Introduction:
As Grove Public School’s Federal Programs Director my primary responsibility is the administration of the Title I Part A and Title II Part A programs of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 which amended the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. These are United States Department of Education formula grant programs based on the number of children from low-income families. The primary responsibilities for administering these programs include: (1) ensuring compliance with the federal and state laws and regulations; (2) program planning, implementation and evaluation; (3) financial management; and, (4) coordination of parent and community communications and involvement initiatives.
Additional responsibilities of the federal programs director include monitoring other federally funded programs at the district level and seeking additional funding through competitive grants. These additional grant funds are necessary to bring innovative and effective educational programs to the school district and to aid in the continuing improvement of educational opportunities for all students attending Grove Public School.
Below is information explaining some of the federal programs currently active in the Grove School District. This information focuses primarily on the requirements and educational benefits of these programs and enhances a better understanding of the role of the federal programs director.
As an old African proverb states and Hilary Clinton restated, “It takes a village to raise a child.” The ‘village’ responsible for giving every child in the Grove School District an opportunity to succeed academically and become adequately prepared for education beyond high school and entry into the workforce consists of parents, teachers, administrator, community member and the students themselves. As director of federal programs I welcome suggestions from all members of our educational village to better help me fulfill my responsibilities. I look forward to this opportunity to serve the people of Grove and the students who attend our schools.
Program Information:
The purpose of Title I programs is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on challenging state academic standards and assessments. Grove Public School’s Title I funds are used to improve education for all students in the district. Title I funds are granted to schools when forty percent or more of the students are eligible for the free/ reduced lunch program. The strategy behind this program is to raise the achievement of low-achieving students by improving instruction throughout the entire school; thus Title I funds can be used to serve all children.
Title II, Part A, Improving Teacher and Principal Quality, is a federally funded program designed to support and help shape district activities that improve teacher quality and that increase the number of highly qualified teachers and principals. Districts are held accountable for attaining annual measurable objectives and increasing the number of highly qualified teachers. The program focuses on using practices grounded in scientifically based research and providing high quality professional development to prepare, train, and recruit effective teachers. Activities under this program are based on a local needs assessment conducted with the involvement of teachers and staff. The goal is to increase student achievement by improving teacher quality including teaching skills and instructional leadership.
As part of the federal program requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, every school district is evaluated annually by the Oklahoma State Department to determine if the schools are making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as defined by the criteria mandated. The district and each school in the district receive an “Annual Report Card” from the state. This Report Card measures performance on several criteria based on the Academic Performance Index (API). Grove Public School will provide this information yearly to parents and the community through the school district’s website. Grove Public School has successfully made Adequate Yearly Progress and has consistently maintained the high scores, evidence of the district’s commitment to educational excellence.
Parental and community involvement is an integral role to the success of Grove Public School and the administration of federal programs. With continued successful involvement of these groups, the school will continue to expand the educational opportunities for all students. For the district to continue receiving a full allocation of funds under the programs described above, it is extremely important that each year parents complete the free/reduced lunch application and the annual survey assessing school needs.
Contact Information:
Office: District Administration Offices located in Grove Middle School