What is Federal Programs?

School: Tioga Elementary School Principal: Crystal Furniss

Rapides Parish School District Title I Chairperson: Jennifer Byrd

Date: August 6, 2026

• Federal education programs in the United States refer to initiatives funded by the national government to supplement state and local education budgets, ensure equal access, and support low-income or disadvantaged students.
• While individual states carry the primary responsibility for running public schools, the federal government—mostly through the U.S. Department of Education — administers these targeted programs to improve overall educational quality. The primary federal education initiatives are divided across elementary/secondary education (K–12) and higher education (college).

“Federal Programs” Formal Overview…

“Federal Programs” interpretation for Tioga Elementary

While our school is mostly funded by local and state taxes, we also receive extra financial support from the federal government. This federal funding is specifically used to make sure every student gets an equal chance to succeed. It pays for valuable extras in our classrooms, like free tutoring, special education services, advanced technology, and specialized training for our teachers.

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Title I Chairperson: Jennifer Byrd

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What is Title I?

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What is the Title I program? �

• Title I is a partnership between the federal government, the state educational agency and the local school district to assist meeting the educational needs of low-achieving students. It is the largest federal aid program for elementary and secondary schools.
• In order to qualify for Title I, a school’s population is 40% or more of students living in poverty, regardless of the school configuration.
• The goal of Title 1 is to provide all children with a high-quality education and to help them meet state and federal standards.
• RPSB Title I provides for pre-K throughout the district, and also provides for students experiencing homelessness through the McKinney-Vento program.
• A very important part of Title I program is parental involvement.

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What does it mean to be a “Title I School?”

• Being a Title I school means receiving federal funding (Title I dollars) to supplement the school’s existing programs. These funds are used:
• to identify students experiencing academic difficulties and providing timely assistance to help these students meet the Louisiana’s challenging content standards.
• to purchase supplemental staff/programs/materials/supplies
• to conduct parent and family engagement meetings/trainings/activities
• Being a Title 1 school also means parent and family involvement and knowing their rights under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

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Who decides how Title I funds are used in the schools?

• Each school decides how Title I funds will be used in their school to improve education for all children. 
• Site based leadership teams determine how Title I funds will be used to help support the school’s identified needs. Parents can have input into these decisions.
• Data are reviewed to determine the greatest needs in a school and devise strategies to improve student achievement in the school through a schoolwide or school improvement plan.

Needs Assessment

Tioga Elementary School will use Title I funds allotted to the school to assist in providing the necessary resources and support for students to reach their goals.

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What is the 1% set-aside, and how are parents involved?

• Any LEA with a Title I Allocation exceeding $500,000 is required by law to set aside 1% of its Title I allocation for parent and family engagement.

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• Of that 1%, 10% may be reserved at the LEA for system-wide initiatives related to parent and family engagement. The remaining 90% must be allocated to all Title I schools in the LEA. Therefore, each Title I school receives its portion of the 90% to implement school-level parent and family engagement with clear expectations and objectives for meaningful involvement.

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What is the LEA Schoolwide Improvement Plan (SWP)?

• The LEA Title I SWP addresses how the LEA will use Title I funds throughout the school system . Topics include:
• Student academic assessments
• Additional assistance provided struggling students
• Coordination and integration of federal funds and programs
• School programs including Migrant, Pre-School, EL, and Homeless, as applicable.
• Parent and Family Engagement Strategies, which is included in the Parent and Family Engagement Policy.

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What is a SWP?

• The Schoolwide Improvement Plan (SWP) is a school improvement plan that helps schools plan to improve and meet state academic standards. The SWP process includes:
• A Needs Assessment and Summary of Data
• Goals and Strategies to Address Academic Needs of Students
• Professional Development Needs
• Coordination of Resources/Comprehensive Budget
• The School’s Parent and Family Engagement Policy
• The SWP is used by all Title I schools in Rapides Parish, and the plan should be implemented, monitored, and revised regularly as needed, but SWP meetings are held three times per year: beginning, middle, and end. Get involved!

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What is Parent and Family Engagement Plan?

