Title I Programs

Title I, originally enacted in 1965 as part of the War on Poverty to help the most disadvantaged students, is the largest federal investment in elementary and secondary education. Title I funding helps improve teaching and learning in schools with the highest concentrations of poverty (based on the number of free/reduced lunch students at the school) to help them meet challenging state academic standards.

The Title I program in Lee County uses two program models—schoolwide and targeted assistance. There are 21 Schoolwides: Alternative Learning Center–Middle, Bonita Springs Elementary, Colonial Elementary, Edgewood Academy, Ft. Myers Middle Academy, Franklin Park Magnet School, Harns Marsh Elementary, Heights Elementary, J. Colin English Elementary, LAMP, Lee Middle, Lehigh Elementary, Lee Charter Academy, Lehigh Acres Middle School, Michigan International Academy, North Ft. Myers Academy for the Arts K–8, Orange River Elementary, Ray V. Pottorf Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, Tice Elementary, and Tropic Isles Elementary. There are 2 Targeted Assistance schools: Manatee Elementary and Treeline Elementary. Each Title I school writes a school improvement plan to improve the total school program after conducting a needs assessment and receiving input from the school staff, parents and community. Each school's plan includes goals in reading, mathematics and writing.

Four Title I schools have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two or more consecutive years: Franklin Park Elementary, Lehigh Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary and Tropic Isles Elementary. Two schools have made AYP for one year: N. Ft. Myers Academy for the Arts and Lee Charter Academy.

Three Title I schools are designated "In Need of Improvement:" Harns Marsh Elementary, Orange River Elementary and Ray V. Pottorf Elementary. Because these schools are in their second year of not making AYP, parents were offered the choice to remain at their currently selected school or transfer their child(ren) to a designated school within their attendance zone. Two Title I schools, Bonita Elementary and Tice Elementary, are designated as being "In Need of Improvement/Corrective Action" because they have not made AYP for four consecutive years. Parents were offered the choice to remain at their currently selected school, transfer their child(ren) to a designated school within their attendance zone, or participate in SES (Supplemental Educational Servces) if their child(ren) qualify for free or reduced price lunch.

Ten Title I schools have been designated as "In Need of Improvement/Restructuring" based on their FY08 AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) results: Colonial Elementary, Edgewood Academy, Ft. Myers Middle Academy, Heights Elementary, J. Colin English Elementary, LAMP, Lee Middle, Lehigh Acres Middle, Michigan International Academy, and North Ft. Myers Academy for the Arts K-8. One of these schools, North Ft. Myers Academy for the Arts K-8, made AYP in FY08. If this school makes AYP in FY09, they will no longer be designated as "In Need of Improvement." Because these schools are in their sixth year of not making AYP, parents were offered the choice to remain at their currently selected school, transfer their child(ren) to a designated school within their attendance zone or participate in SES if their child(ren) qualify for free or reduced price lunch. Please click here for the FY08 School Grades and AYP results for Title I schools.

SES is free tutoring offered by state-approved private providers. Tutoring is only available to students in one of the fourteen schools listed above. Only students eligible for free/reduced price lunch can participate in SES services. Please click here for information on SES services and SES providers.

Increasing parent involvement is a major focus of schoolwides and targeted assistance schools. Each school has written a compact—an agreement between the home and school describing their shared responsibility to improve student learning—that defines their goals and expectations. Family Learning Centers are available at some Title I schools where parents can participate in parenting workshops or receive one-on-one help. Many schools have a trained paraprofessional for parent involvement on staff. Please click here for tips and suggestions for helping your child in school.

For additional information, call 337-8112.

Title I Migrant

Title I Migrant provides supplemental educational and social services to migrant children and their families. At the preschool level, the focus is on language development and school readiness. Dropout prevention is the goal at the elementary, middle and high school levels. After-school tutoring, advocacy, counseling, social services and summer programs are provided. Parent involvement is a major focus.

For additional information, call 337-8354.

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

English for Speakers of Other Languages, E.S.O.L., is a program for students, prekindergarten through grade 12, whose native language is other than English and who are classified as less than proficient in English. Services are provided at all schools by qualified personnel. Over 8,000 limited English proficient students coming from 101 different countries and speaking 67 different languages are served. Spanish-speaking students represent the largest limited English population, followed by Haitian Creole students, then Portuguese students.

Each limited English proficient student is identified, placed and monitored for performance. Whenever possible, at school sites with 15 limited English students speaking the same native language, a native language speaker is provided to assist students in receiving comprehensible instruction. Parent involvement activities are also conducted.

For additional information, call 337-8337, 337-8339 or Click Here for the ESOL website.

Early Childhood Learning Services

Early Childhood Learning Services has its own web site. Please click here to access Early Childhood Learning Services or go to http://earlychildhood.leeschools.net.

For additional information on Early Childhood Learning Services, call 332-2512.

Department of Juvenile Justice

Department of Juvenile Justice provides for the educational needs of students who are placed at the Southwest Florida Juvenile Detention Center, Price Halfway House, Vince Smith Center (part of Southwest Florida Addiction Services), PACE Center for Girls, or Southwest Florida Marine Institute. The Lee County School District maintains a school within these facilities. Students receive similar educational services that are available in their home schools, including special education services, counseling and substance abuse counseling. A full range of academic classes designed to motivate students and develop a positive self-concept, remediate basic skills in math and reading, and facilitate transition back into regualr schools without loss of academic credit is offered. Opportunities are also provided for those students who have left the regular program to either re-enter the regular school program or pursue a GED. All personnel employed by the School District meet the certification standards and are qualified

For additional information on these programs, call 335-1585 or Click Here for the website.