Title I Schools
What is the Title I program?
In 1965, the effort to provide federal funding to schools for all students began when the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was signed into law by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. This plan provided new financial resources to local education agencies (i.e. school districts) to serve low-income students, grants for textbooks and library books, money for special education centers, and scholarships for low-income students, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Nearly four decades later, in 2002, Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which reauthorized and made major changes to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Changes included ensuring that schools provided data to demonstrate that the financial resources were making a difference in the academic success of every student by requiring more stringent accountability for schools through testing and progress measures, offering more diverse options for parents, and demanding higher quality teaching.
In 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Barack Obama, reauthorizing the ESEA and updating the nation's commitment to ensuring all students have equal access to a quality education. ESSA continued Title I funding, which supports school districts with the highest need, including students who are disadvantaged, homeless, migratory, or at-risk.
Title I federal funds supplement state funding and are included in the federal budget.
Click here to read more about Title I from the California Department of Education
Click here to read more about the Every Student Succeeds Act from the U.S. Department of Education
How is a school determined to be a Title I school?
A school is designated to be eligible for Title I funds based on the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure that is determined by household income and size. Title I eligibility is typically granted to schools where at least 40% of the student population is classified as low-income.
In California, the free and reduced-price lunch program is supplemented by the state’s universal meal program, which provides free breakfast and lunch meals to all students regardless of income. This state initiative does not directly impact Title I eligibility but ensures that all students have access to meals.
More reading about the Title I program:
Title I of ESEA: How the Formulas Work (All4Ed)
How are Title I funds allocated to students?
Title I funds are distributed through various parts of the Title I program, each addressing different aspects of educational support. The federal government allocates funds to local education agencies (LEA) based on the number and percentage of low-income children.
Key parts of the Title I program in MPUSD include:
Part A: Improving Basic Programs
Provides financial assistance to LEAs to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.
Part B: State Assessment Grants
Provides funds to states to develop and implement annual student assessments.
Part C: Education of Migratory Children
Supports high-quality education programs for migratory children to help reduce educational disruptions and other challenges resulting from repeated moves.
Part D: Prevention and Intervention Programs for Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk Children and Youth
Supports programs for children and youth in state-operated institutions or community day programs and provides assistance to children and youth returning from correctional facilities.
Part E: Flexibility for Equitable Per-Pupil Funding
Allows LEAs to combine certain federal funds with state and local funds to create a single school funding system based on weighted per-pupil allocations.
Part F: General Provisions
Contains miscellaneous provisions that apply to the Title I program, such as definitions and authorizations.
Each year, the amount of funds allocated per pupil is calculated based on the total Title I funds available and the number of eligible students. Any funds that are not spent by the end of the school year can typically be carried over to the next school year, subject to certain limitations and regulations.
Which MPUSD schools are designated Title I schools?
Seaside Schools
Del Rey Woods Elementary School
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., School of the Arts
Dual Language Academy of the Monterey Peninsula
George C. Marshall Elementary School
Marina Schools
Marina Vista Elementary Arts Academy
J.C. Crumpton Elementary School
What is a Title I School-Parent Compact Agreement?
According to the California Department of Education, the Title I School-Parent Compact is an agreement that outlines how parents, school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the state's high standards.
The compact agreement is unique to each school.