DMPS Federal Programs

October 2023 Update
Welcome Back Title I Principals & Leaders!

The Federal Programs Team hopes everyone had a restful summer break; ready and energized to kick off the new school year.  We are ready to support you your school improvement journey by offering fresh ideas about how we can use Title I effectively.  We are working on ways to improve the services we provide and enhancements to our current service model.  More to come!

QUICK LINKS

Allowable Activities Under Title I
Parent & Family Engagement
Title I Staffing Survey
Title I New Ideas Repository
Important Dates to Remember

Parent & Family Engagement
As we welcome students, parent and families back into our schools, we thought it was important to remind you of our commitment to parent and family engagement within Title I. Three components (and requirements) that are key in building strong relationships with parents and families include (1) the Annual Title I Parent & Family Meeting, (2) Parent School Compacts and (3) Notification of Parents Right to Know.
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Annual Title I Parent and Family Meeting
ESEA § 1116(c)(1)
All Title I schools must hold an annual meeting, convenient for parents & families, informing them about their school’s Title I participation, what that means and their rights regarding this status. Most schools hold this event in conjunction with Meet the Teacher Night events.

Helpful Reminders
  1. Please schedule this event during the 1st semester.  Setting the tone at the beginning of the year can set the tone and encourage parent and family participation through the year. 
  2. This is chance to tell parents & families how Title I looks in your school through supplemental staff, PD and instructional materials and supplies.
  3. This is an opportunity to discuss Title I Parent and School compacts.
Parent Compacts
ESEA § 1116(d)
Parent Compacts are a shared agreement between the school (principal and teachers) and family (students and parents), that describes how everyone will work together to support their child’s educational growth.

Helpful Reminders
  1. Schools should revisit this document with families during their Annual Title I Family event
  2. Click here for the compact included in Online Registration.
Notification of Title I Parent’s Right to Know
ESEA § 1112(e)
Des Moines Public School Parents and Guardians who have students that attend a Title I schools have the Right to Know about the qualifications of their child's teacher as defined but ESSA. This includes state licensure requirements for the grade level and content areas taught, the current licensing status of your child's teacher, baccalaureate/graduate certification/degree, teachers under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived, and qualifications of an instructional paraprofessional who serves your student.  Parents can request this information at any time.

Helpful Reminders
  1. Please make sure to reference this notification on your schools webpage.  Click here for the link.
  2. DMPS ensures that parents will be notified in writing if their child has been assigned or has been taught by a teacher for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not considered highly qualified. A copy of a form letter in included in the link reference below.
FY23 Title I Parent & Family Engagement Survey
We have compiled data from our annual Title I Parent & Family Engagement Survey.  This can be useful information in determining how to provide families with resources to meet their specific needs.
Parent & Family Engagement Policy
ESEA § 1114(b)(2) and § 1116
The Des Moines Public Schools’ Title I Parent Involvement Program provides the opportunity for parents to be involved jointly in the development of the Title I plans and in the school’s review process for the purpose of school improvement. Click here the our entire Title I Parent & Family Engagement Policy.

Allowable Activities Under Title I
Supplement Not Supplant
ESEA Section 1118(b)
Title I funds should add to (supplement) and not replace (supplant) state and local funds.  Compliance is demonstrated through the methodology used to allocate State and local funds to each school receiving assistance under this part, ensuring that each school receives all of the State and local funds it would otherwise receive if it were not receiving assistance under this part.
Principals - We want to hear from you!
In an effort to better serve Title I schools, we are exploring the idea of expanding the number of positions that can be funded by Title I.  We are asking that you complete this quick survey about supplemental positions you would be interested in adding to the menu of staff.
Title I Use of Funds
IDOE Guidance
All Title IA expenses must be reasonable, necessary, allowable, and aligned with the program purpose.  For DMPS this would be our school improvement document created with the Collaborative Problem Solving Process – CPSP.
Resources for Title I Allowability
Federal Programs has created a living document for schools to reference for new ideas for allowable ideas for Title I implementation.  As we learn about more activities, we will update this document. 

Important Dates to Remember
Aug 23rd - CPSP thru Section #3b
Sept 15th - Notification of DMPS Title I Allocation
Oct 1st - Transfers and Building Allocation due in CASA
Oct 15th - All Title Budgets & Programming Due in CASA
October 9th - 27th - ESSA Check In Meetings

Did
You Know?

Keep In Touch - Title I Support Team

Interim Director, ADE -
Federal Programs Coordinator -
Director of Finance -
AEA ESSA Support -
AEA ESSA Support -
Grant Program Accountant -
Grant Program Accountant -
Josie Sturgis
April Murray
Kevin Oleson
Crista Carlile
Tammy Humpal
Deb Meyer
Ashley Williams