MOUNT VERNON — A federally funded program is giving Knox County students a little extra help in reading, math and other academic areas.
That program is known as Title I, Part A.
Title I provides additional instructional and support services to help students succeed academically — with the goal of closing educational achievement gaps.
The program’s funding flows through the state’s Department of Education and Workforce into school districts. Knox County Educational Service Center Treasurer Melissa Carpenter said allocations are based on poverty-related data.
“Its primary goal is to provide an opportunity and meet the needs of all students. It focuses on academically struggling students, in an effort to close educational achievement gaps,” Carpenter said.
The Knox County ESC does not directly receive Title I funding from the state. Instead, several local school districts participate in a pooling agreement with ESC.
This agreement creates a pool of funding that goes toward services for eligible students attending a non-public school in Mount Vernon.
As of the Knox ESC’s September board meeting, four local school districts have a combined total of $18,166.87 pooled for Title I services.
The amount represents only the funding being pooled through the ESC, not the districts’ total Title I allocations.
Mount Vernon City School District accounts for $12,406.37, East Knox Local School District for $2,681.10, Clear Fork Valley Local School District for $1,819.20 and Fredericktown Local School District for $1,260.20.
Centerburg and Danville have expressed interest in pooling their funds, but participation remains pending board approval in October.
How the funding works
The specific requirements for how Title I funds are spent depend on how a school qualifies for the program.
East Knox Local Schools Treasurer Jessica Busenburg said the district is considered Title I because of its high level of poverty.
“Depending on what your poverty levels are, and the demographics in your school district, those funds can be used a little bit differently,” Busenburg said.
Other districts in Knox County also receive Title I funding, including Fredericktown, Danville, Mount Vernon and Centerburg.
The district-wide designation gives schools more flexibility in how they use the money.
“Instead of certain students only getting tutoring services, we could do it for anyone that we feel like needs those funds,” Busenburg said.
Helping non-public students
Federal law also provides Title I services for eligible students who live within a public school district but attend a non-public school.
In Knox County, several districts pool funding for eligible students attending St. Vincent de Paul School in Mount Vernon.
Districts begin working with the non-public school in the spring to determine participation. The funding is released July 1.
However, the money is not simply handed over to the school. Title I funds can be used for instructional services such as reading and math.
Funds can also be used for extended school-year opportunities such as after-school tutoring and summer school.
The ESC employs teachers and tutors who provide the services and then bills participating districts for their share of the cost.
“It’s prorated based on what your funding amount is,” Busenburg said.
Carpenter said pooling the money allows eligible students from multiple districts to receive services through one program.
“Pooling the funds gives an opportunity to service all of those students regardless of their district of residency. It helps the overall classroom,” Carpenter said.
What students gain
The goal is to make sure Title I funding provides additional opportunities for students who need academic support.
Without Title I, students would lose some of the additional academic support the program provides.
“(Students) would lose those extra opportunities for tutoring and some additional catch up on what’s being taught,” Carpenter said.
The goal is to use the designated funds appropriately, while also trying to use the money by the end of the year, Busenburg said.
Carpenter said the ESC’s role is ultimately about supporting local schools and helping ensure students receive the services for which the funding is intended.
“(The ESC) is trying to support and help our area schools,” Carpenter said.
