Title 1

Randy suggested I blog my journey though figuring out Title 1. It has only been a week, so I don't know if that constitutes a "journey" but it has been an experience. Last Friday we received a form letter from Audrey's school addressed to the "parents of Audrey" that indicated that she qualified for title 1 services to help with various skills and invited us to attend a school wide meeting the following Thursday. My first reaction was "what skills does she need help with?" We have received only positive feedback from her teacher. So I emailed her teacher and asked the question and then went online to see what I could learn. Online I didn't learn much. I spoke over the weekend to some other parents and teachers, and by Monday decided that this didn't really mean much.

On Monday I received an email from Audrey's teacher that said, "this just means I get more help in my classroom...no need to worry!" Audrey's teacher doesn't come across as someone that would say something just to make you happy so I decided I would just go with the flow. When the meeting came around on Thursday I had pretty much decided that I wasn't going to attend...why go if it wasn't specific to Audrey? So last night after running I found myself walking into the gym for the meeting...I know I am a sucker...

Somehow (later to realize luckily) I ended up sitting with all the teachers and parapros. A lady gave a presentation about Title 1. In summary Title 1 is federal money that a school receives when they meet an eligibilty requirement. The eligibility requirement is based on the economic status of the students at the school. So for Yargo Elementary, this is the first year they have qualified. So the school gets all this money and then they can decide how to spend it. Yargo decided to spend their money by hiring 12 parapros (actually they are certified teachers who couldn't find a job) and building another computer lab. The parapros are divided up among grade levels (2 to 3 parapros per grade level). They work under the direction of the teacher and basically hold small groups with the students to work on whatever subject the teacher wants them to work on (counting money, sight words, handwriting, etc). The "title" students also get to go the new computer lab once a week for 45 minutes. Sounds like a pretty good deal for both the teachers and the students.

So then we get to the question portion. It was crazy. I thought they were going to have to call the sheriff. Parents apparently are not thrilled with their kids being titled a "title 1 student". It got very heated and I felt badly for the lady giving the presentation. Then the teachers around me got upset at accusastions that the school was simply "creating more jobs for teachers" and the need wasn't really there. To be called a title 1 student either you have to have scored a certain level on the CRCT or simply a teacher's recommendation. What teacher wouldn't want to have another teacher helping?

I was able to speak with a couple of the parapros including Audrey's. They taught me more than the lady presenting. She said that pretty much all the kids are participating in Audrey's class because her teacher recommended them. She explained this isn't EIP (early intervention) and that there was nothing specific that we needed to focus on with Audrey...this is just an extra helper and extra attention. I left the meeting feeling good...and I still think this is a good thing. I have always heard the complaint about public schools is that there isn't enough one on one focus. That teachers have to deal with behavior problems instead of teaching. Right now Yargo is a targeted assisted school. That means that only students that are labeled as "title 1" get to participate in the new computer lab and have small group with the parapro. They want to make the school a school wide program which means that parapros and the computer lab are still there but ALL kids get to partipate. All it takes is a desire to make it school wide. If you get a chance, go and vote to make it school wide:

http://www.barrow.k12.ga.us/yes/ (click on the school wide Title 1 parent survey - it is just one question and you don't even need to be a parent at that school)