Read the Catapult Family Newsletter January 2020.
What is Title I?
Title I, Part A (Title I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended (ESEA) provides financial assistance to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.
Under Title I, LEAs are required to provide services for eligible private school students, as well as eligible public school students. In particular, section 1120 of Title I, Part A of the ESEA, requires a participating LEA to provide eligible children attending private elementary and secondary schools, their teachers, and their families with Title I services or other benefits that are equitable to those provided to eligible public school children, their teachers, and their families. These services must be developed in consultation with officials of the private schools. The Title I services provided by the LEA for private school participants are designed to meet their educational needs and supplement the educational services provided by the private school.
Title 1 Reading and Math at Aquinas Academy
The classroom teacher and the Title 1 teacher work together to plan for reading and math instruction that will help facilitate individuals, as well as groups of students. Based on the results of standardized tests, teacher observation and re commendation, students at Aquinas Academy are eligible for Title 1 Reading and Math reinforcement for kindergarten through fifth grades as provided by the appropriated local school district. Written parental consent is necessary for those students who are recommended by the classroom teacher or principal to be seen on a weekly basis throughout the school year. An initial assessment will be done to determine a student’s skill level. Progress Assessment Reports will be distributed along with school report cards.
What is Act 89?
Pennsylvania Act 89 provides Intermediate Units with funds to provide auxiliary services to students who are parentally enrolled in the nonpublic schools. Students who are enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 and who are Pennsylvania residents may be eligible to receive services. These services may include remedial reading and math, speech and language therapy, counseling, and psycho-educational testing. Types of services provided in the nonpublic schools are based on student enrollments and consultation between DCIU and nonpublic school administrators. These are not services that would carry an individualized entitlement for students but, rather, are provided subject to limitations of funding appropriated annually in the state budget.
Auxiliary services includes guidance, counseling and testing services, psychological services, services for exceptional children, remedial services, speech and hearing services, services for the improvement of the educationally disadvantaged (such as, but not limited to, teaching English as a second language), and other secular, neutral, non-ideological services of a supplementary and remedial nature.
ACT 89 Auxiliary Reading and Math Services at Aquinas Academy
Auxiliary Reading and math services are funded through Pennsylvania ACT 89 and allocated by the Westmoreland County Intermediate Unite (IU). The IU contracts with Catapult Learning to provide a certified teacher to the school for auxiliary instruction time. Reading services may include, but are not limited to, reinforcement, skill practice, problem solving, or remediation. These services are coordinated with the classroom teacher based on the student’s classroom performance. Written parental consent is necessary for those students who are recommended by the classroom teacher or principal to be seen on a weekly basis throughout the school year. An initial assessment will be done to determine a student’s skill level. Progress Assessment Reports will be distributed along with school report cards. The Catapult Reading Teacher is available for conferences with parents and school faculty.
ACT 89 Speech at Aquinas Academy
Westmoreland County Intermediate Unit 7 offers speech therapy services at Aquinas Academy that provide for diagnosis and remediation of speech and language problems. Students are seen individually or in group, usually for 30 minute sessions once a week during the school day. The initial screening occurs in September, although children may be referred at any time during the school year. If a child fails the screening test, appropriate diagnostic tests are given to determine the reality and etiology of the problem and provide therapy focus. If it is determined that a child would benefit from therapy, a permission letter is sent home. Students are tested upon teacher and/or parent recommendation by the speech therapist. Parents are consulted about their child’s participation in the program. If parent or guardian does not give their permission for the therapy, the child will not be entitled to this advantage.
