Title I & Title III Annual Parent Meeting

No Child Left Behind

What is “No Child Left Behind”?

It is an education act (signed into law in 2002) that aims to:

1. Raise accountability2. Provide more financial flexibility3. Set goals4. Improve teacher quality5. Provide school choice6. Make schools safer

Four Basic Principles of NCLB

Flexibility

Accountability for Results Proven Educational Methods Choice for Parents

What Should I Learn About It?

• Students are challenged to meet high standards

• Taught by highly qualified teachers using proven teaching methods

• Helps ensure that students are able to learn in a safe, drug-free environment

• Parents have access to annual state and district report cards that allow you to learn how well your child’s school is performing.

Ten Facts Every Parent Should Know About NCLB

1. NCLB gives schools more money.2. NCLB holds schools accountable for

results.3. NCLB gives states and cities more

control and flexibility to use resources where they are needed most.

4. NCLB gives parents report cards.5. NCLB focuses on teaching methods

that have been proven to work.

6. NCLB provides funding to help teachers learn to be better teachers.

7. NCLB provides more than $1billion to help children learn to read.

8. NCLB may let you transfer your child to a better public school if the state says the school your child attends needs to improve.

9. NCLB may provide your child with free tutoring if the state says that their school needs to improve and your child is eligible.

10. NCLB requires reading and math testing in grades 3 through 8 each year.

What is Title I?

• It is the largest federal assistance program for our nation’s schools.

• The goal of Title I is a higher quality of education for every child.

• The program serves millions of children in elementary and secondary schools each year.

How Title I Works

• The federal government provides funding to states each year for Title I.

• The State educational agencies send the money to the school district.

• The local school district identifies eligible schools and provides Title I resources.

• Title I serves children through Schoolwide Programs or Targeted Assistance Programs.

Title I Programs generally offer……..

• Smaller classes

• Additional teachers and paraprofessionals

• Additional training for school staff

• Extra time for instruction

• A variety of teaching methods and materials

What is Title III?

The Title III program for English language acquisition is funded with federal dollars. These funds are distributed to the states and then to the local school districts to use in providing services in English language instruction. In Georgia, students are offered ESOL – English for Speakers of Other Languages.

Objectives of Title III

• To attain English proficiency• To achieve at high levels in core

academic subjects• To develop high-quality language

instruction educational programs and employ highly qualified teachers

• To promote parental and community participation

Program Flexibility

Under Title III:• States, districts, and schools select

scientifically-based methods of instruction, programs and assessments proven effective and appropriate for ELL (English Language Learners) students.

• No particular programs for instruction are prescribed or recommended.

English Language Learners (ELL)

• Between 3-21 years of age• US born 46%, foreign born 54%• Enrolled/preparing to enroll in

elementary or secondary school• Not born in the USA or native language

is no English, including Native Americans, Native Alaskans, or those from outlying territories.

• Migratory, whose native language is not English.

How Are Students Identified?

• Each student entering Forsyth County Schools completes a Home Language Survey in the registration materials. This survey asks for information about the student’s first, home, or dominant language. If a student answers “other than English” to the following 3 questions, they are considered a Language Minority student and may be tested for eligibility in the ESOL program.

1. What was the first language that you learned to speak?

2. What language do you speak most often?

3. What language is most often spoken in your home?

Eligibility for ESOL Services

• Upon entry into the district at this time, Language Minority students are given the Language Assessment Battery (LAB) to determine their level of English language proficiency. Students are tested in four areas: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

• In 2006, Georgia ELL students were given the ACCESS test this semester to measure their English language skills and to determine if they will remain eligible for ESOL services.

What Can I Expect to Learn?

Parents are to be notified of the following:• Reasons for identifying your child as an English Language

Learner and placing them in the ESOL program.• Your child’s level of English proficiency, including how the

determination was made and the status of the child’s academic achievement.

• The method of instruction that will be used in your child’s ESOL program.

• How the ESOL program will meet the educational strengths and needs of your student.

• How the ESOL program will help your child learn English and meet academic achievement standards.

• An explanation of exit requirements, expected rate of transition to a mainstream, regular classroom and the expected rate of graduation from secondary school.

• How the program will meet the needs of an individualized education program (IEP) for a child with a disability.

• Your parental rights under Title III of No Child Left Behind.

Parental Notification – Parental Rights Include:

• Right to remove child upon request• Option to decline enrollment in ESOL

program/method of instruction• In addition, a separate notification to inform

parents within 30 days if the school district fails to meet objectives

• Information that is understandable and uniform format in the parents’ native language

• Parents must be informed of eligibility for ESOL program services with two weeks if their student is enrolled after the school year begins

Parental Involvement

• You have the ability to influence your child’s education more than any teacher or school.

• You know your child best. Share information about your child’s interests and abilities with teachers.

• Ask to see progress reports on your child and the school.

Connect with the School

• Review the Title I parent-school compact which states the goals and responsibilities of both parents and schools.

• Read the Title I District Parent Involvement Policy so that you better understand and can support the school’s efforts.

• Attend the annual Title I & Title III meetings to learn more about the programs learn about your rights and responsibilities, learn about parent training opportunities, meet other parents and the teachers, & begin the process of communication and cooperation between your home and your child’s classroom and Title I and ESOL teachers.

What Can I Do To Support My Child?

• Share a love of learning

• Read to your child• Ask your child to

read to you• Limit TV time• Take advantage of

the public library and the school media center

• Show interest in your child’s school day

• Ask questions• Ask to see

homework• Praise their efforts• Encourage good

study habits-set aside a time and a quiet place for them to study and do homework

Get to Know Your School & Communicate With Teachers

• Attend school events• Visit the classroom• Volunteer at the

school• Join parents’

organizations• Keep teachers

informed• Attend special parent

trainings through Title I or Title III

• Attend parent-teacher conferences

• Be prepared for the meetings

• Consider whether you have met your responsibilities as stated in the parent-school compact

• List your questions before the meeting