MS 53 is a Title 1 school.

Title I, which is part of the federal legislation known as Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that replaced No Child Left Behind, provides for additional funding to schools and districts to help address the needs of students from low-income families and bridge the gap between them and other students. Family and parent involvement is required by law for schools receiving Title I funding.

Title I school eligibility is determined by the percentage of students at the school who are eligible to receive free lunch. Once a school’s Title I eligibility is established, the amount of Title I funding it receives is based on student eligibility: those students that are not meeting or at risk of not meeting State academic standards are considered eligible.

Title I schools must:

• conduct an annual Title I Parent Meeting to inform parents about the school’s Title I program and explain the requirements and rights of parents who are involved*
• offer meetings to parents to provide them with opportunities to hear and learn about the schools’ Title I program
• provide parents with timely information about their child’s progress.
• One percent of Title I funds must be allocated for parent and family engagement. These funds are supposed to be used to do at least one of the following: support schools and nonprofit organizations providing professional development in this area; support programs to reach parents and family members at home; disseminate best practices and information on parent and family engagement; and collaborate with entities with a record of success in improving and increasing parent and family engagement.

Title I parents are also required to be involved in the school’s planning and evaluation of the Title I program and budget. The Title I Parent Committee, which is composed of representatives elected by Title I parents, serves this function. All parents of children in the school’s Title I program are eligible to serve on the committee. Title I parents may choose whether the committee is a subcommittee of the school’s PA/PTA or a separate Title I Parent Advisory Council (PAC).