Title I Information

The goal of the Queen Anne’s County Public Schools Title I Office is to ensure all Title I schools are implementing a Title I program in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Our programs are designed to support state and local reform efforts tied to challenging state academic standards, in order to reinforce and enhance efforts to improve teaching and learning for all students.

QACPS operates Title I programs in four schools: Church Hill Elementary, Grasonville Elementary, Sudlersville Elementary, and Sudlersville Middle.
Parents Right To Know (English)
Parents Right to Know (Spanish)

1. We are proud to be a Title I school!
2. Title I schools have a plan aligned with high-quality standards of performance, describing what all children are expected to know and be able to do.
3. All materials provided to families must be in an understandable format. Two-way communication is critical and required.
4. Families have the right to know the qualifications of their child’s teacher.
5. Title I requires certified teachers.
6. Family engagement is CRITICAL! Families must be involved in the process of school improvement planning and given an opportunity to provide input on spending. At least 1% of the funding must be spent on parent involvement.
7. Title I funds can be used for:
8. Providing additional teachers and staff
   1. Professional development training for educators
   2. Family Engagement Training
   3. Community engagement activities
   4. Understandable communication
   5. After school tutoring
   6. Additional materials and services
9. Title I is the largest federal assistance program for our nation’s schools. The federal government provides funding each year and the district allocates the money to the eligible schools.
10. Title I can help the whole school. Schools in communities that meet certain income requirements can use Title I money for the whole school. It helps a school do more for ALL of its students.
11. The goal of Title I is to provide high-quality education for EVERY child. Title I is about giving all children a chance.

Family outreach is a critical component of Title I. Title I schools are mandated through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to implement school-level family engagement programs through meaningful consultation with parents of participating children and to provide opportunities to increase their knowledge and skills related to their children’s education.

Schools receive Title I funds to provide a comprehensive family engagement program that includes workshops focusing on strategies to help children improve their academic performance. The Family Engagement Specialist will help bridge the communication between school and home by ensuring parents get the information, help, and support they need to ensure their child’s academic success in school. The Family Engagement Specialist will offer training, workshops, etc. as needed

Shared Decision Making & Communication

All Title I schools engage families in the shared decision-making process. Schools also provide families with information to understand and support student academic achievement standards. All families will be invited to:

• Work with school staff to develop the School-Family Compact and provide ongoing feedback for compact revisions
• Provide input and feedback on the school’s Title I family engagement budget
• Share information for school staff professional learning topics on how to effectively communicate and work with families as equal partners
• Participate on the School Improvement Team to plan, review and improve the School Improvement Plan (SIP)
• Offer comments and/or express concerns about our Title I schools
• Become a member of our District Family Action Team
• Attend Title I Family Meetings and Events
• Attend Parent-Teacher Conferences

School staff will be accessible to parents via conferences, email, or phone.

District Family Action Team

Our District Family Action Team (DFAT) is grounded on the idea that schools excel when families and educators work together as authentic partners.

We have worked extremely hard to break the “traditional” model of a parent advisory council, in which the administrators and school staff typically dictate the topics, pace, and temperature of the meeting. Instead, we have developed a “collaborative conversation” model, in which the families are empowered to take the lead. Members include family leaders, educators, administrators, supervisors, and community partners. Meetings will take place quarterly within each of the Title I school communities.

If you would like to become a member of our DFAT team, please contact Cheryl Cox, QACPS Title I Schools Family Engagement Specialist, at cheryl.cox@qacps.org.