• This plan addresses how the LEA will implement the parent and family engagement requirements of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). It includes…
• The LEA’s expectations for parents and families
• How the LEA will involve parents in decision-making
• How the LEA will work to build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement to improve student academic achievement
• These policies describe the means for carrying out the activities required by ESSA to involve families in the academic achievement of their students.

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What are the benefits of family engagement?

For students:

• Higher grades and test scores
• Better attendance

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For Parents and Families:

• More confidence and trust in the school
• Creates a home environment that encourages learning
• Encourages families to form stronger relationships with teachers and other families

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For Schools and Teachers:

• Improved teacher and staff morale
• More support from families and improved relationships within the community
• Higher student achievement

What is the School-Parent Compact?

• The compact is a commitment from the school, the parent, and the student to share in the responsibility for improved academic achievement.

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• The Compact has three sections- parent section, student section, and school section.

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• What it includes: A description of how the school, parents, and students will work together to improve academic achievement.

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What is my role as a parent in supporting my child’s success?

• Parents are an important part of the Title I team and are partners with the school in helping all students achieve. Title I parents have certain rights. As the parent of a child in a Title I school, you have the right to: 
• Request the progress reports on your child and school 
• Request information about the professional qualifications of your child’s teacher(s) including the degrees and certifications held, and whether the teacher is certified in their respective area of instruction 
• Help to decide if Title I is meeting your child’s needs, and offer suggestions for improvement 
• Know if your child has been assigned, or taught by a teacher that is not highly qualified for at least four consecutive weeks
• Help develop your school’s plan for how parents and schools can work together

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• Title II provides funding to help teachers and school leaders improve their skills so they can better support student learning.

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• It also helps ensure all students have access to effective educators.

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What is the Title II program?

What is Title III?

Title III - School Sites

ESL Center Schools

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What Is The Definition Of An English Learner (EL)?

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• is aged 3 through 21
• is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary school or secondary school
• meets one of the following criteria
1. was not born in the United States, or whose native language is a language other than English;
2. is a Native American or Alaska Native, or a native resident of the outlying areas; and comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency (ELP); or
3. is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant
• has difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language, that may be sufficient to deny the individual
• the ability to meet the challenging state academic standards;
• the ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English; or
• the opportunity to participate fully in society.

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What is Title I, Part C / Migrant Education Program (MEP)?

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What is Title IV?

Funding that enhances/enriches the opportunities students have.

• The district is set to work on enhancing Well Rounded Programs by offering after-school programs such as archery and fitness teams as well as STEAM programs. Some STEAM enrichments are in:
• Science, Technology , Engineering, Arts, & Math
• In addition to STEAM materials and supplies, Schools can also submit proposals for band and/choir instruments, books for book clubs, and archery supplies.
• Inner Orbit is purchased district wide from Title IV to support the curriculum in our science classrooms.
• The Mastery Prep program for high school students gives students the opportunity to enhance their ACT and WorkKeys skills. Strong ACT and WorkKeys scores provides students opportunities beyond High School.
• Title IV funds provide support to school with funding for Truancy Case Workers.

We are committed to providing families with meaningful, two-way communication about Tioga Elementary School’s plan and your child’s academic progress throughout the year!

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Here are ways we can partner to meet our plan’s goals:

• Communicate with us: Contact your child’s teacher or principal with questions about your child’s progress, learning needs, or school events/programs through teacher website, school media accounts, etc.
• Support learning at home: Parent involvement at the elementary, middle and high school takes many forms. Whether it’s checking homework, talking more about reading progress for DIBELS, college and career choices, attending Open House or volunteering for PTO and booster clubs, your engagement makes a difference! We are #better together.

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By knowing what’s happening in the classroom and on campus, you can help your student to focus on coursework and school activities to ensure a solid education progressing all the way to college and career readiness.

Connecting to Tioga Elementary’s Parents

Thank you for your time. We need your feedback. Please answer these few short questions for you. Point your phone to scan the QR code on the right or type in the link below the QR code. Your response helps to secure federal funding!

https://forms.gle/tmdXDsRevbw1mxGz5