Title I – Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

1. What is Title I?

Title I, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA) is the largest federally funded education program supporting schools with high numbers or percentages of students from low-income families. Its primary purpose is to ensure all students have equitable opportunities to achieve academic success and meet state learning standards.

Purpose of Title I funding:

• To support high-quality education for all students
• To help close the achievement gap
• To promote effective parent and family engagement

Note: Title I funds are meant to supplement, not supplant, state and local funding. This means Title I resources are provided in addition to, not instead of, the funding schools already receive.

2. Title I Schools in Our District

The following schools in our district qualify for and receive Title I services:

• Palatine High School
• Hoffman Estates High School
• Academy North

These schools use Title I funds to provide targeted interventions, additional academic support, and resources to help all students thrive.

3. Schoolwide Program Eligibility

Schools with 40% or more of their student population eligible for free or reduced-price lunch may implement schoolwide Title I programming. This model allows for greater support of comprehensive strategies in using Title I funds to support comprehensive strategies that benefit the entire student body, with a particular focus on at-risk learners.

4. School-Parent Compact

Each Title I school develops a School-Parent Compact—a shared agreement that outlines how parents, students, and school staff will work together to improve student achievement. The compact includes:

• Clear expectations for student learning and behavior
• Roles and responsibilities of families, teachers, and students
• Communication strategies to support learning at home and school

All participating families and students are expected to review and sign the compact annually to reinforce their partnership in the learning process.

5. Parent’s Right-to-Know

In accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), parents and guardians of students attending Title I schools have the right to request and receive timely information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers. This includes:

• Whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria
• Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency or other provisional status
• The teacher’s degree major and certification
• The qualifications of any paraprofessionals providing services to their child

Families will be notified annually of this right and may request this information at any time by contacting the school’s administration.