August 1, 2025

Dear Parents,

This packet is designed to give you information about Title 1, a federally funded program, and the involvement of your child’s school in this program. Each elementary school (K-5) and middle school (6-8) in Dodge City qualifies for Title 1 monies. These monies are used to purchase additional personnel, supplies, and materials geared specifically toward Reading and Math.

Over the past few decades educational research has found that parental involvement is directly related to student achievement, overall school performance, student behavior, graduation rates and enrollment in higher education. Every Title 1 school in Dodge City will work to promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and participation.

Thank you in advance for your support in making our Title 1 program “A winning team of parents and educators.”

Kansas State Department of Education
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Parents Right-To-Know for Title 1 and Title III

Communication with parents is a critical component of ESSA. It requires districts to notify the parents of every student in a Title 1 school of their right to certain information. This notification is to occur at the beginning of each school year.

All Title 1 schools: Parents Right-to-Know
The following information should be included in the annual notification sent to parents:

• Parents may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their Child/Children’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals. Professional qualifications, at a minimum, include
  • Whether or not the teacher has met Kansas Licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas being taught,
  • If the teacher is teaching under an emergency or provisional waiver, and
  • The baccalaureate degree and any other graduate certification or degree and the field of discipline of both, and
  • If services are provided by paraprofessionals, their qualifications.
  • Student assessments mandated by the STATE or LEA (a list of assessments is located on the USD 443 district web page)
  • Parents may request information on student participation in any assessment mandated by the State or school and the parent’s rights to opt their child out of such assessments where applicable. Procedures for opting out of assessments include:
• Written notice to the Superintendent prior to assessment asking for permission to opt out of assessment.
• Superintendent approval notice once parent letter is received.
• Note: Request to opt out of assessments must be requested yearly for each assessment.

All Title 1 Schools: Parent-School Compacts
Every Title 1 school should have a school-parent compact which is a written agreement of shared responsibility that:

• Defines the goals and expectations of schools and parents as partners in the effort to improve student achievement;
• Outlines how parents, the entire school staff, and students will work together and build a partnership to help students achieve high academic standards;
• Translates the policies and goals of parents and schools into “action” statements. (i.e., what will administrators, teachers, and parents do to make policies and goals a reality?);
• Serves as a catalyst for collaboration and a guide for ongoing, better communication, interactions and exchanges between school staff and parents.

It is important to keep a copy of the signed compact on file.

What is Title 1?

Title 1 is a federally funded program that provides funding to local school districts to improve the academic achievement of disadvantaged students.

How Does a School Qualify for Title 1 Funds?

In USD 443, a school is determined eligible to receive Title 1 monies when over 40% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunches. All elementary schools (K-5) and middle schools (6-8) in USD 443 qualify for Title 1 services.

Private School Participation
Under Title 1 federal guidelines, local school districts that have Title 1 programs are required to offer services to private schools for students who are eligible. Sacred Heart Catholic School is a private school operating in Dodge City. A private school also has the option to refuse services.

Reading Tips for Parents
Simple Strategies for Creating Strong Readers

1. Invite a child to read with you every day.
2. When reading a book where the print is large, point word by word as you read. This will help the child learn that reading goes from left to right and understand that the word he or she says is the word he or she sees.
3. Read a child’s favorite book over and over again.
4. Read many stories with rhyming words and lines that repeat. Invite the child to join in on these parts. Point, word by word, as he or she reads along with you.
5. Discuss new words. For example, “This big house is called a palace. Who do you think lives in a palace?”
6. Stop and ask about the pictures and about what is happening in the story.
7. Read from a variety of children’s books, including fairy tales, song books, poems, and information books.

Parent and family involvement has been and continues to be a priority of USD 443 Dodge City Public Schools. Effectively involving parents and families in support of children and their education produces meaningful and lasting results.

Dodge City Public Schools and the USD 443 Board of Education intend to follow the parental policy guidelines in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA Act of 2016)

Schools must actively engage parents in the education of their children.

• Schools ensure that parents play an integral role in assisting in their child/children’s learning and are informed of the expectations for their child;
• Student progress is regularly reported to parents in a clear and understandable form;
• Communication between home and school is regular, two-way, and meaningful;
• Schools ensure that parents are welcome in the school, and their support and assistance are sought;
• Schools view parents as full partners in the decisions that affect their children and their family;
• Provide the coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist Title 1, Part A schools in planning and implementing effective parental involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance;
• Build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement;
• Coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies under Title 1, Part A with parental involvement strategies under other programs, such as Head Start, Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Center, Kindergarten Porch Visits, and Title III language instructional programs.

The Board recognizes that parent involvement contributes to the achievement of academic standards. The Board views the education of students as a cooperative effort among school, parents and community.

1. Provide the coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing effective parent involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance.
2. Develop activities that promote the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parent involvement.
3. Coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies with appropriate programs.
4. Identify barriers to participation by parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority.
5. Use findings of annual evaluations to design strategies for more effective parent involvement.
6. Involve parents in the activities of schools served under Title 1.

IDEA Parent Involvement (Adoption Date: 6-6-06)
USD 443 supports and encourages Parent Involvement in all of the district’s programs and activities.

USD 443 will:

• believe all children will learn,
• recognize that the education of children is a responsibility shared by parents, families, school staff and community,
• provide a well-articulated curriculum for all students,
• encourage and support effective instructional practices,
• monitor and report student achievement,
  provide adequate facilities,
  encourage and invite parent and community input in all of the district’s programs and activities.

