Unity Elementary School Annual Parent Meeting September 14, 2017 6:00 PM Welcome We are so pleased to have you with us this morning. We are going to be talking about Title I and what that means for l, our students and our parents.

WHAT is Title I ?

Title I Title I began in 1965 (ESEA) as a federal program to ensure equal opportunities for low income school districts. Through Title I, the federal government disburses money to school districts based on the number of low-income families in each district as determined by census data. The school uses its Title I money to supplement and improve educational programs offered to help ALL students meet state standards. Title I -- Federal program begun in 1965 as part of the Elementary Secondary Education Act. You will see it referred to again as Elementary Secondary Education Act.

Title I programs can help. . . Students do better in school and feel better about themselves Teachers understand the needs and concerns of students and parents Parents understand their child and be more involved in their child’s education

All schools in Meriwether County are Title I Schools. The district and schools… Develop a Comprehensive Needs Assessment to identify strengths and areas of need. Solicit input from a variety of stakeholders including staff, students, parents and the community. Establish goals and develop an improvement plan to determine what steps we will take to meet our goals through programs and interventions. Use Title I Money to provide ALL students with services to help them achieve academic success. We are all title one schools in order to receive title one funds requirement include CAN, SIP,

HOW do we spend Title I Funds ?

How we receive Title I funds? All schools in Meriwether County participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) This programs allows us to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students It eliminates the burden of collecting household applications to determine eligibility for school meal programs Everyone benefits Students—access to free nutritious meals for all students Parents—no household applications means less paperwork and no worries about lunch accounts Schools—streamlines meal service operation

Title I Funds . . . These funds may be used for children from preschool aged to high school. Title I is designed to support State and local school reform efforts tied to challenging State academic standards in order to reinforce and enhance efforts to improve teaching and learning for students. Must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support parental involvement.  

How we use our Title I Funds? Instructional supplies (workbooks, textbooks, teacher guides, etc.) Technology (computers, software, and tools for students) Professional Learning for staff Salaries for instructional staff Tutoring for students Parent Meetings, communication expenses (brochures, flyers, mailings about Title I activities)

WHAT are Title I Requirements ?

Title I Requirements . . . Schools must identify needs Set goals Title I programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support parental involvement.    Schools must identify needs Set goals Develop a School Improvement Plan Build Parent Capacity : Provide resources and skills to parents to help them with student achievement

Build Staff Capacity: Provide Professional Development to staff members to help improve their instructional practices Increase parent and family engagement Develop Transition Plans for students Provide services for students who may be: at risk / English language learners / in foster homes / homeless or students with disabilities

WHAT Parents Need to Know…

YOU need to be involved! Your input is valuable and important in making sure that your child’s needs are being met. Attend meetings, provide input, participate in surveys, visit the school and volunteer, join school organizations (PTO, School Council, etc...) Right To Know: You have the right to know about the professional qualifications of the teachers and paraprofessionals that teach your children. Parent & Family Engagement Plan – will provide you with the goals of the school and trainings that have been developed to assist you in helping your child succeed in school School-Parent Compacts – an agreement between the school, parents/guardians and the student about how they will work together to meet goals and achieve student success

School Improvement Planning Title I & School Improvement Planning

District Parent Involvement Plan The District Parent Involvement Plan outlines how the school district will put into operation programs, activities and procedures for the involvement of parents in all of its schools with Title I, Part A programs, consistent with section 1118 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). District plan includes the parts that would be found in the school level plan. The purpose of the plan to say how we are going to help our parents to help their child be successful. (copies of the District PIP are available in our Parent Resource Room and at the Board of Education)

Parent Involvement

Parent Involvement Activities Attend Parent Engagement Meetings Attend Parent Conferences Get Involved—Join PTO, School Council, Parent Advisory Committee How will you know about these meetings? School Website Emails Texts Social Media (Facebook, Twitter) Call-outs Notices in newspaper Flyers sent home

Unity Data/Goals . . .

2016 CCRPI Score for Unity

2017 Milestones Highlights Improvement in 5 out of 10 of the end of grade courses Double digit gains 4th ELA increased 21.4% 5th Lexile scores increased 16.6% *Individual student score reports will go home with report cards in October*

Unity is identified as a Focus School by the GaDOE There is a focus on closing the achievement gaps and enabling all subgroups to meet performance targets in all academic areas. We have a RESA school improvement specialist who works with our staff. We have also been provided extra funds from SIG (School Improvement Grant).

Goals for 2017-18 School Improvement Plan UES will obtain a 3% increase annually in the percentage of students scoring developing learner or above on the state assessments. UES will increase annually in the percentage of students meeting Typical or High growth at the elementary school level. UES will decrease the number of discipline referrals by 10% annually.

WHO to contact . . .

District Contacts: Debbie Cochran – District Family Engagement Coordinator 706-441-0601 – extension 1024 debbie.cochran@mcssga.org Dawn Woodard – Title I Director 706-441-0601 – extension 1025 dawn.woodard@mcssga.org Kanitra Lawless- Unity Family Engagement Coordinator/Counselor 770-927-6488 Kanitra.lawless@mcssga.org

Curriculum Night Schedule 6:25-7:00- First informational session 7:05-7:40- Second informational session if you have more than one student Please stop by room E131 to take an important survey.

Thank You for your attendance. Thank You for your attendance and participation.