Any parent has the right to request the professional qualifications of his or her child’s teacher. Parents interesting in accessing the professional qualifications of a teacher should make a request in writing to the Title I Director for RSU 22. Please contact Mary Giard at RSU 22 Superintendent’s Office, 24 Main Road North, Hampden, ME 04444.
2018-2019 Title IA, Title IIA and Title IVA Federal Applications under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) In years past, school districts across America received financial support under the No Child Left Behind system that was developed during the George W. Bush era. The monies were dedicated to various subgroup categories, which, in turn, supported students and teachers in many ways. Every Student Succeeds Act is the new federal program.
RSU 22 has traditionally received support for two categories: Title IA and Title IIA. Title IA, in RSU 22, supports our two Winterport schools. Extra reading and math support is funded through our Title I allocation. The 2018-2019 projects include: additional literacy support for students needing assistance during the school day, after school tutoring for Title I eligible students from Wagner and Smith, a part time math tutor for Wagner school and funding for a Winterport summer school in 2019.
Title IIA allocations are provided for educator professional development. Our application for this year’s funding includes several projects: Educator Effectiveness, Technology Professional Development, Leadership Development, New Teacher mentor support, Guidance Counselor’s regional conference attendance, and STEM Robotics support for K-5.
Title IVA monies have been introduced into the ESSA allocations. These funds are dedicated to three areas – safe and healthy students, well-rounded education and technology. For 2018-2019, we are allocating funds for health and well being training and events, purchasing robots to introduce computer science and robotics into the K-5 curriculum and funds to help high school students who may be unable to pay for advanced placement assessments.
All RSU 22 schools have established leadership teams for the purpose of conducting a year- long Comprehensive Needs Assessment planning process. Each school, and the district as a whole, has reviewed student and staff data. We have inspected attendance, behavior, and academic statistics from our district. Teachers, administrators, school board members and parents/community members have met several times during the year to thoroughly analyze each school’s information.
Our Comprehensive Needs Assessment process has yielded some areas of strength for our school district. Although each school is a bit different, some common categories have been recognized: school climate is generally strong, our English Language Arts scores are relatively strong, we have well trained staff, educators collaborate well together, we offer many educational opportunities for students, and our administrators, faculties and staff members are dedicated to our students.
Teams also determined areas of need and have begun to create strategies to address those areas. Some needs that have been pinpointed include: raising math achievement at all grade levels, improve attendance and tardy statistics, continue to improve communication, offer more dual enrollment courses, and improve scheduling to maximize our resources. The process is assisting the state in creating some baseline information for each school district. It is also an expectation from the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). We receive federal funds that fortify our district obligations.
We receive Title I money. The funding formula for Title I programming is based on socioeconomic status, student achievement and need. In RSU 22, that money is allocated for literacy teachers’ positions at Smith, after school programs at Leroy Smith and Samuel Wagner schools, a math tutor at Wagner school and the summer program held in Winterport. We also receive Title IIA funds that are dedicated to professional development and growth. Funds support projects in technology, new teacher mentoring and training, National Board certification work, curriculum and assessment work, and educator effectiveness initiatives. We will receive Title IV funds. With those funds, we will support some social worker home school connection services for our Winterport schools, begin a computer science and robotics program for elementary and middle level students, and help students who need financial assistance at the high school level to take Advanced Placement exams.
Approximately ninety-six percent (96%) of Title I monies received will be dedicated to educator salaries who work directly with students. Positions will include: 3.5 full time literacy specialists, a part time (during the day) ed. tech who will tutor math students, after school tutoring positions and summer school instructors for the summer of 2018.
Approximately four percent (4%) of Title I funds will be dedicated to transportation services for 2017-2018 after school tutoring and summer school 2018.
The Maine Department of Education released a draft of Maine’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Consolidated Plan on March 1, 2017. ESSA replaces the No Child Left Behind Act. Maine’s draft ESSA State Consolidated plan is now open for public viewing, comment and feedback for the next 30 days with the comment period closing on March 30, 2017. Please take some of your time over the next couple of weeks to review the plan and provide feedback to the Maine DOE. The draft ESSA State Consolidated plan is available on the Maine Department of Education website. We encourage your comments and feedback. We want you to have a voice in ensuring that ALL students are afforded the same educational opportunities and supports to ensure student success.
There are two models for Title I services, targeted assistance and school wide, allowed under the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. Leroy Smith School and Samuel Wagner School (to a lesser degree) operate a targeted assistance model.
Annually, Leroy Smith School holds a parent school compact meeting. At the compact meeting (which includes school leadership, Title I faculty, and parents) the compact is reviewed and voted upon.
RSU 22 and Smith/Wagner schools believe that parents play a primary role in accelerating the achievement of their children. We encourage parent participation of all children in activities and conversations that will enhance the home school relationship, will extend the ability of parents to support academic opportunities, and will encourage involvement in their child’s learning. Parents are encouraged to contact the school to review opportunities for home-school connections.
The RSU 22 NCLB application, and associated information, is on file: Superintendent’s Office 24 Main Road North Hampden, Maine 04444