Title 1
Title I is designed to support State and local school reform efforts tied to challenging State academic standards in order to reinforce and amplify efforts to improve teaching and learning for students farthest from meeting State standards. Individual public schools with poverty rates above 40 percent may use Title I funds, along with other Federal, State, and local funds, to operate a "schoolwide program" to upgrade the instructional program for the whole school. Schools with poverty rates below 40 percent, or those choosing not to operate a schoolwide program, offer a "targeted assistance program" in which the school identifies students who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet the State's challenging performance standards, then designs, in consultation with parents, staff, and district staff, an instructional program to meet the needs of those students. Both schoolwide and targeted assistance programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support parental involvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Title 1?
Title 1 is the largest federal aid program our nation’s schools and has been funded by the United States government since 1965 to provide supplemental remedial services to students living in target areas and needing assistance in reading and/or mathematics. In Quincy, services are currently provided at Amelio Della Chiesa Early Childhood Center, Clifford Marshall, Lincoln-Hancock and Snug Harbor Elementary Schools; Broad Meadows, Point Webster and Sterling Middle Schools. St. Joseph and St. Mary are two private schools providing Title1 services.
How are Title 1 Schools Selected?
Each Quincy school is ranked in order of percentage of low income families by free and reduced lunch or AFDC. Schools are then selected for Title 1 eligibility in order of rank. All students are eligible for Title 1 services if they live in a target area school, but by law must be chosen in order of educational need.
How and When are Students Selected?
Title 1 teachers select program participants soon after the start of the school year. A systematic process is employed to screen eligible students. A weighted score which indicates the level of performance in each of several criteria is assigned during the screening process. The criteria used to determine eligible students are teacher recommendations, test results and check list data. The major purpose of the screening process is to select those students from each grade in greatest need of Title 1 instruction.
In September, parent/guardians of elementary and middle school students are notified of their child’s participation in the program.
How Do Students receive Title 1 assistance?
Schools have selected various ways to deliver Title 1 services to eligible students. At the elementary level, some schools have chosen to have the eligible students receive extra assistance in the classroom from the Title 1 teacher. In schoolwide projects, where low income percentages have exceeded fifty percent, all children are considered eligible for Title 1 services, so both locally and Title 1 funded teachers service all children in the regular classroom.
Title 1 programs generally offer smaller classes or in-class assistance, additional teachers and assistants, additional training for school staff, extra time for instruction and a variety of teaching methods and materials. Approximately thirteen percent of Quincy students receive Title 1 assistance.
How is Title 1 Evaluated?
All children receiving Title 1 services are assessed to determine whether they have made adequate progress. The Title 1 program is reviewed each year by administrators, teachers and parents. If goals have not been met, the plans must be revised.
How are Parents involved in the Title 1 Program?
Federal regulations require parental notification and parental input into Title 1 programs. An annual meeting for parents is scheduled to share information and answer questions about the program. The Quincy Title 1 Parents Advisory Committee is composed of parents whose children attend Title 1 schools. The committee defines parental involvement policies, publicizes information about the program to all parents and monitors the program to insure that eligible children are receiving appropriate Title 1 services.
An individual schools’ Open Houses, brochures describing Title 1, as well as the parent activities offered through each Title 1 school are distributed.
What types of Title 1 Programs are available in Quincy?
- An integrated early childhood program at the Amelio Della Chiesa and Clifford Marshall and Snug Harbor schools servicing 150 children.
- An extended kindergarten program at the Amelio Della Chiesa and Clifford Marshall schools.
- A school-wide project at Snug Harbor Elementary School which services all children.
- An updated computer laboratory at the Clifford Marshall School.
- English as a Second Language support services at the Clifford Marshall Elementary and Point Webster Middle Schools.
- Reading instruction in Grades 1 – 5.
- Mathematics instruction in Grades 2 – 5.
- Reading and Language Arts in Grades K – 5.
Where can I get more information?
Click here for Massachusetts Department of Education Title 1 Information.
Contact Us
| Sylvia Pattavina | Director of Title 1 | 617-984-8737 |
| Dora Constantopoulos | Secretary, Title 1 Program | 617-984-8737 |
| Kerri Connolly | Early Childhood Coordinator | 617-984-8712 |
| Snug Harbor Early Childhood Center | 617-984-8763 | |
| Amelio Della Chiesa Early Childhood Center | 617-984-8777 | |
| Clifford Marshall Early Childhood Center | 617-984-8721 | |
| Lisa Mirasolo, Principal | St. Joseph’s School | |
| Jane Abel, Principal | St. Mary’s School |