Notice of Parental Rights: All parents/guardians/families of children in Title I schools have the right to request and receive from the district's Office of Human Resources timely information regarding the professional qualifications of their children's classroom teachers.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which was signed into law in December 2015 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA) includes parent/family/guardian right to know requests. Title I schools must meet federal regulations related to teacher qualifications as defined in ESEA. These regulations allow parents/guardians/families to learn more about their child’s teachers’ training and credentials. At any time, parents/guardians/families may ask:

• Whether the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching
• Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived
• What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.

Parents/families/guardians may also ask whether their child receives help from a paraprofessional.  If a child receives this assistance, the District can provide information about the paraprofessional’s qualifications. 

In addition, parents/guardians/families can request:

• Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out
• Information on required assessments that include:
     -subject matter tested
     -purpose of the test
     -source of the requirement (if applicable)
     -amount of time it takes students to complete the test
     -time and format of disseminating results

Each Title program authorized by ESEA is unique in its attempt to meet the needs of all children enrolled in a school district that qualifies and receives funding. Funding to districts in Pennsylvania is based on poverty information from census data. One of the Title programs is Title I, which serves children needing additional academic support in reading and/or math. Since 1965, the West Chester Area School District (WCASD) has received Title I funding. The West Chester Area School District also acts as the Local Educational Agency for nonpublic schools in our District footprint.

In the WCASD, Title I funds assist students in meeting state achievement standards in the area of reading. Funds pay for additional reading specialists in Title I buildings. Not all buildings receive Title I funds. Distribution of funds is based on the number of students eligible for free and reduced lunch. Supplemental reading instruction offered through the WCASD Title I Program is in addition to regular classroom reading instruction. The Title I Reading Specialist serves as a member of the building reading team and also works closely with the child’s classroom teacher to design appropriate reading instruction. Title I Reading Specialists offer a variety of teaching strategies and materials depending upon each child’s strengths and weaknesses. The Title I Program provides extra time for reading instruction through both push-in (the Title I Reading Specialist goes into the classroom to work with students) and pull-out (the Title I Reading Specialist takes students from the classroom to work in a separate area) methods depending upon the student’s needs.

Title I funding in the West Chester Area School District also supports a Title I Coordinator and Title I Secretary. All positions provide administrative support and staff development opportunities for teachers and parents. Two parent/guardian/family meetings are held throughout the year on various educational topics.

If a parent/guardian/family has any questions about the reading instruction that a child receives in the Title I program, it is important to first contact the Title I Reading Specialist assigned to their child's elementary school for information. If parents/guardians/families believe that they still need additional information, they should contact the building principal or the District Title I Coordinator.

Click below to view policies:
Policy 918-Title I Family and Parent Engagement
Policy 918AG1-Title I Family and Parent Engagement Guidelines
918 Titulo I - Participacion de los Padres
Pautas-Titulo I Participacion de los Padres