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I will take the perspective of a school administrator at a public middle school in South Texas. School administrators, teachers, and community members can access this resource to understand the purpose of Title I and how it impacts the education of low-income students.

I chose this topic because I have acquired a vague understanding of this program in my 4 years of teaching and would like to gain a greater understanding of how this program impacts students.

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I interviewed one of our campus counselors, Rebecca Ramirez. She coordinates with our other two counselors to prepare Title I learning sessions for parents at the beginning of the year.

Title I is an important program to know about because of the support it provides for students from low-income families. Stakeholders need to be aware of the ways that Title I funds are dispersed and how that funding impacts students. Title I impacts K-12 education because it seeks to provide equitable opportunities for students who need extra resources to be successful. Being aware of the components of Title I and how it impacts students is important in order to play a vital role in the education of students (R. Ramirez, personal communication, March 2, 2022).

Best Practices:

Title I funding can be used to enrich the education of low-income students such as tutorials, academic success initiatives, etc. (R. Ramirez, personal communication, March 2, 2022).

Every year, funds are allocated and if we don't use that money, that means that we don't need it... so we are always looking at how we can support our students through these grants (R. Ramirez, personal communication, March 2, 2022).

Money has to be approved thorough appropriate means and used in the right faith (R. Ramirez, personal communication, March 2, 2022).

Emerging Issue:
We have to let parents know at the beginning of every year that we are a Title I school and we are receiving funds for this reason. There are learning sessions we have to provide for parents but the issue is participation. Through Title I, we are expected to create programs for parents to be involved in a meaningful way but the turnout is often very low. Engagement and high turn out through Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) activities is often an area where we struggle to meet expectations. Despite the struggle, we are always hosting parent nights and literacy nights. We have started hosting monthly events in the library where we invite parents to read and do hands-on activities with the students. It's a step in the right direction. (R. Ramirez, personal communication, March 2, 2022).

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The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) is an organization of state members who ensure that federal funds are being managed properly and in compliance with federal regulations and programs. This membership program hosts the ESEA Network who's mission statement reads, "Building the capacity of education professionals to provide children served by ESEA programs with a high quality education," (ESEA Network, 2018). This resource is informative for this topic because stakeholders can seek to understand how funding is allocated through Title 1 programs as well as other programs funded through Title II, Title III, and Title IV.

Reference:
ESEA Network. (2018, May 15). https://www.eseanetwork.org/

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An article in the Alabama Daily News by Booth (2022) states that some Title I schools would be provided with free feminine hygiene products through a bill (House Bill 50) waiting approval in the House of Alabama Representatives. The article states that:

45% of female students from seventh through 12th grade live below the poverty line and attend Title I schools (Booth, 2022)

Female students have missed class due to inequitable access to feminine hygiene products (Booth, 2022)

The bill, if passed, would allocate funds from grants to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students in 5th grade to 12th grade who are enrolled in Title I schools (Booth, 2022).

Reference:
Booth, Maddison. (2022, February 28). Bill creates state grants for free feminine hygiene products in Title 1 schools. Alabama Daily News. https://www.aldailynews.com/bill-creates-state-grants-for-free-feminine-hygiene-products-in-title-1-schools/

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Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education, addressed in a speech that fixing the "broken systems of funding schools" needs to be addressed to solve inequity issues across the country (Camera, 2022). The article goes on to discuss the measures some states are doing to boost funding such as:

California allocating $3 billion to create community schools to provide services such as physical and mental health centers and even assisting parents in finding stable jobs

Massachusetts's budget proposal to include $500 million to help students with disabilities, students from low-income families, and emergent bilingual students

Tennessee seeking to hire more teachers of color

The article continues by saying that while these efforts are steps down the right path, more needs to be done. The Biden Administration is seeking to increase Title I funds and funding for the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. Through the American Rescue Plan Act, Title I funding has been increased. The goal of the Administration is to fix the systems that provide equal funding and change it so that it is more equitable. (Camera, 2022).

Reference:
Camera, L. (2022, February 8). Education secretary Cardona has big plans for equity. Are states and districts listening? U.S. News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/education-news/articles/2022-02-08/education-secretary-cardona-has-big-plans-for-equity-are-states-and-districts-listening

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Statutory Law
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act:

Provides funding for schools to support students from low-income homes (Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 1965)

Funding is allocated through four grants (basic, concentration, targeted, and education finance incentive grants)

Funding totals are dispersed through formula-met requirements per child

Link: https://www.congress.gov/114/plaws/publ95/PLAW-114publ95.pdf

References:
Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Pub. L. No. 89-10, 129 Stat. 1802 (1965)

National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d). Title I fast facts. https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=158

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Constitutional Law
The 14th amendment to the United State's Constitution (U.S. Const. amend. XIV) established that:

Citizens have equal protection of the laws (Cornell Law School, n.d.)

