Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts�Title I Annual Meeting

September 16, 2025

Federal Requirements

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that each Title I school hold an Annual Meeting for the purpose of…

• Informing you of your school’s participation in Title I.
• Explaining the requirements of Title I.
• Explaining your rights as parents to be engaged in the school community.

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Meeting Overview

• What is Title I?
• What does it mean to be a Title I school?
• Our School’s Proud Points from 2024-2025
• Our School’s Goals for 2025-2026
• How Title I funds are Used at Our School
• Your Rights as Parents and Families
• School Improvement Planning
• Parent and Family Engagement Policy
• School-Parent Compact
• Your “Right to Know”

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What is Title I?

• Title I is the nation’s oldest and largest federally funded educational program.
• Title I provides supplemental funds to schools to help students meet their educational goals.

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What does it mean to be a Title I school?

• Being a Title I school means receiving federal funding to supplement the school’s existing programs. This funding is used for…
• Identifying students experiencing academic difficulties and providing timely assistance to help them meet the State’s challenging content standards.
• Purchasing supplemental programs, materials, and/or supplies.
• Conducting parent and family engagement meetings, trainings, and activities.
• Being a Title I school also means encouraging parental engagement and advocating for parents’ rights.

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Our School’s Proud Points from 2024-2025

Reading & math proficiency increased

School performance grade went from “D” to “C”

Exited Low Performing Status

Increase in progress for multilingual students

Reduction in chronic absenteeism

Student leadership inside and outside of the classroom

Our School’s Goals for 2025-2026

Continue to increase reading, math, and science proficiency

Maintain a “C” school performance grade

Strengthen family engagement practices

Increase “sense of belonging” for students

Recertify as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School

How Title I Funds are Used at Our School

• Online platforms to support reading and math at home and school (iReady & Lexia)
• Reduce class sizes with additional teacher positions
• Strengthen family engagement with a bilingual family engagement school advocate
• Support professional development and collaborative planning for instructional staff to improve student learning

Your Rights as Parents and Families at a Title I School

You have a right to be involved in the following:

• Development of the…
• School Improvement Plan/NCStar Plan
• Parent and Family Engagement Policy
• School-Parent Compact
• Title I funding allocations for parent and family engagement.

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School Improvement/NCStar Plan

• The School Improvement Plan/NCStar Plan includes:
• A Comprehensive Needs Assessment
• Goals and Strategies to Address Academic Needs of Students
• Professional Development for School Staff
• Coordination of Resources and a Comprehensive Budget
• The School’s Parent and Family Engagement Goals

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• Parents and families at Title I schools have the right to be engaged in the development of this plan.

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Parent and Family Engagement Policy

• Every Title I School must have a School Parent and Family Engagement Policy that is jointly developed with parents and families.
• The school Parent and Family Engagement Policy outlines how the school will implement the parental engagement requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Components include:
• How parents can be involved in decision-making activities.
• How information on instruction and assessment will be provided to parents.
• How the school will build parents’ and families’ capacities for supporting their children’s learning at home.
• How parental involvement funds are being used.
• Parents and families at Title I schools have the right to be involved in the annual review and improvement of the Parent and Family Engagement Policy.

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How Our School Engages Parents and Families

School events throughout the year (open house, curriculum night, math night, leadership night, arts performances)

Communication through Class Dojo, email, text, phone, teacher newsletters and social media

Parent-teacher conferences in the first quarter and ongoing as needed

Providing materials (including online platforms) that can be used at home to strengthen student skills.

School-Parent Compact

• Every Title I School must have a School-Parent Compact that is jointly developed with parents and families.
• The compact is a commitment or contract between the school, teacher, parent, and student to share in the responsibility for academic achievement.
• The compacts must be distributed to all parents and families.
• Parents and families at Title I schools have the right to be engaged in the annual review and improvement of the School-Parent Compact.

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Your “Right to Know”

• You, as a Title I parent/family, have the right to request…
• the qualifications of your child’s teachers.
• information about any state or local policy regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by the state or local district.
• The Right to Know notification is distributed to all students at the beginning of the school year and is posted on our school’s website.
• You, as a Title I parent/family, will be notified if your child is instructed for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet the North Carolina state licensure requirements for the grade level or subject area that he/she is teaching.

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We need parent voices on our school improvement team

Parent Volunteers Needed!

• 4th Thursday of each month
• 2:30 - 3:30
• Help determine how use resources so that we continue to improve in serving all students
• email amanda.stinchcomb@ucps.k12.nc.us if interested

Check grades, attendance, and bus info

Questions & Answers

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Title I Department Contact Information

Director of Federal Programs

Dr. Hema Lalwani

hema.lalwani@ucps.k12.nc.us

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Title I Specialist

Paulette Pipkin

paulette.richardson pipkin@ucps.k12.nc.us

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Title I Specialist

Lori Spruiell

lori.spruiell@ucps.k12.nc.us

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