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Title I, originally enacted in 1965 as part of the War on Poverty to help the most disadvantaged students, is the largest federal investment in elementary and secondary education.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 Charter Academy, Lehigh Elementary, Lehigh Acres Middle School, Manatee Elementary, N. Ft. Myers Academy for the Arts K–8, Orange River Elementary, Ray V. Pottorf Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary, Tice Elementary, Treeline Elementary and Tropic Isles Elementary. There are 3 Targeted Assistance schools: Dunbar High, Mirror Lakes Elementary and Ft. Myers Preparatory & Fitness Academy. 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. Three schools made AYP in FY09: Edgewood Academy, Ray V. Pottorf Elementary and Treeline Elementary.

Please click here for the FY09 School Grades and AYP results for Title I schools.

For the next two school years (2009-2010 and 2010-2011), the District is receiving stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). An additional 20 schools will benefit from this ARRA funding. There are three main areas of focus: provide each school with a Learning Resource Teacher (LRT), a new position in the District; develop professional learning communities within each school by creating A+ Teams, and provide professional development opportunities that align with the school’s Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) and School Improvement Plan (SIP) for all teachers and administrative staff.

Please click here for the Title I ARRA 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. The district determines the CWT schools for each zone. For FY10, the elementary transfer option schools were: Hector A. Cafferata, Robinson-Littleton, Rayma C. Page, G. Weaver Hipps, James Stephens (K-8), Bayshore, River Hall, and San Carlos Park. The middle transfer option schools were: Alva, Varsity Lakes, Dunbar, Lexington, Caloosa, Diplomat, James Stephens (K-8).

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, Colonial Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, Ft. Myers Middle Academy, Harns Marsh Elementary, Heights Elementary, J. Colin English Elementary, LAMP, Lehigh Acres Middle, N. Ft. Myers Academy for the Arts, Ray V. Pottorf Elementary, Orange River Elementary, and Tice 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.

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 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.