A version of this story appears in TheDailyNorwalk.com.
Cranbury and Fox Run Elementary schools have lost significant federal funding this year. They did not meet the cutoff to receive Title 1 funding, annual federal grants awarded to school districts with a high percentage of disadvantaged students. This means each school will receive approximately $50,000 less for teachers' aides, professional development and technology. It could result in a slowing of academic progress.
At Fox Run, Principal James Martinez used his funds last year to get most of his teachers trained in Readers Workshop, a new literacy program. He also used some of the funds for SMART Boards to enhance technology in the classrooms. In addition, he was able to hire aides who specifically worked with struggling students. "I put a lot of emphasis on professional development," says Martinez.
Cranbury Principal Robin Ives also used most of her money last year on staffing, specifically teachers' aides. Ives has been in a position before where she lost Title I funding. "I've learned to not count on it. I have to plan with what I know I'm getting," she says.
Since the grant focuses on elementary education, Title 1 schools get full-time literacy specialists. This year, without Title 1, Cranbury and Fox Run have to share a literacy specialist.
Ives and Martinez are concerned because their schools have been making academic strides, especially in the last year. Cranbury got off the No Child Left Behind "Needs Improvement" list. Fox Run was recognized by the Lone Pine Foundation last week for its academic gains. "The primary concern in losing funding is being able to sustain our progress without these resources," says Martinez.
Ives echoes Martinez's sentiments. "You hope you can continue the same level of progress, but it's not always the reality," she said.
According to the district's grants specialist, Italia Negroni, "The purpose of Title 1 is to give the neediest students extra resources." Schools are eligible if they exceed the average percent of free and reduced lunch students across the district as determined by Oct. 1 enrollment data. Last year, Norwalk had 37 percent free and reduced lunch students. "It's frustrating," says Ives. "You can miss out on the funds because you are one student below the cutoff," says Ives. This year, Brookside, Jefferson, Kendall, Marvin, Silvermine, Tracey and Wolfpit elementary schools receive Title I monies. The allotment varies from school to school.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
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How can the Norwalk principals use Title I money on smartboards for the classrooms? I went to a meeting that explained that Title I money was to be used to help only the students who tested low in the classroom. Is this use of money against the law?
ReplyDeleteFYI on Title 1 funding usage. Regulations/rules change constantly for grants.
ReplyDeleteBeginning with the 2007-2008 school year, Title I funds may be used to purchase technology-related equipment, materials and supplies (such as computers, monitors and printers). The guidelines for purchasing technology-related equipment with Title I funds include the following:
Purchases must support the instruction of challenging academic achievement standards.
Purchases must be supplemental to what the school district provides for all students.
Purchases must be for the exclusive use of Title I participants.
Purchases must be "reasonable and necessary" for the Title I program.
Technology/equipment purchased with Title I Targeted Assistance funds must be located in Title I classrooms only.
Purchases must be addressed in the district's Technology Plan, including appropriate professional development in the use of technology in instruction.
Schoolwide projects must include intended equipment expenditures in their Schoolwide plans.
6:45,so what you are saying is that purchases must be used for the exclusive use of Title I students. Once again, classroom use of these smartboards is for the use of classroom children, not just for the exclusive use of Title I students. That's not legal.
ReplyDeleteWay to go Mr. Hayes and his entire Brookside team. Brookside just scooped up 10 grand in The Daily Norwalk's Contest. Think (tech) P.T.O. Congratulations. Keep it rolling.
ReplyDeleteAnd Mr. Martinez, over there at the Fox, hammer down dude, your doing good and we know you can do great. Show us what you got. And Ms. Moore up there on the hill, this lady is an inspiration just to be around. There is no one with more passion and dedication. She has the courage to crack a few eggs to make the omlete and the thick skin to ignore, ignorance and march forward. We have many unsung hero's in our district. And the new Super, Marks, she needs are support. 100% We are making some great strides here, we cannot afford to ever fall back. Too many lives at stake. ConnCans annual report is shockingly, jaw droppingly disappointing and sad. We all must work harder and coloborate. No one, no one, can stand by and sip slurpees while we lose so many children. No one with any moral concious. This is a tough challenge and we need to understand what we are faced with and double down. There is no more pressing issue, none, than our childrens future. We need longer school days, longer school years and we need to bring our classrooms into the year 2011. We need to give the teachers and adminstrators the resouces and training they need to get this job done. If we want to stop the violence, if we want our community to prosper and thrive, if we want our chidren and grandchildren to live in a more stable, more peacefull, more caring world, it starts at home and the schools. Time we all stood up to the plate put down the political bats and help our children, whatever it takes. Its a mission we can not fail and the mission of our lifetimes.
China and India are kicking our tails.
We gonna let that happen on our watch?
Lets roll Norwalk!!
Problem is we have some of the highest paid teachers in Fairfield County. What makes us different from our neighboring communities? Are our kids simply not intelligent enough, are parents not demanding enough, or have we not set high enough expectations for our students, teachers or administrators?
ReplyDeleteFound it interesting that no one has commented on Susan Wallerstein's comments regarding how our BOE should function. Personally, I beleive that we should understand and make judgement on the positions our elected officials take and should vote for them based on their agenda. Otherwise why go through the expense of having an election? Did I miss something in the editorial?
To the person who wrote Nov. 19th at 3:26 P.M.,
ReplyDeleteI think the first line sums it up very well...regulations/rules change constantly. Although the rules listed are for 2007-2008, no where does it imply that these rules are also the same rules for 2009 or 2010, or any year after that. In all fairness, you are going from 0-60 in your legal determination based on one anonymous comment in a blog. Title one funding is usually given to entire schools, not individual students. Since all classrooms may contain title 1 students, then the classrooms get usage of the funding in the form of software, hardware, and smartboards.
Based on this, how someone could conclude that money is being illegally spent is beyond me.
I'm not saying the district is spending money as I would spend it but to throw the word illegal in there is mighty provocative.
9:50, Title I funding is not given to the entire school for spending. From the research I have done, funding is for targeted students.
ReplyDeleteYes, Norwalk's Title I program is for targeted students. These are NOT the students who receive free and reduced lunch; they are students who are at risk and who do not meet certain academic goals.
ReplyDeleteWhat would 6:45 and 3:06 do? Only the Title I kids can look at the SmartBoards, read books purchased with Title I money, or use the math manipulatives? Really folks. Let's have certain bookcases for Title I kids, and the other students have to pick from a different selection.