Federal Programs

 

Brooke Stembridge

Director
stembridgebr@lee.k12.ga.us
 

Title I, Part A

Purpose:

To help low-achieving students meet the state’s challenging academic content and performance standards. The Title I program offers a variety of services which may include: additional teachers and support staff, extra time for instruction, a variety of teaching methods/materials, smaller classes and additional training for staff.

Qualifications:

Schools qualify for funds based on economic need. Lee County Schools follow the Targeted Assistance Title I program design.

Targeted Assistance

The term "targeted assistance" signifies that the services are provided to a select group of children--those identified as failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet the State's challenging content and student performance standards. Eligible students are identified on the basis of multiple, educationally related, objective criteria established by the school district. A school may serve students who are in greatest need of assistance for only a particular skill for the period of time it takes the student to master the skill. In other words, if not necessary, a student need not be a participant for an entire school year.

Parents have the right:

  • to know the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher(s) including the degrees and certifications held, and whether the teacher is certified in their respective area of instruction.
  • to know the school improvement status of the school.
  • to know the level of achievement of their child in each area of the state assessment.
  • to know if their child has been assigned, or has been taught for at least four consecutive weeks, by a teacher who does not meet the highly qualified definition.
  • to be involved in the planning and implementation of the parent involvement program in their school.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance

Lee County Schools ensure that every student in our district who meets the criteria for homelessness according to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act shall have access to a free and appropriate education. This commitment to the educational rights of homeless children and youth applies to all the services, programs and activities provided or made available by the Lee County School System.

Title III - English to Speakers of Other Languages

The Lee County ESOL Program is designed to help students attain their full social and academic potential within the culture of an American school. We are committed to developing our students' communicative confidence and skills in the four main areas of language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. In addition, the ESOL program seeks to create supportive learning environments in your child's classroom and school which value and build on students' academic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds.

Identifying ESOL Students:

The Home Language Survey, which is embedded in the registration form, is completed for every student when initially registering in the Lee County School System to determine if there is the influence of a language other than English. This survey contains three questions and will identify any languages other than English that are:

  •  first learned or acquired by the student
  • used by the student in the home
  • most often spoken in the student home

Eligible students are screened with the state-adopted proficiency test, the WIDA-ACCESS for ELLs Placement Test (W-APT) or the WIDA Measure of Developing English Language (MODEL) and are determined to be either proficient in English or at a level of English proficiency that can benefit from ESOL services.

Program Delivery Models:

Push-In
Push-in is a model of instruction in which English Language Learners (ELLs) remain in their general education class where they receive content instruction from their content area teacher and language assistance from the ESOL teacher.
Pull-Out
Pull-out is a model of instruction in which English Language Learners (ELLs) are "pulled" from their regular classrooms for a class period of intense English language instruction.
Sheltered Content
Sheltered content is a model that can be used in grades 6-12. It uses ESOL strategies to deliver the content of a specific course to English Language Learners (ELLs). Sheltered content instruction aims to facilitate mastery of academic content that is taught through English, as well as promoting the learner's English language development.
Scheduled Class Period
Scheduled class period is a model that can be used at the secondary level. Students are scheduled for elective classes which focus on speaking, listening, reading and writing. Composed only of English Language Learners (ELLs), students receive instruction specifically targeted to their level of language proficiency.