for Title I funding, a school must meet certain criteria. To qualify for a Schoolwide Program, at least 40% of a school's student population must qualify for free and reduced lunch. This means that services and programs funded through Title I can be used for all students, schoolwide.

Use of Title I Funds

We use Title I funds to improve and increase student achievement by funding additional teachers and paraprofessionals to work with students in math and literacy. While our main use of funds is for salaries, we have also used Title I funds to purchase educational materials for students. Materials, services and programs purchased with Title I funds must be high quality, researched, and evidence-based.

Parent and Family Engagement

  • Polson School District encourages parents and families to be involved and informed about their student's education.
  • Schools utilizing Title I funds must hold an annual Title I meeting each year to provide information to families. This is done through the District Office in collaboration with schools.
  • Polson School District is required to have a Parent & Family Engagement policy. Link to Board Policy Manual.

Your Rights Under Title I

  • You have the right to know the teaching credentials of your child's teacher. You have the right to know whether your child works directly with a paraprofessional and what their qualifications are.
  • You have the right to see how your child performs on state assessments and you have the right to know how your child's school performed on state assessments

If you have any questions about Title I, please contact Betsy Wade, Curriculum Director, Polson School District at bwade@polson.k12.mt.us or 406-883-6355 ext. 603

Link to Polson School District's Title I Plan

Link to Polson School District's Annual Title I Meeting Slidedeck

TITLE VI

What is Title VI?

The Title VI Indian Education Formula Grants program represents the U.S. Department of Education's largest investment in addressing the unique academic and cultural needs of American Indian and Alaska Native children. The program is aimed at supporting services that (1) are responsive to the unique cultural, language, and educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students and (2) help these students meet academic standards. School districts, tribes, Indian organizations, Indian community-based organizations, and Bureau of Indian Education schools receiving this grant are required to consult with parents and local tribes in the effort to shape grant-funded services that supplement and enrich regular school programs.