Titles I, II, III and IV Program Information

TITLE I, PART A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), is a federally funded program which provides supplemental support to students in high poverty schools. These funds are used to support schools in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools by providing opportunities for students to acquire the knowledge and skills identified in the challenging Kansas College and Career Ready State Standards. Title I, Part A funds provide resources to schools where the needs are the most significant through:

1. Supplemental academic, social-emotional and health supports,
2. Increasing professional development opportunities for staff,
3. Engaging parents in authentic opportunities to participate in their students’ education, and
4. School improvement planning that aligns the instructional focus of each campus to the District’s KESA Goals and Strategic Plan.

Title I Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a federally funded program which provides additional support to students in high poverty schools. The purpose of Title I is to ensure all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging Kansas College and Career Ready State Standards.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools believes family and community involvement can make a difference in each child's academic success. The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools District Title I Parental Involvement-Family Engagement Policy highlights ways in which families, educators, and community members can build relationships and strengthen partnerships to promote high levels of achievement for every student. The district uses the National Standards for Family Partnerships which are endorsed by the Kansas State Board of Education, as a guide for developing family engagement policies. The six standards are:

1. Welcoming all Families in the School Community
2. Communicating Effectively
3. Supporting Student Success
4. Speaking Up for Every Child
5. Sharing Power
6. Collaborating with Community

KSDE Title I Fact Sheet

TITLE II, PART A, funds are used to provide supplemental activities in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools that strengthen the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders. The purpose of Title II, Part A is to:

1. Increase student achievement consistent with state standards,
2. Improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders,
3. Increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools, and
4. Provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders.

KSDE Title II Fact Sheet

TITLE III, PART A, provides funding for multilingual services to support Bilingual and English as a Second Language Education in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools.  These alternative language programs are for all students identified as English learners, immigrant, migrant and refugee.  The purpose Title III, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), aims to ensure that English learners (ELs) and immigrant students attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English.

KSDE Title III Fact Sheet

Title IV, Part A, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant was reauthorized by (ESSA) the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. Title IV, Part A provides funds to increase the capacity of Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools to meet the following three goals:

1. Provide all students access to a well-rounded education,
2. Improve academic outcomes by maintaining safe and healthy students, and
3. Improve the use of technology to advance student academic achievement.

KSDE Title IV Fact Sheet

Title I Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a federally funded program which provides additional support to students in high poverty schools.  The purpose of Title I is to ensure all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on the challenging Kansas College and Career Ready State Standards.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools believes family and community involvement can make a difference in each child’s academic success.  The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools District Title I Parental Involvement-Family Engagement Policy highlights ways in which families, educators, and community members can build relationships and strengthen partnerships to promote high levels of achievement for every student. The district uses the National Standards for Family Partnerships, which are endorsed by the Kansas State Board of Education, as a guide for developing family engagement policies. The six standards are:

1. Welcoming all Families in the School Community
2. Communicating Effectively
3. Supporting Student Success
4. Speaking Up for Every Child
5. Sharing Power
6. Collaborating with Community

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools places a high priority on the involvement of families at the district level and in all of its schools, especially those with Title I programs.  The programs, activities, and procedures will be planned and operated with authentic input from families of participating students.  The district will work with its Title I schools to ensure required school-level family involvement policies meet Title I requirements. Title I families will be encouraged to become involved in the evaluation of Title I programs.  Families will be asked to complete surveys to identify the success of Title I instructional programs and share ideas on ways to increase family and community participation in school activities.

Title I Meetings will be planned at convenient times and locations for all families of Title I children.  The district and schools will provide opportunities for the participation of parents/guardians with limited English proficiency, parents/guardians with disabilities, and parents/guardians with migratory children.  Written notices and a variety of media posts will be used to increase family involvement.

Fall:

• Title I schools will hold annual Title I meetings during August or September of each school, 
• Interpreters will participate so that all families have access to participating in discussions and decision-making,
• Copies of the district and site level Title I Family Involvement-Engagement Plans will be shared,
• Plans will include family friendly language and be translated into the languages most commonly used in the district or school,
• Families will be informed of new Title I guidelines and changes from previous year’s program, 
• District and site level Title I Family Involvement-Engagement Plans will be shared with families at other times such as enrollment, Back To School and Open House activities, and the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools’ district website. 

Spring:

• Title I schools will hold annual Title I meetings in April or May of each school year,
• Progress for the current year Title I programs will be reviewed and evaluated, 
• Plans will begin for the following school year,
• Changes will be made to the School-Home Compacts and Family Involvement-Engagement Plans.