Family Engagement Specialist
Ms. Cheryl Cox
410-758-2403 ext. 197

Learning for Justice – Family Engagement

Roundup of Title I Parent and Family Engagement Activities

U.S. Department of Education Family & Community Engagement

Edutopia Family Engagement Resource Roundup

NAEYC Family Engagement

Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive (Family Resources)

Communications

QACPS will take the following measures to promote and support families as an important foundation of our district in order to strengthen our schools and reach our district and school goals:

• Ensure that all information related to school and family programs, meetings, and other activities is published in both English and other necessary languages, and posted on the school website, and included in the monthly school newsletter for all parents. 
• Partner with the Judy Center to share information about family engagement activities that will help prepare families and their children for Pre-K/K and improve school transition. 
• Conduct staff development as needed monthly on parent engagement and provide effective strategies for staff to communicate and build partnerships with families through trainings such as: Family Inclusive Language PD, Collaborative Conversations  (Parent-Teacher Conferences) PD, etc. These trainings will be designed based on the needs of all stakeholders. They will also be aligned with current events and social-emotional needs.
• Communicate with all families and the community on a regular basis regarding schoolwide events and activities through our District Website, monthly Ohana Newsletters, the District Title I Events Calendar, and social media platforms. 
• Provide childcare during family nights, and if needed, the necessary materials for conferences, meetings, and activities to help parents work with their child to improve their child’s achievement. 
• Collaborate with community leaders. Host Google Meets with community partners and business groups to increase participation and awareness of the school family engagement plan and activities through active participation in our District Family Action Team. 
• Listen and respond to families’ requests for additional support for family engagement activities by surveying families biannually.  
• Work together with families, staff, and students by consistently revisiting the Home and School Compact to maintain a safe learning environment through school safety family training.

Building Capacity of Our District Educators

QACPS will provide training to educate the teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and other staff on how to reach out to, communicate, and work with families as equal partners.

• Parents will be invited and encouraged to become a member of our District Family Action Team, which helps to educate the school personnel of community needs and wants.  
• The Family Engagement Specialist will help bridge the communication between school and home by ensuring parents get the information, help, and support they need to ensure their child’s academic success in school. 
• The Family Engagement Specialist will provide workshops on ways teachers and school staff can better engage families in our students’ education. 
• The Title I Supervisor at the District Level will provide support and resources as needed. 

Reservation of Funds

QACPS welcomes and encourages parents’ and family members’ input on the use of Title I Parent and Family Engagement funds. Opportunities for families’ feedback include biannual surveys sent home with students. This survey will be sent home digitally twice a year. In addition, emails and phone calls providing input on the use of funds may be directed to Title I Family Engagement Specialist; and by contacting the district office at 410-758-2403 or cheryl.cox@qacps.org anytime throughout the year.

QACPS will provide support for the following family engagement activities:

• Meetings for parents at individual school sites and/or central locations, offering flexible times such as morning or evening.
• Disseminating survey forms for the input of ideas, including funding needs and resources for families. 
• Allowing parents to be involved in the planning, reviewing, and improvement stages of the Title I program, providing multiple opportunities both in person and in writing for parents to be part of the planning, reviewing, and improvement process. 
• Providing copies of the written Family Engagement Plan to all families via school and district newsletters, websites, etc. 
• Parents shall receive a monthly newsletter providing them with timely information concerning the Title I program and other information regarding our Title I schools. 
• Acknowledging parent suggestions in writing in a timely manner. 
• Conducting family meetings in all Title I schools, at least three times a year, that include handouts, slide decks, and verbal information that will assist them in understanding the national, state, and local educational goals and standards. This includes student performance standards and school improvement/action plans. 
• Provide training to help families work with their children and teachers to improve their child(ren)’s achievement.

The Every Student Succeeds Act is the main law for K-12 public education in the United States.  The main purpose of ESSA is to make sure public schools provide a quality education for all kids.

Under ESSA, states get to decide the education plans for their schools within a framework provided by the federal government. The law also offers parents a chance to weigh in on these plans. You have the opportunity to make sure your child’s needs are taken into account.

The plan must include a description of the following:

• Academic standards
• Annual testing
• School accountability
• Goals for academic achievement
• Plans for supporting and improving struggling schools
• State and local report cards

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated Strategic Plan