• What is Title I?
     
    Title I is the name of the federal education program which aims to provide extra help and instruction for students who need it most. The program was first enacted by Congress in 1965 as part of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and was revised in 1981 by the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA), which changed its name to Chapter One. Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994 re-authorized appropriations for Chapter One and changed the name of the program back to its original, Title I. The program was again re-authorized during the Bush Administration under the No Child Left Behind Act. In 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act into law, re-authorizing the federal 1965 ESEA. Despite the changes in name, the focus of the program remains the same: to improve the academic achievement of children who need extra help in the basic skills and who also live in areas that have a high concentration of low-income families.

    In Plainville, Title I funds are used to help students in reading in grades 1-2 at the Jackson Elementary School. These classes stress vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency. A variety of other skills may also be included, depending upon individual student needs. 
     
    The Title I teacher works very closely with the regular classroom teachers to ensure continuity in your child’s education. Title I teachers provide additional instruction in reading. This instruction is intended to supplement the regular classroom instruction.

    The Title I teacher is a certified professional. She plans, teaches, and evaluates progress. She maintains student records, attends staff meetings, in-service programs, and regional and state workshops. In addition, she meets with parents and administrators on a regular basis.
     
    Parents are a vital part of the Title I program and are urged to participate through membership in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), serve on School Councils, attend SePAC meetings, participate in informational programs, parent training workshops, parent/teacher conferences, and by signing the School-Parent Compact. The importance of a parent’s interest and involvement in his or her child’s education cannot be overemphasized.
     

    More information can be obtained through your child’s Title I teacher and/or by contacting the Jackson School Principal.

     
    The Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requires school districts that receive federal Title I funding to notify parents of their right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct their child.

    As a recipient of these funds, the Plainville Public Schools will provide you with this information in a timely manner if you request it. Specifically, you have the right to request the following information about each of your child's classroom teachers:
    • Whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject area in which the teacher provides instruction.
    • Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional status because of special circumstances.
    • The teacher's college major, whether the teacher has any advanced degrees, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
    • Whether paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if so, their qualifications.

    The Plainville Public Schools is committed to providing quality instruction for all students and does so by employing the most qualified individuals to teach and support each student in the classroom. If you would like to receive any of the information listed above for your child's teacher, please contact the Superintendent's Office at 508-699-1300.