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Title I, originally enacted in 1965 as part of the War on Poverty to help the most disadvantaged students, is the largest federal investment in elementary and secondary education.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 the schoolwide model. There are 38 Title I Schoolwides: Alternative Learning Center–Middle and High, Bonita Springs Elementary, Bonita Middle, Colonial Elementary, Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary, Dunbar High, East Lee County High, Edgewood Academy, Ft. Myers Middle Academy, Ft. Myers Preparatory and Fitness (charter), Franklin Park Magnet School, G. Weaver Hipps Elementary, Harns Marsh Elementary, Hector A. Cafferata Elementary, J. Colin English Elementary, James Stephens International Academy, LAMP, Lee Alternative Charter High, Lee Charter Academy (charter), Lehigh Elementary, Lehigh Acres Middle School, Manatee Elementary,Mariner Middle, Mirror Lakes Elementary, N. Ft. Myers Academy for the Arts K–8, Oak Hammock Middle, Orange River Elementary, Patriot Elementary, Ray V. Pottorf Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, Sunshine Elementary, Tice Elementary, Treeline Elementary, Tropic Isles Elementary, Varsity Lakes Middle, Villas Elementary, and West Alternative Learning Center. 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.

Please click here for the FY11 School Grades and AYP results for Title I schools.

CWT (Choice With Transportation) is offered to parents when their child's Title I school fails to make AYP for three or more years. For FY12, the district chose to implement Early Notification to parents during the first application period (Batch 1) of the district's student assignment process that began in January. Parents were provided with comprehensive information on the schools within their attendance zone. After reviewing all the schools, parents were asked to rank order the schools in order of their preference.

SES (Supplemental Educational Services) is free tutoring offered by state-approved private providers. Tutoring is only available to students in one of these Title I schools: ALC Middle, Bonita Springs Elementary, Bonita Middle, Colonial Elementary, Dunbar High, East Lee County High, Edgewood Elementary, Franklin Park Elementary, Ft. Myers Middle Academy, Ft. Myers Preparatory and Fitness, Harns Marsh Elementary, J. Colin English Elementary, LAMP, Lee Charter Academy, Lehigh Acres Middle, Manatee Elementary, Mariner Middle, Mirror Lakes Elementary, N. Ft. Myers Academy for the Arts, Oak Hammock Middle, Orange River Elementary, Patriot Elementary, Ray V. Pottorf Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, Sunshine Elementary, Tice Elementary, Treeline Elementary, Tropic Isles Elementary, Varsity Lakes Middle and Villas Elementary. Only students eligible for free/reduced price lunch can participate in SES services.

Please click here for information on SES services and SES providers or call 337-8112..

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 337-8114.

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 335-1513, 335-1548 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 AMIkids Southwest Florida. 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 335-1470 or Click Here for the website.