Children, under the equal protection clause, may not be denied access to public schooling when states established public school systems

This law was the foundation for later laws detailing equal opportunities for public school children no matter their family income status.

Link: https://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/index.html?dod-date=709

References:
Cornell Law School. (n.d.). 14th amendment. https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv

U.S. Const. amend. XIV

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Administrative Law
Standard 1.7 of the Texas Educators' Code of Ethics (19 T.A.C § 247.2.) states that the educator, "...shall comply with state regulations, written local school board policies, and other state and federal laws." This means that in regard to Title I funds, educators:

Should allocate these funds towards educational needs/resources that will impact low-income students or educational programs

Should not falsify the use of funds

Make decisions about the allocation of funds in accordance with the laws

Link: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=247&rl=2

Reference:
Educators’ Code of Ethics, 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 247.2.

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Judicial Law
The court case of Bell v. New Jersey (1983) reviewed findings of an audit conducted by the Secretary of Education that Title I funds were "misapplied" by New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This court case revealed that:

The Secretary of Education directed the states to repay the misapplied funds

The court ruled in favor of the repayment on the grounds that is was "an initial proposal of of a means of collection," (Bell v. New Jersey, 1983)

This ruling reveals the consequences of school districts being in debt to the Federal Government if Title I funds are not allocated according to state and federal guidelines.

Link: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/461/773.html

Reference:
Bell v. New Jersey, 461 U.S. 773 (1983).

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United Independent School District's Employee Handbook (2022) discusses notifications to parents regarding Title I funds and teacher qualifications. The handbook states that the District is required by ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act, 2015) to notify parents of schools receiving Title I funds of how to request information about the qualifications of their child's teacher. The policy goes on to state that parents are to be notified of a child who is being taught by a teacher for 30 or more consecutive days who does not hold a teaching certificate (under an emergency permit, waiting to test for certification, etc.) (UISD Employee Handbook, 2022).

Link: https://files.gabbart.com/1556/final_employee_handbook_uisd_editable_2021_2022_8252021.pdf

https://www.congress.gov/114/plaws/publ95/PLAW-114publ95.pdf

Reference:
Every Student Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 (2015).

United Independent School District. (2022, March 4). Employee Handbook, Notification to Parents Regarding Qualifications, §P.27. Retrieved from https://files.gabbart.com/1556/final_employee_handbook_uisd_editable_2021_2022_8252021.pdf

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Standard 3.3 of the Educators' Code of Ethics (19 T.A.C § 247.2) states that educators should not misrepresent facts about a student, intentionally or knowingly. Considering that Title I funds are dispersed to schools with a high population of low-income students through formulas, this could potentially become an ethical issue if an educator were to consider falsifying student records to try to receive more grant money. If a situation like that were to occur, audits would reveal the misrepresentation of facts. Potential scenarios like this could lead to a violation of the Educators' Code of Ethics and legal action.

Link: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=247&rl=2

Reference:
Educators’ Code of Ethics, 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 247.2.

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In learning about Title I funding, I am able to make a connection to my educational journey. Growing up, I attended schools that received funding through the Title I program. From the perspective of a young student, it is difficult to realize all the opportunities and resources that my schools strived to provide for me. As I continued my education through college and worked towards my teaching certificate through an Alternative Certification Program, I worked as an Inclusion Aide at one of the top two middle schools in my district. Now continuing my education as a teacher in a school where 90% of our students our economically disadvantaged, I see the difference in available resources/opportunities/effort that often divides our district among the common stereotypes of the "north" versus  "south" schools.

Understanding these connections helps me see how my path towards my education goals was created. Working at a Title I school has made me aware of the difficulties that students struggle with that ultimately affect their educational success. This, among other elements of education, prompted me to seek attaining a master's degree in educational leadership. Through my education in my courses, I have understood the role of the principal and the way that just one person can impact an entire campus and community. Understanding the components of Title I is important for a principal to know because they can create equitable opportunities that lead to the success of all students.

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Regarding Title I, the recommendations below are provided to assist any person viewing this legal guide with best practices to be in compliance of following the program:

Use allocated funds on resources that will support students of low-income families and do so with good faith (R. Ramirez, personal communication, March 2, 2022)

Have annual parent learning sessions to notify them of the campus's Title I status and organize parent engagement activities to make parents active participators (R. Ramirez, personal communication, March 2, 2022)

Stay current on issues that impact Title I funding and all it encompasses

Educators shall follow state and federal laws and policies regarding Title I (19 T.A.C § 247.2)

Follow ESSA (2015) guidance on notifying parents of children being taught by teachers without a current teaching certificate

Do not falsify or misrepresent student facts to gain more funding (19 T.A.C § 247.2)

References:
Educators' Code of Ethics, 19 T.A.C § 247.2
Every Student Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 (2015).
Ramirez, R. Personal communication. 2022, March 2.