In Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), the Office of Title I is part of the Department of Academic Services, which is a branch of the Division of Curriculum and Instruction. The Office of Title I manages the Title I, Part A grant, 1003a Focus School Grant, and 1003a Priority School grant. The office’s responsibilities include the coordination of evidence-based Title I programs and guidance on the allowable and effective use of Title I funds.
The office is charged with implementing Title I, Part A under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and serves as the bridge to connect evidence-based programs with systematic school improvement initiatives. School improvement initiatives are outlined in the BCPS School Progress Plan for each Title I school. School Progress Plans ensure various data points are used to strategically identify effective evidence-based best practices and resources to increase student performance and close the achievement gap.
The goal of the Office of Title I is to provide customized support to identified Title I schools for the purpose of implementing and monitoring the Title I, Part A requirements identified in ESSA. We accomplish this by providing technical assistance to support the following objectives:
- Instructional programs, school improvement, and student achievement;
- Parent, family, and community engagement ; and
- Program administration and fiscal compliance.
Title I Programs
There are two types of Title I, Part A program models, schoolwide and targeted assistance.
A schoolwide program focuses on comprehensive reform strategies designed to upgrade the entire educational program in a Title I school. The primary goal of a schoolwide program is to ensure all students, particularly those who are not meeting state academic standards, demonstrate proficient and advanced levels of achievement on the state academic assessments.
A targeted assistance program provides services to a select group of students in need of reading and/or mathematics support to meet state academic standards. Newly identified Title I schools implement a targeted assistance program for at least two years. During year two of a targeted assistance program, schools begin the schoolwide planning process to transition to a schoolwide Title I program.