What is Title I?

Title I, the cornerstone of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), previously known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), is the largest federal education program. Its intent is to help ensure that all children have the opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach proficiency on challenging State academic content and performance standards.

Title I began with the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, which provided federal funding for high-poverty schools to help students who are behind academically and at risk of falling behind. Services can include hiring teachers to reduce class size, tutoring, purchase of instructional equipment, materials and supplies, parental involvement activities, professional development, pre-kindergarten programs, and hiring teachers and paraprofessionals.

Funding supports Title I School-wide Programs and Targeted Assistance Programs, depending on the level of students that receive free and reduced-price lunch in the school and how the school wants to function. School-wide programs are in schools that have at least a 75% poverty level, based on the number of children designated as economically disadvantaged. These schools have also gone through a one-year planning process. School-wide programs have flexibility in using their Title I funds, in conjunction with other funds in the school, to upgrade the operation of the entire school. School-wide programs must conduct a comprehensive needs assessment, identify and commit to specific goals and strategies that address those needs, create a comprehensive plan, and conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of the school-wide program that is revised as needed.