Title 1 Annual parent Meeting West Chatham Middle School September 15, 2016 10:00 am (Parent Center) and 5:30 pm (Cafeteria) Title 1 Annual parent Meeting

Title 1 Programs Can Help: Children do better in school and feel better about themselves Teachers understand the needs and concerns of students and parents Parents understand their child and be more involved in the child’s education

What is a Title 1 School? Being a Title I school means receiving federal funding (Title I dollars) to supplement the school’s existing programs. These dollars are used for… Identifying students experiencing academic difficulties and providing timely assistance to help these student’s meet the State’s challenging content standards. Purchasing supplemental staff/programs/materials/supplies Conducting parental Involvement meetings/trainings/activities Recruiting/Hiring/Retaining Highly Qualified Teachers Being a Title I school also means parental involvement and parents’ rights.

Title 1 Funds Any Local Educational Agency ( School District) with a Title I Allocation exceeding $500,000 is required by law to set aside 1% of it’s Title I allocation for parental involvement. Of that 1%, 5% may be reserved at the school district for system-wide initiatives related to parental involvement. The remaining 95% must be allocated to all Title I schools in the district. Therefore each Title I school receives its portion of the 95% to implement school-level parental involvement. You, as Title I parents, have the right to be involved in how this money is spent.

School-wide Title I Program All funds and support from Title I benefit all students at WCMS. Resources and support are not limited to a specific group of students.

School Designation Status Georgia’s Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Wavier

Transfer option for ESEA House Bill 251 Public School Choice for 2014-2015 Under State Law- House Bill 251, parents or guardians may request to have their child transferred to another public school within the school district of residence, as long as the school district has determined that there is available classroom space at the school after all assigned students have been enrolled. In order to process the Public School Choice request, parents or guardians must complete and submit a “Transfer Request Form.” The transfer request form and a complete list of school choice options are listed on the Savannah Chatham County Public School System’s website. Requests to transfer will not be accepted after 4:00PM on Friday, June 30, 2014.

School-wide Plan Planning team Needs Assessment Goals Research based strategies Evaluation of plan

School-wide Plan Student academic assessments Information on proficiency levels Additional assistance provided struggling students Coordination and integration of federal funds and programs School programs including migrant, pre-school, school choice, and supplemental educational services as applicable. Parental Involvement Strategies, including the school Parental Involvement Plan

Curriculum WCMS, like all schools in the Georgia, uses the Georgia Standards of Excellence (Math and ELA) and the Georgia Performance Standards (Science and Social Studies) to provide a consistent framework to prepare students for success in college and/or the 21st century workplace. All curriculum guides can be found at www.georgiastandards.org

Assessments Students are required to take the following assessments: Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)- three times a year (promotion requirement) Measure of Academic Progess (MAP- math)- three times a year (promotion requirement) Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) English, Math, Science, and Social Studies- once yearly (8th grade must pass reading section and Math section for promotion)

Parental Involvement District Parent Policy School Parent Policy Compacts Budget Volunteer opportunities Parent decision making opportunities

Parental Involvement How can parents become involved at the school Parents have a right to request opportunities for regular meetings for parents to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions about the education of their children The school must respond to any such suggestions from parents as soon as practicably possible

Highly Qualified Teachers You, as Title I Parents, have the right to request the qualifications of your child’s teachers.

Contacting the Staff (912) 395-3650 Julian Childers, Principal Email: julian.childers@sccpss.com Leslie White, Assistant Principal Email: leslie.white@sccpss.com Rachel Hurst, Assistant Principal Email: rachel.hurst@sscpss.com

Questions