Welcome to the Title 1 Homepage                                                  

Committee Co-Chairs Nancy Papa Ruppert [email protected] and Diane Salazar [email protected]

The WSRA Title 1 Committee works in cooperation with the Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Title 1 Association. If you have any questions contact the Committee Chair.

2015 Title I brochure in English, in Spanish, and Hmoob for Hmong

Title 1 Position Statement

Minutes of the Title I Committee: Leadership group members may access the minutes for the Title I committee on the Archived Minutes webpage. 

Title I Committee Statement of Purpose: The Title I Committee shall ascertain and serve the needs of Title I teachers.  This Committee will develop selected programs for WSRA Convention and institutes.  They will also, in cooperation with the Department of Public Instruction, solicit and share ideas and materials for Title I activities with appropriate teachers in Wisconsin. 

What is Title 1?

Title 1 is a federally-funded program under the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA). The purpose of Title 1 is to enable all children to meet high academic standards. This is accomplished by providing meaningful and challenging opportunities for student learning. Under the Title 1 legislation, schools and families form partnerships to help students who need support in meeting high academic standards. Congress has provided this financial assistance to qualifying school districts since 1965. It reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015. This 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. See also https://www.ed.gov/ESSA

Parents Are Involved

Parents are their child's first and most important teacher. Children learn language by interacting with their parents. In addition, parents influence their child's educational attitudes, habits, and interests. In Title 1, parents and teachers build a close, cooperative partnership. Parents help to plan and review their school and district Title 1 program. Local involvement ensures that the program meets the needs of Title 1 students. Parents are also encouraged to participate in Title 1 family events that support the joy of learning together.

Teachers Are Involved

Title 1 teachers design programs that involve children in a variety of learning experiences. This flexible programming takes place within the regular classroom or in a Title 1 room as a pullout program. Teachers provide specialized instruction to reinforce and supplement classroom learning. Title 1 programs stress positive attitudes toward learning and high academic standards. Title 1 teachers work with families to share strategies and techniques to help their children become more successful learners.

Students Are Involved

In targeted assistance schools, children are selected to participate in Title 1 by parent and/or teacher recommendations, classroom performance, and test results. Not all eligible students receive Title 1 instruction -- only those in "greatest need" are served each year.

Title 1 Is a Partnership

Every district has a family involvement policy which outlines the ways families can be involved in their child's Title 1 program. The family, the school, and the student also develop a compact outlining the role of each in a learning partnership. This shared responsibility increases the chance of student success.

What school/students are eligible for Title 1?

Schools in which the percentage of low income families is at or above the district average are eligible for Title 1 services.

  • Schools will be identified as either:
    1. targeted assistance schools in which students are selected by specific criteria to participate in Title 1; or
    2. school-wide projects in which all students may participate in Title 1 services. Parents and educators decide how Title 1 will be used in a school-wide project.
  • Children residing in a designated school attendance area are considered for participation regardless of their family's income.
  • Students enrolled in non-public schools who live in the attendance area of a Title 1 public school are eligible for Title 1 services. Criteria will be used in selecting non-public school students for Title 1 programs.
  • Title 1 funds may be used for preschool through 12th grade. The majority of school districts have traditionally used Title 1 funds for preschool and elementary grade programs. The new Title 1 guidelines encourage greater flexibility, creativity, and innovation in designing programs based on the student's specific needs.

"The home is a continuing, vital coordinating center of children's education."
- Dorothy Rich, educator