Title I is a federal program that provides funds to school districts and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children who are disadvantaged to support a variety of services. Its overall purpose is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and assessments. The grant contains provisions for ensuring that children who are disadvantaged enrolled in private schools also benefit from the academic enrichment services funded with Title I, Part A funds.

Program Elements

Critical program elements are:

• needs assessment and program plan design,
• parent involvement,
• services to students enrolled in private schools,
• high-quality teachers and paraprofessionals,
• coordination of services for homeless students in non-Title I schools,
• support for Title I Focus and Priority schools and
• comparability.

PART A — TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL TRAINING AND RECRUITING FUND

SEC. 2101. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this part is to provide grants to State educational agencies, local educational agencies, State agencies for higher education, and eligible partnerships in order to —

(1) increase student academic achievement through strategies such as improving teacher and principal quality and increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom and highly qualified principals and assistant principals in schools; and

(2) hold local educational agencies and schools accountable for improvements in student academic achievement.

Program Description

The purpose of the program is to provide financial assistance to rural districts to assist them in meeting their state's definition of adequate yearly progress (AYP). Applicants do not compete but rather are entitled to funds if they meet basic eligibility requirements. Eligibility is restricted by statute.

Awards are issued annually to SEAs, which make sub grants to LEAs that meet the applicable requirements. Awards are made to all SEAs that apply and meet the applicable requirements of the act (see legislative citation above). If an SEA does not participate, awards are issued by the Department to eligible LEAs in the state either competitively or by formula.

Types of Projects

Recipients may use program funds to conduct the following activities:

• Teacher recruitment and retention, including the use of signing bonuses and other financial incentives;
• Teacher professional development, including programs that train teachers to use technology to improve teaching and that train teachers of students with special needs;
• Support for educational technology, including software and hardware, that meets the requirements of ESEA, Title II, Part D (Enhancing Education Through Technology; # 84.318);
• Parental involvement activities;
• Activities authorized under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities: State Grants program (ESEA, Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1; # 84.186A);
• Activities authorized under ESEA, Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs; # 84.010); or
• Activities authorized under ESEA, Title III (Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students).