Teachers/Staff will:

• regularly provide information about student progress,
• make learning relevant for all students,
• utilize effective instructional methods and strategies,
• provide safe environments for learning,
• respect cultural differences among the district’s students and families,
• have high expectations for self, students and others,
• establish and maintain effective communications between home and school.

Parents/Guardians will:

• believe in the importance of a quality education, and communicate that importance to my child,
• communicate regularly with my child’s teachers,
• attend parent conferences,
• be involved in the building’s parent organizations,
• attend parent orientations and other parent activities,
• serve on school committees including site councils, parent advisory councils and other volunteer activities,
• work with school staff to promote life-long learning throughout the schools and community.

As a Title 1 school we will provide the following:

• Convene an annual meeting to inform parents of their school's participation in Title 1, to explain the requirements, and their right to be involved. In preparation for this meeting, efforts will be made to determine the most convenient time for parents of participating children to attend and to determine the most reliable method for ensuring that parents receive notice.
• Offer a flexible number of meetings, such as in the morning or evening, and provide, if necessary, home visits as these services relate to parental involvement.
• Provide parents of participating children timely information about Title 1 programs:
  • A description and explanation of the curriculum in use at the school, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet;
  • Their child's individual student assessment results, including an interpretation of such results;
  • Opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions, share experiences with other parents, and participate as appropriate in decisions relating to the education of their children if parents express an interest in doing this;
  • Timely responses to the suggestions made by parents that have been offered in meetings such as those described in above; and
  • If the schoolwide program plan is not satisfactory to parents, the school will submit any parent comments on the plan when the school makes the plan available to the LEA.

To support partnerships among schools, parents, and communities that will improve student achievement, both the school and LEA are required to build the capacity of parents and school staff for strong parental involvement by:
Providing assistance to participating parents in understanding the State’s academic content standards, State and local assessments, Title 1 requirements, monitoring their children's progress, working with educators to improve the performance of their children, and providing information on how parents can participate in decisions relating to the education of their children;
Providing materials and training, such as literacy training and using technology, to foster parental involvement;
Educating teachers, pupil services personnel, principals, and staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value of contributions of parents, how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners, coordinate and implement parent programs, and build ties between home and school.

Six National Standards for Family School Partnerships (NSFSP) to promote parent involvement in all KS Schools.

1. Welcoming all families into the school community
2. Communication effectively
3. Supporting student success
4. Speaking up for every child
5. Sharing power
6. Collaborating with the community

USD 443 Title 1 Schools participate annually with a District Family Engagement Survey.

Below are the areas that Title 1 money can be used for by the schools

Principals budget the money allocated to their schools into these lines and use the money throughout the school year for activities/supplies for Reading or Math and salaries to pay staff.

1000 Instruction

100 Personnel Services - Salaries
200 Employment Benefit
300 Purchased Professional & Technical Services
400 Purchased Property Services
500 Other Purchased Services
600 Supplies & Materials
700 Property

2000 Support Services

2100 Support Services - Students
2300 Support Services - General Administration Services
2600 Operation & Maintenance of Plant Services
2620 Operation of Building Services
2700 Student Transportation Services
2720 Vehicle Operations Services

A complete breakdown of allocations per budget line can be obtained from
The Office of Academic and Administrative Supports ~ 2112 First Avenue
Dodge City, KS 67801 620-471-2111

USD 443 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, military status, primary language, and/or disability. This non-discrimination policy applies to admission, employment, programs, activities, and providing equal access to Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. A lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the Career and Technical (vocational) and/or other educational programs of the school.

Grievance Procedure
USD 443 has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging noncompliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in any program or activity administered by the District. The following have been designated as Section 504 Coordinators:

Title VI, Age Discrimination Act, Section 504 or other pertaining to Employment: Executive Director of Human Resources, 2112 First Avenue, Dodge City Kansas 67801 (620) 371-1004.

American Disabilities Act, Section 504 or other pertaining to facilities: Executive Director of Business & Operations, 2112 First Avenue, Dodge City Kansas 67801 (620) 371-1001.

Title IX, Section 504 or other pertaining to students: Assistant Superintendents of Elementary or Secondary Education, 2112 First Avenue, Dodge City, Kansas 67801, (620) 471-2111.

Any person who believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability in a program or activity administered by USD 443 may file a grievance under this procedure. Retaliation against a person who files a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability pursuant to the grievance procedure, or persons who participate in related proceedings, is prohibited.

Procedure:

• Grievances must be submitted to the appropriate Section 504 Coordinator within 30 calendar days of the date the person filing the grievance becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action.
• A complaint must be in writing, containing the name and address of the person filing it. The complaint must state the problem or action alleged to be discriminatory and the remedy or relief sought. A complaint form is available.
• The Section 504 Coordinator (or his/her designee) shall conduct an investigation of the complaint. This investigation may be informal, but it must be thorough, affording all interested persons an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint. The Section 504 Coordinator will maintain the files and records of the USD 443 relating to such grievances. The Section 504 Coordinator shall maintain the confidentiality of the person who files a complaint.
• The Section 504 Coordinator will issue a written decision on the grievance no later than 30 days after its filing.
• The availability and use of this grievance procedure does not prevent a person from filing a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2037, Kansas City, Missouri, 64114, (816) 268-0550.