What is Title I?
Title I Part A of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides financial assistance to districts and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. The priorities of Title I are to:
Strengthen the core program in schools and provide academic and/or support services to low-achieving students at the preschool, elementary, middle, and high school levels;
Provide evidence-based programs that enable participating students to achieve the learning standards of the state curriculum frameworks;
Elevate the quality of instruction by providing eligible staff with substantial opportunities for professional development; and,
Involve parents/guardians of participating public and private school children as active partners in their children's education at school through open, meaningful communication, training, and, as appropriate, inclusion in decision-making processes.
All three Title I Schools (East Brookfield, Wire Village and Knox Trail K-8) run a schoolwide Title I Program. A school may operate a schoolwide program if at least 40 percent of the students enrolled in the school or residing in the school attendance area are from low-income families. Why run a schoolwide program?
A schoolwide program permits a Title I school, Part A funds in combination with state and local resources to upgrade the entire educational program of the school to raise the academic achievement of all the students. Different from Title I targeted assistance schools, schoolwide programs use the approach of improving the entire school with the intent of meeting the needs of those students who are failing or most at risk of failing to meet the state’s academic achievement standards. Contrary to targeted assistance programs, schoolwide programs are not required to identify and select individual students for Title I services since the entire school population is involved in the schoolwide program. Targeted assistance programs use funds to target students with the most academic need.
Required Components of Schoolwide Programs:
Under Section 1114 of the Every Student Succeeds Act, a Schoolwide program plan must be:
Developed with the involvement of parents and other members of the community to be served and individuals who will carry out the plan, including teachers, principals, other school leaders, paraprofessionals, and administrators of programs included;
Regularly monitored and revised as necessary based on student needs;
Developed in coordination and integration with other Federal, State, and local services, resources, and programs;
Based on a comprehensive needs assessment of the entire school that takes into account information on the academic achievement of children in relation to the challenging State academic standards, particularly those children who are failing or most at risk of failing to meet those standards
Strategies the school will use to provide opportunities for all children to meet the challenging State academic standards, particularly those most at risk of not meeting those standards; and strengthen the academic program of the school, increase the amount and quality of learning time, and provide an enriched and accelerated curriculum, which may include programs, activities, and courses necessary to provide a well-rounded education.
To learn more about our Title I program please join us for our Annual Title I Meeting, November 20, 2025 at 5:00 PM in the Knox Trail Middle School Cafeteria, 73 Ash Street, Spencer, MA. This meeting will include all Title I families from East Brookfield Elementary, Wire Village School and Knox Trail Middle School. An email invitation to this annual meeting will be sent out to families as well as draft copies of our Title I policies for your review and input. Hard copies of these drafts will be available during open house and available in each school's main office. To download a copy of these drafts select your school's packet below.
2025-2026 Title I Family Engagement Packet for East Brookfield Elementary School
2025-2026 Title I Family Engagement Packet for Wire Village School
2025-2026 Title I Family Engagement Packet for Knox Trail Middle School
Additional Family Engagement Information Including Families Right-to-Know Teacher Qualifications
Please email any questions to: Mrs. Fanelli, Director of Academic Affairs - fanelliv@sebrsd.org or Ms. Day, Title I Family Outreach - dayj@sebrsd.org