THE RULES: Personnel in Schoolwide Title I Programs

By Kathy Dunn, CCOSA Director of Professional Learning for State and Federal Programs

What Types of Personnel Are Allowable in Title I Budgets?

Based on a schoolwide needs assessment, Title I funds are used in many districts to hire staff to meet the needs identified in a school. These employees should be hired as supplemental, above and beyond the faculty and staff hired by general school funding sources. Some examples of personnel hired using federal funds are:

■ Reading Specialists and other Intervention Specialists

■ Additional Counselors

■ Graduation Coaches

■ Instructional Coaches

■ Bilingual Teachers

■ Teachers to Reduce Class Size

■ Social Workers

■ Parent Liaisons

■ Teachers and Paras for extended learning time, tutoring, summer school

■ Coordinators and Secretaries who administer the federal programs

■ And others based on schoolwide needs assessment. Work with your OSDE Program Specialist for allowability.

The roles of federally funded school personnel are critical to fulfilling the schools’ goals for increasing student achievement, student health and well-being, and staff professional growth.

What Qualifications Are Required for Teachers Who Work in a Title I School?

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), P.L. 114-95, specifies certain requirements of all teachers who work within a Title I school site regardless of how they are paid.

■ Parents Right to Know Letter – For ALL students in a Title I school annually. Teachers who work in a Title I School are required to be certified in the grade level and subject area in which they teach. Title I schools are required to send a letter to all parents in the school informing them of their right to request information about a teacher’s certification. This is called the Parent’s Right to Know letter.

■ Parents Notification Letter Regarding Certification Status – Only for students taught by someone who is not certified in the grade level and subject area of the course for more than 30 consecutive days. If a class is taught for more than 30 days by someone who is not certified in the subject area and grade level of the particular course, the Title I school is required to send a letter to every student who is in that class informing parents that their student’s teacher for the last 30 days has not met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction. This letter is called the Parents Notification Letter Regarding Teacher Certification Status.

Some examples of teachers who would require the Parents Notification Letter are any of the following who do not hold certification in the subject area and grade level of the class they are teaching for more than 30 consecutive days:

■ Long-term substitute teachers

■ Adjunct teachers

■ Certified teachers who are teaching one or more classes outside of their areas of certification

Sample Parents Right to Know and Parent Notification letters are located here: https://bit. ly/3Jdgbr1

Telling Your Story

When sending a letter to notify parents that their student is being taught by someone who is not certified in the grade level or subject area of the class, it is recommended that you use the template that cites the law and also add a personal note about the teacher if appropriate. For example, “Our band director at XXHS this year is a retired Army officer with 20 years of experience in the United States Army band. She is working on completing her teaching certification in instrumental music. We welcome Mrs. Band Director to our XXHS school family!” Most parents would join you in welcoming this teacher to your school.

If you have questions about compliance issues regarding personnel in federal programs, you can reach out to Kathy Dunn, CCOSA Director of Professional Learning for State and Federal Programs at dunn@ccosa.org or 405-615-0844. ■