Title I

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) provides financial assistance through state education agencies (SEAs) to local education agencies (LEAs) and public schools with the highest percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Title I funds may be used for children from preschool through grade 12.  LEAs target the Title I funds they receive to public schools with the highest poverty rates.  Public schools with poverty rates of at least 40 percent may use Title I funds, along with other federal, state, and local funds, to operate a schoolwide program to upgrade the entire educational program. Schools with poverty rates below 40 percent, or those choosing not to operate a schoolwide program, offer a targeted assistance program. In a targeted assistance program, the school serves Title I-eligible students who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet challenging state academic standards.  The school then designs, in consultation with parents, staff, and district staff, an instructional program to meet the needs of those students. Both schoolwide and targeted assistance programs must be based on effective means of improving student achievement and include strategies to support parent and family engagement.

All four schools in the North Panola School District serve students through a Schoolwide Program. This means that Title I funds may be utilized to impact all students and staff members. 

Title I schools are responsible for adhering to certain requirements as it relates to parent and family engagement.

  • Parents must be notified at least annually of their rights to receive certain information.

  • Parents must be notified if their child has been assigned to, or has been taught by, a teacher who is not licensed to teach their class/course.

  • Parents must be allowed to assist in the development of a written parent involvement policy and the plan for parent and family engagement.

  • Parents must be allowed to participate in the development of a school-parent compact that outlines how each party will share in the responsibility for student academic achievement. 


NPSD Goals of Title I Funding

  • Provide high-quality professional development programs and activities that increase educators’ ability to meet the needs of all learners

  • Carrying out in-service training for school personnel

  • Carry out other evidence-based activities that meet the purpose of this title.

NPSD Costs supported by Title I, Part A:

  • Instructional support personnel (i.e., teacher assistants, interventionists, academic coaches)

  • District support personnel (i.e., nurses)

  • Providing high-quality professional development 

  • Supplementing the core instructional program

  • Supporting a comprehensive assessment program to adequately prepare for academic success in state-tested areas