Title I, Part A: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged

Title I, Part A, provides Lake Wales Charter Schools with resources that help children gain a high-quality education and the skills to master the Florida Standards. Title I provides additional resources to schools with economically disadvantaged students. These resources provide additional teachers, professional development, extra time for teaching, parent involvement activities, and other activities designed to raise student achievement. Two models are used in Title I schools to provide these services. Schoolwide reform models provide all students with access to services. Targeted assistance models provide services to select students in Title I schools.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015, and represents good news for our nation’s schools. This bipartisan measure reauthorizes the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the nation’s national education law and longstanding commitment to equal opportunity for all students.

The previous version of the law, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, was enacted in 2002. NCLB represented a significant step forward for our nation’s children in many respects, particularly as it shined a light on where students were making progress and where they needed additional support, regardless of race, income, zip code, disability, home language, or background. The law was scheduled for revision in 2007, and, over time, NCLB’s prescriptive requirements became increasingly unworkable for schools and educators. Recognizing this fact, in 2010, the Obama administration joined a call from educators and families to create a better law that focused on the clear goal of fully preparing all students for success in college and careers.

Title I, Part A (TIPA) is the U.S. Department of Education’s largest K–12 grant program. It provides supplemental funding to help low-income schools improve the academic achievement of educationally disadvantaged students. 

The following schools receive TIPA funds and are categorized as Title I Schoolwide Schools. 

  • Lake Wales High School
  • Edward W. Bok Academy North
  • Edward W. Bok Academy South
  • Dale R. Fair Babson Park Elementary School
  • Hillcrest Elementary School
  • Polk Avenue Elementary School
  • Janie Howard Wilson Elementary School

Parents are invited to participate with the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Title I Program, the Title I School-wide Plan, the school’s Parent and Family Engagement Plan (PFEP), and how the Parent and Family Engagement funds should be used.  If you would like to participate please contact your child's school for a schedule of School Advisory Council (SAC) meetings, as the SAC.

Every school is required to have a Parent and Family Engagement Plan and Title I Schoolwide Plan. Title I Schoolwide Plans are embedded in School Improvement Plans (SIP).

Lake Wales Charter Schools Parent & Family Engagement Policy

Link to the Parent and Family Engagement Policy for Lake Wales Charter Schools: Lake Wales Charter Schools Parent and Family Engagement Policy

Right to Know

All Title I schools are required to employ only highly qualified teachers and instructional paraprofessionals. You will be notified in writing if your child has been assigned or has been taught for more than four consecutive weeks by a teacher who has not met the “highly qualified” criteria.

In addition, you have the right to:

  • Know whether your child’s teacher(s) and/or paraprofessional(s) meet the state certification requirements for the grade levels and subject areas in which they provide instruction
  • Know whether a teacher and/or paraprofessional is teaching under emergency or other provisional status and state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived
  • Receive information on the qualifications of a teacher and/or paraprofessional, including the graduate certification or degree held by the teacher and/or paraprofessional, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree

If you would like to receive this information, please contact your child’s school.

Right to Know Letters

Title I Project Application

Lake Wales Charter Schools develops a plan each year that is submitted to the Florida Department of Education to describe the resources that will be provided with these funds. Examples of support that may be provided include intervention teachers, supplemental classroom materials and equipment, professional development for teachers, parental involvement activities, after-school tutoring and summer programs. Information about this plan is available through the school district’s Federal Programs and Grants Management office. Parental input regarding this plan is solicited each year.

Please contact the Federal Programs Office if you would like to see the plan or make suggestions or comments.

For more information, please contact: