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 new law builds on key areas of progress in recent years, made possible by the efforts of educators, communities, parents, and students across the country.
For example, today, high school graduation rates are at all-time highs. Dropout rates are at historic lows. And more students are going to college than ever before. These achievements provide a firm foundation for further work to expand educational opportunity and improve student outcomes under ESSA.

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. Congress has now responded to that call. The Every Student Succeeds Act reflects many of the priorities of this administration.

Title I is a 100% Federally-funded supplemental education program that provides financial assistance to local educational agencies to improve educational opportunities for educationally deprived children. Title I programs are designed to help children meet the state content and performance standards in reading, language arts, and mathematics. In buildings with 40% or more poverty, districts may use the funds to upgrade the entire curriculum of the school and are School-wide Programs. The Loyalsock Township School District operates one Targeted Assistance program at Donald E. Schick Elementary School (K-5).

The Donald E. Schick Title I program is a supplemental instructional support program serving students in grades kindergarten through fifth. It is primarily an in-class model with support by a certified reading specialist and highly qualified paraprofessionals.

The goal of the Title I program is to provide students with skills and strategies that will empower them to be confident and successful as they strive to achieve proficiency towards meeting the Pennsylvania Academic Standards. In grades K-3, Title I focuses on fostering the development of the emergent literacy skills that support children in their efforts as they “learn to read.” In grades 4-5, Title I supports students’ independent reading skills and strategies as they “read to learn.”

Students in grades K-5 are eligible to receive the Title I services based on multiple assessment criteria as determined by the Loyalsock Township Local Education Association. Curriculum-based and developmental assessment tasks used to determine Title I eligibility include: comprehension, accuracy, and fluency.

Title I staff and classroom teachers administer school-wide assessments in grades K-5 in the fall, winter, and spring to monitor the students’ progress, strengths, and areas of need. The results of the assessments drive the students’ literacy instruction. District-wide benchmarks have been developed to monitor yearly progress. Students who are not proficient in all assessment areas and who are most in need will receive Title I support. All assessments are aligned to meet the Pennsylvania Academic Standards in Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking.

Parent and family engagement is an integral component of the Title I program. Parents are invited and encouraged to participate in parent workshops, training, Title I meetings, and parent-teacher conferences. Parent workshops and reading incentive programs offer several opportunities for parents to learn and model effective reading techniques and strategies with their children at home.

Dear Parent/Guardian and Family Member, Loyalsock Township School District’s Title I Program at Donald E. Schick Elementary is a Targeted Assistance program that directly supports eligible students in grades kindergarten through fifth. As the parent/guardian of a child attending a Title I school, you are an important part of the Title I team. Your input is vital in the planning and implementation of the parent and family engagement program and activities in our school. The focus of all Title I programs is to help eligible students meet the same high academic achievement standards expected of all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status and background.

The following survey is confidential and will be used to assist us with future planning for parent and family engagement activities and events at the school. We appreciate your feedback, and thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Perhaps you have found us through your participation at the annual district Title I event or through a flyer sent home to all Title I students requesting feedback.

Title I is 100% federally funded and provides financial assistance to school districts to improve educational opportunities for students. Title I programs are designed to help children meet the state standards in reading and language arts.
Additional information on the district’s parent involvement policy, explanation of Title I programs, curriculum and assessment within the district can be found at http://www.ltsd.k12.pa.us/schools/donald-e-schick/e-our-school/title-1-literacy-services/.

2024-2025 Title I Parent and Family Engagement Survey – coming soon!

Title II, Part A, is a 100% Federally funded supplemental educational program that provides financial assistance to improve the skills of teachers and the quality of instruction in core academic subjects in public and private elementary and secondary schools. Title I funds in the district are used to support teachers through an instructional coaching model (K-5), which focuses on preparing and training, highly qualified teachers.

ESSA requires the Loyalsock Township School District to notify parents and family if their child is being taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher in a Title I school or program who does not yet meet the definition of “appropriate state certification”. Title I schools must meet federal regulations related to teacher qualification as defined in ESEA. These regulations allow you to learn more about your child’s teachers’ training and credentials. If you would like to request this information please call (570)326-6508.

• Whether the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching,
• Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and
• What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.
• What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.

You may also ask whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with information about the paraprofessional’s qualifications.

At any time, parents and family members can request:
• Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out.
• Information on required assessments that include:
• subject matter tested,
• purpose of the test,
• source of the requirement (if applicable),
• amount of time it takes students to complete the test, and
• time and format of disseminating results.

Title I Program
Right-to-Request Teacher Qualifications letter
Parents (in Title I schools only) are notified annually that they may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher(s), and of paraprofessionals who provide instructional services to their children.

September 2023

Dear Parents and Families,
As a parent or family member of a student attending a school that is receiving Federal Title I dollars, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the teacher(s) and instructional paraprofessional(s) who instruct your child. Federal law requires every Title I school district to comply and to provide you with the requested information in a timely manner. We are happy to provide this information to you.
At any time, you may ask:
• Whether the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching,
• Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and
• What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.
You may also ask whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with information about the paraprofessional’s qualifications. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which was signed into law in December 2015 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA) includes additionally right to know requests.

At any time, parents and family members can request:
• Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out, and
• Information on required assessments that include
o subject matter tested,
o purpose of the test,
o source of the requirement (if applicable),
o amount of time it takes students to complete the test,
o time and format of disseminating results.
Our staff is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and beyond. That commitment includes making sure that all of our teachers and paraprofessionals meet applicable Pennsylvania state requirements. We look forward to the upcoming school year, and together we will make a difference in your child’s life.

• Parents are sent letters informing them that their child is eligible to participate in Title I.
• Parents are given opportunities to offer suggestions about the planning, development and operation
of the Title I program during the Fall Open Houses, Parent Teacher Conferences, Parent Teachers Association
meetings, and through other communications.
• Title I Parents are encouraged to serve on school parent organizations to give Title I feedback.
• Title I Parents will receive student progress reports three times per year. Information will be shared during the two Parent Teacher conferences and with the beginning, mid-year and end of year benchmarking periods.
• Parent workshops are planned to provide parents with ways to help their children succeed in school.
• As needed, materials are made available to parents to use with their children at home to reinforce what the children are learning in reading and writing at school.
• As necessary, parents will be contacted and invited to volunteer in the classes.
• Complaints regarding Title I will follow the district’s Complaint Procedure policy.

If you have any questions about the Title I Parent Policy or would like to serve on a district-wide Title I Parent Council, please contact Mrs. Deitrick, Title I Coordinator.
If you have questions about Title I at Donald E. Schick Elementary School or would like to volunteer to help with Title I, please contact Mrs. Terri Deitrick, Title I Coordinator or Mr. Marc Walter, Principal.

Title I stresses the priority of home and school working together in collaboration. Each year, every school that receives Title I services solicits input on the Home-to-School Compact Policy with their working parent organization such as PTO, PTA, PTAC, etc. Each school develops jointly, with parents of children participating in Title I, a written School Parent and Family Engagement Policy that describes how the school will carry out the parental involvement requirements including the development of a School–Parent Compact. Schools must update these policies periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school.

The School Parent Involvement Policy and Compact is developed with feedback from parents through their participation in PTA/PTO/PTAC meetings, annual school open house events, Title I events, Title I/school surveys, and parent teacher conferences. Parents are surveyed annually to assess their satisfaction and give suggestions on the Title I program. The Policy is written and distributed using an understandable format and is provided in a language parents understand. If it is not, parents may request an alternate form or support from school personnel.

Title I Policy Statements 2024-2025

Parents/Guardians will be notified that their child is eligible for Title I services. Notification will be sent by letter describing the program briefly and explaining why the child was selected. Parents/guardians will be given the option of signing out of the program.
Midyear and end of year progress reports will be sent home to parents/guardians.
Parent/guardian and Title I teacher conferences will be scheduled on an as needed basis.
Title I teachers will schedule conferences with classroom teachers to discuss progress of each Title I student.
Title I teachers will arrange workshops or provide parents/guardian with suggested activities and resources to promote at-home reading practice.
Administrators and Title I teachers will meet with Title I parents/guardians to review the Title I program and to solicit suggestions in program planning and implementation. Recommendations will be considered.