Title I Information

Title I, a federal program, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), provides financial assistance to school districts with the highest student concentrations of poverty to meet school educational goals. Title I serves to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach, at minimum, proficiency on the state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments.

The program serves students in elementary and secondary (middle and high) schools who have demonstrated that assistance is needed. Title I also serves students who attend private schools. In PV, Title I services are provided in Pleasant Valley Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Intermediate School, both Schoolwide Title I schools.  

Federal funds are currently allocated through statutory formulas that are based primarily on census poverty estimates and the cost of education in each state.

• A Schoolwide Title I school is not required to identify eligible students for services
• All students in a Title I building are eligible to participate
• A requirement of running a schoolwide program in an eligible Title I school is completing a Schoolwide Plan
• The Schoolwide Plan is revised each spring with the involvement of parents, community members, teachers, principals, etc.
• The Schoolwide Plan is based on the comprehensive needs of the school

• A minimum of one percent of our school’s Title I allotment must be used for the purpose of increasing parent and family engagement.
  • State Parent Advisory Council (SPAC)
    • Conference (usually in July)
    • Spac.k12
  • SPAC (State Parent Advisory Council) includes parents of children participating in Title I. The purpose of this council is to share ideas with the Division of Federal Programs about involving Title I parents to increase student achievement.  SPAC parents advise PDE on many aspects of parent involvement – from working with children at home to developing partnerships among parents, teachers, administrators, and community leaders to create effective and engaging parent involvement programs.

Ways to be Involved

• Revise Parent Compact and Policies as needed
• Attend school events
• Volunteer in your child’s class or in the school
• Communicate with your child’s teacher

The School-Parent-Student Compact will be jointly developed with parents and family members.  The compact outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share in the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and the parents will build and develop partnerships to help children achieve the State’s high standards (ESSA, Section 1116 (d)).

Pleasant Valley understands the importance of the school experience to every student and their role and educators and models.  Therefore, the school agrees to carry out the following responsibilities to the best of their ability:

• Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the children served under this part, to meet the challenging State academic standards
• Address the importance of communication between teachers and parents on an on-going basis through, at a minimum
  • Parent teacher conferences in elementary schools, at least annually, during which the compact shall be discussed as the compact relates to the individual child’s achievement;
  • Frequent reports to parents on their child’s progress;
  • Reasonable access to staff, opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and observation of classroom activities; and
  • Ensuring regular two-way, meaningful communication between family members and school staff, and, to the extent practicable, in a language that family members can understand. (required) (ESSA, Section 1116 (d)(1-2))
  • Treat each child with dignity and respect
  • Strive to address the individual needs of the student
  • Acknowledge that parents are vital to the success of the child and the school
  • Provide a safe, positive and healthy learning environment
  • Assure every student access to quality learning experiences
  • Assure that the school staff communicates clear expectations for performance to both students and parents.

The parent understands that participation in his/her student’s education will help his/her achievement and attitude.  Therefore, the parent will continue to carry out the following responsibilities to the best of his/her ability:

• Volunteering in their child’s classroom
• Supporting the child’s learning
• Participating, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their child and positive use of extracurricular time
• Creating a home atmosphere that supports learning
• Sending the student to school on time and well-rested on a regular basis
• Attending school functions and parent-teacher conferences
• Encouraging their child to show respect for all members of the school community and school property
• Review all school communications and respond promptly

The student realized education is important.  He/she is the one responsible for his/her own success.  Therefore, he/she agrees to carry out the following responsibilities to the best of his/her ability:

• Get to school on time every day
• Develop a positive attitude toward school
• Be responsible for completing homework on time
• Be cooperative by carrying out the teacher’s instructions and ask for help when needed
• Do daily work that is neat and reflects the student’s best effort
• Be respectful to all school members and to school property.

What does our school district agree to do?

• Partnership between parents, teachers, and students
• District Policy 918
• Each Title I Building (PVE and PVI) has a Parent and Family Engagement Policy
  • Reviewed annually by parents and family members

The policy must be:

• Developed jointly with and agreed upon by parents and family members of Title I children;
• Written in understandable format and provided in a language parents can understand;
• Distributed to all parents and family members of Title I children;
• Made available to local community;
• Updated annually to meet the changing needs of parents, family members, and the school.

Small group instruction based on:

• Classroom performance
• Classroom assessments
• Running records of reading progress
• Student conferences
• STAR Assessments
• PSSA Data (grades 3-6)
• Skill inventories
• Diagnostic assessments

For additional information on Title I, please contact

Mrs. Lori Hagerman, Title I Program Coordinator  

(570) 402-1000 ext. 1311 or by email at: 

hagerman.lori@pvbears.org

For additional information on the Pleasant Valley School District's

policy on Parent and Family Engagement (Policy #918), click the

following link:

Board Policy 918 

On the page that opens, in the top right corner click on POLICIES, then on the left choose 900 COMMUNITY, then scroll to 918 Title I Parent and Family Engagement.