Each school will develop a School-Home Compact with the families of students participating in the program.   The compact will outline how students, families and staff will work together to support students’ growth and academic progress so that all achieve success.  At opening activities (such as enrollment, Back To School Nights, Family Advocacy Conferences), school staff will discuss the details of the compact and all families will be given a copy to refer to during the year. 

KCKPS works to ensure families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class in the following ways:

• Family Advocacy Days, Meet-the-Teacher and Open House activities are held to invite parents and students into the schools at the start of each school year. Signs are posted to help parents, students, and community members navigate through the school. For our earliest learners, preschool teachers conduct two homeschool visits per year, one occurring in conjunction with the Meet-the-Teacher event, to help families and our youngest students transition successfully from home to school.
• Schools develop Family Engagement Plans that list important events scheduled for the school year. Many of the events include opportunities to come together to visit with other families within the school community.  Additional time identified in the engagement plans outline when families can come to the school to receive progress updates regarding their student(s) or curriculum nights where they can receive support on how to help their student(s) at home with reading, writing and math.
• Families are invited to join their student(s) for special events, activities or programs hosted by schools across the course of each school year. Activities may be adapted to “drive by, come and go, porch deliveries”, attendance or participation times may be staggered or fewer activities may occur due to the ongoing COVID pandemic and mitigation strategies put in place to ensure safety of students, parents, and families.

KCKPS works to ensure families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful communication about student learning in the following ways:

• District assists schools in developing and using a variety of communication methods, such as social media apps, newsletters, written reports, notices, emails and phone calls through the district's automated communication systems. District and school websites are updated regularly to provide parents with information that enables them to be informed advocates for their student(s).
• District Superintendent uses a variety of communication methods to increase opportunities for parents’ input such as new social media series: Your Voice Heard with Superintendent Dr. Anna Stubblefield. Patrons submitted questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions to which Dr. Stubblefield responded via video. KCKPS posted the videos on district Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube accounts or the district’s television channel. Additionally, Listening and Learning tours, the Thought Exchange Platform, and standing committees such as the District School Boundary Committee are used to provide additional opportunities for feedback to be gathered and to increase two-way communication.
• District cable channel is used to deliver district and school news to families throughout the greater school district and Board of Education meetings are posted on Youtube so parents can access important information around district decision-making processes.
• District and schools use Infinite Campus (student information system) to send out messages to families about upcoming district and school events. Families are provided opportunities to learn how to use Infinite Campus for checking the events calendar and monitoring student progress by checking grades and completion of homework assignments. Additionally, teachers and school staff members contact parents by phone, after school and/or at home with positive news or issues of concern regarding their students’ progress. When needed, home or porch visits occur to talk about students’ progress.
• District provides translators for Family Advocacy Days held at multiple times throughout each school year, as well as events hosted by the Superintendent’s Office and other parent meetings such as a Student Improvement Team (SIT) meetings or discipline hearings.
• Propio services (translating) are available on demand to enable school staff to communicate effectively on a daily basis regarding students’ progress. Translations for written documents used district wide (school calendars, parent handbook, code of conduct) and at school sites are available in a format and language that parents can understand. District employs Advocates and Outreach Workers as translators and liaisons based on individual school needs; if the district does not have staff to support a specific language, the district utilizes other translation services such as Propio.

KCKPS ensures families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students’ learning and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively in the following ways:

• Infinite Campus (student information system) family portal is available and families are encouraged to look up students’ information such as grades, attendance, and individual student notes.
• Multiple Family Advocacy Days occur each year to monitor and discuss individual student achievement progress. Family Advocacy Days are scheduled at the start of each school year to provide an opportunity for parents to meet their students’ teachers, as well as other school staff members, and to become familiar with the school’s practices and events that will occur during the school year.
• Parents as Teachers staff make home visits to work with children from birth to 5 years of age to make sure students are ready to transition when they reach school age. Family Service workers, as well as Early Childhood staff, make home visits and work with families to create family goals, access resources and learn about activities they can do at home to support student progress in the classroom. 
• Teachers and principals review the state academic content standards, school curricula and assessments with families, explaining the different expectations for each grade and course level each year.  Schools host reading, math, technology, and college and career events to involve the whole family in promoting student success and planning for students’ futures. Early childhood centers conduct one family event per quarter that focuses on helping families to know how to engage their child in play-based learning activities; EPIC (Engage Parents In Connection) meets monthly and uses the Conscious Discipline parent curriculum to help families learn about positive behavior interventions that can be used in the home.
• Summer school, before and after school tutoring sessions are held for students who need additional assistance. Educators provide resources and activities to families that can be used at home to support their child’s success in reading and math.
• District provides programming for Social/Emotional Learning through a variety of events such as the Second Step Lessons and Bullying Awareness activities. District has developed the Trauma Sensitive & Resilient School initiative, which is a systematic approach to providing universal training for all staff members. Program includes a Trauma Sensitive and Resilient Schools implementation team at each site to provide ongoing support for students and staff.
• District utilizes the Attend to Achieve program, Parent Handbook, and Code of Conduct as resources to assist students and parents in understanding the importance of developing life skills that promote success at school and work.

