About Federal Programs

2 months ago


Dr. Scarlet thomas

Director of Federal Programs


The Department of Federal and Special Programs is comprised of a variety of programs, some financed through federal funding and others through state and grant funds.  The staff of this department is dedicated to effectively developing, implementing, and evaluating programs/activities for the academic success of all students from K through 12th grade.

The performance goals of this department are:

  • All students will reach high standards, at a minimum attaining proficiency or better in reading/language arts and mathematics.
  • All limited-English proficient (LEP) students will become proficient in English and reach high academic standards, at a minimum attaining proficiency or better in reading/language arts and mathematics.
  • All students will be taught by a certified teachers.
  • All students will be educated in learning environments that are safe, drug free, and conductive to learning.
  • All students will graduate from high school.

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School Desk

Clay County Schools benefit greatly from federal educational funding. Title I, Title II and Title V funding are utilized annually by the district to supplement the instructional program across the district. Contacts Dr. Scarlet Thomas Director of Federal Programs/McKinney-Vento Liaison thomass@clayk12.org (256) 396-1475 Mrs. Connie Bass Parent and Family Engagement Liaison bassc@clayk12.org (256) 396-1400

Title III

2 months ago


English Language Learners

Clay County Schools do not receive Title III funding to aid in English Language acquisition. While we do not receive this federal funding, Clay County Schools continue to provide English language instruction to students for which English is not their first language.

The district has an English Learner Plan in place. Each school that has English learners enrolled provides supplemental activities to aid in the language acquisition of the student.

Questions regarding the English Learner program may be directed the Director of Federal Programs.





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Title I

2 months ago


Ashland Elementary Documents

Lineville Elementary Documents

Title I

Title I is a federal program that was established to narrow the gap in academic achievement between low-income students and their peers by providing supplemental funding to school districts. The Clay County School district uses Title I funding for a variety of purposes at 2 of the district's schools. Teachers providing supplemental instruction are employed for each of the district's Title I schools. Supplemental instructional materials and educational technology are purchased as well. In the coming months, changes will be implemented as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is instituted across the nation. 

Two schools in the district receive Title I assistance. These schools are classified as school-wide schools. In a school-wide school, all students enrolled at the school may receive benefits from Title I services. The Clay County School district maintains a Title I plan for the district.

As a requirement for receiving Title I funds, each school must develop a Continuous Improvement Plan. This is a detailed plan of how the faculty, administration, parents and students will utilize the Title I funds to improve the academic achievement of the school. The plan is based upon a comprehensive needs assessment at each school. This allows the school's Continuous Improvement Team to address the most critical needs at the school. The local school budget for Title I funds is developed to meet accountability standards and improve student achievement. This is known as school-wide authority. The ACIP for each school can be found at the school or at the Clay County Schools' central office. For additional information about the Title I program at your child's school, you may contact the principal.

Title I schools are also required to take measures to improve parental involvement in the educational process. Studies have shown that having a parent take an active part in a child's education yields improvement in the academic achievement of the student. A portion of the Title I funding awarded to the district is set aside for use in supporting activities to improve parental involvement.

As a parent of a child attending a Title I school, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the teacher who instructs your child. The NCLB Act of 2001 allows you to ask for certain information about your child's classroom teacher. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child's classroom teachers:

  • Whether the Alabama State Department of Education has licenses or qualified the teacher for the grades an subjects he or she teaches
  • Whether the Alabama State Department of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances
  • The certifications of teachers; whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of the degrees
  • Whether any teacher aide or similar paraprofessional provides services to your child and if they do, their qualifications.

If you have questions or would like additional information regarding the Title I programs in Clay County Schools, you may email Dr. Scarlet Thomas (thomass@clayk12.org) for more information.


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Title II

2 months ago


Title II

Title II contains funding for teacher and principal training and recruitment efforts at the state and local level, as well as teacher training at institutions of higher education. Title II monies are designed to resolve the problems of large numbers of students.

Title II replaces the Eisenhower Professional Development Program. Title II also replaces the Class Size Reduction Program (CSR) aimed at class size reduction, teacher and principal training and recruitment. While certain elements of these two programs are still in the new Title II, the current Title is much broader and is tied to the teacher quality mandates of NCLB.


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Title V

2 months ago


Title V

The Rural and Low-Income School Program is designed to provide additional funds to rural school districts that serve concentrations of poor students.

Clay County Schools use Title VI funds for several  purposes. The first is to hire a Graduation/Job Coach to help students stay in school. Another use of the funds is to help increase student attendants throughout the year. Finally, a portion of the funding is used to support the EL (English Learner) program with tutoring and translation services in the district.


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Family Engagement

2 months ago

Family Engagement



Each Title I school strives to build and maintain positive, collaborative partnerships with parents. Clay County has a District Parent Involvement Committee, which is comprised of parents from each Title I school. This committee annually revises the District Parent Involvement Policy (Spanish District Parent Involvement Policy).  

Monthly parent newsletters, Helping Children Learn and Helping Students Learn  are available for parents in both English and Spanish. Helping Children Learn is for parents of children in the elementary grades, while the Helping Students Learn newsletter is for parents of middle and high school students.  

 

Contact:

Connie Bass

bassc@clayk12.org



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