KCKPS ensures Families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success in the following ways:

• District educators conduct annual Early Childhood screenings to identify Pre-K and Kindergarten students who are eligible for district programs.  This process creates early awareness of cognitive delays and provides support such as speech or enrollment in pre-school and SPED services aligned to the individual needs of each learner and informs families on early milestones and what learning and play activities can be used at home to help young children reach developmental benchmarks.
• Kindergarten students participate each year in the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). Information from these assessments are used for Kindergarten and Pre-K teachers to discuss curriculum and students’ needs. The ASQ is available in multiple languages and district advocates are available to work with students and families who qualify for a variety of special services, to assist in removing barriers that may get in the way of academic success for students. 
• Each school has a Student Improvement Team (SIT) where staff members and families meet to review progress and develop appropriate academic and behavior support for individual students. 
• Families are informed about the different district and school programs such as Early Childhood programs, Title III for English Language Learners, Special Education, and social services available to support the needs of individual students.
• Advocates make home visits to determine needs; provide supplies and clothing as needed; provide and arrange for transportation as needed; support student academic success through tutoring and other academic assistance; assist families with support services including holiday adoptions; conduct events to involve families in literacy work; and serve as liaisons between school and home.

KCKPS ensures families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices, and programs in the following ways:

• Schoolwide Title I Teams and the District Title I Advisory Committee include family and community members who work together to develop programming that represents and supports students and families within the school community.
• Annual meetings are held at the site and district levels to provide opportunities for families to work with the school and district teams to develop and enhance ways to increase family involvement and engagement.  Families are encouraged to attend through personal invitations and postings on district and school websites.
• Many schools have active PTA (Parent Teacher Association) groups that work to engage families in activities across the school year that support students and the school community.
• Family members are encouraged to come to school for conversations about how the school can better support their individual student’s success, as well as the success of all students.  Additionally, family members are invited to visit and volunteer in classrooms, as their schedules permit.
• Student, family, and faculty surveys are collected each year to gather information on how to provide better services for students, enhance the school and district climate and culture, and continue to develop positive and productive learning environments.
• District provides annual notification of the Parents’ Right-to-Know guidelines and informs families when changes in teacher certification impact their student’s classroom.

KCKPS ensures Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect students, families, and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community services, and civic participation in the following ways:

• District partners with community organizations such as Caring for Kids, Kiwanis, Harvesters, Good News Club, Rosedale Development, Central Avenue Betterment Association, Community Housing of Wyandotte County, Vibrant Health, University of Kansas, PACES, OK Program, Catholic Charity Foster Grandparent Program, Greenbush, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and Giving the Basics to establish collaborative partnerships to support the diverse needs of students.  Police officers volunteer and visit schools and classrooms to build relationships and establish connections that promote and support safe and positive communities.
• Additional community partnerships with Housing Authority, Catholic Charities Hope Distribution Center, Catholic Charities Turnstyles Thrift Store, El Centro Children’s Academy, TJMaxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Walgreens, and Providence Place also provide community-based experiences and internships for various student groups. Local businesses and religious organizations adopt families and students, providing additional resources when needed.
• District collaborates with various organizations to make extra-curricular programs available to students such as Campfire, Boy Scouts, and Taekwando. Additional collaborations occur with the Wyandotte County Research and Extension Council-Kansas State 4-H under the 21st Century Community Grant to facilitate the Kidzone before and after school program for K-5 grade students.
• District and schools organize college and career days across the K-12 classrooms, to enable students to have exposure and access to various career paths prior to high school graduation.
• KCKPS Diploma+ College Fair and Scholarship Initiatives are held each year and 6-12 grade students, as well as their families, are invited to attend. Families and community members attend the College Fair after school hours and seniors are invited to return with their families to get additional information and speak with representatives from the different Colleges and Universities.
• KCKPS Diploma+ Financing College Nights are held at all five high schools each year. Seniors and their families are invited to attend the events that best fit their schedule, regardless of the location. There are 20 to 30 volunteers available at each event to help parents understand and complete the FAFSA process.  Dinner is provided to all who attend and information about the event is communicated to families in English and Spanish.