No. Title I funding is determined at the federal and state level based on census data and overall free and reduced percentages in the District. This means FBISD gets the same amount of funding regardless of the number of campuses designated as Title I; and if more schools are designated as Title I, the district entitlement is split up into smaller portions among the campuses.

Fort Bend ISD currently has 25 campuses designated as Title I school wide, including 20 elementary schools. Aligned with current research and best practices, the district has channeled the majority of our federal funds at the elementary level, where these dollars have the most impact on students. This is so we can give all of our students the best foundation for future learning.

The fixed allotment for Title I that FBISD received from the U.S. Department of Education through the Texas Education Agency is allotted on a per pupil basis to the 25 designated Title I Schoolwide campuses in FBISD. 

On average, 80% of the district Title I funds are distributed directly to the campuses and FBISD reserves 20% Title I funding to provide Social Workers, Parent Educators, instructional staff and support staff to assist all Title I campuses. As required, we set aside at least 1%, to fund parent engagement activities. The district is also required to set aside funds to service individual students identified as homeless or in foster care, regardless of the campus of enrollment. These funds are utilized to provide transportation to the school of origin or school nearest the student’s temporary living arrangements and to provide school supplies and instructional materials, hygiene kits, assist with credit recovery or other identified instructional needs.

FBISD makes the decision regarding which schools are designated as Title I Schoolwide based upon research and best practices for meeting the needs of students. The district is not required to designate campuses as Title I Schoolwide.  However, if a campus consistently reaches the threshold of 75% Economically Disadvantaged, the district must ensure the campus receives equivalent funding/resources to what the campus would receive if it was designated as a Title I Schoolwide campus.

Yes, there is quite a bit of guidance from the Texas Education Agency and the U.S. Department of Education on appropriate use of Title I funds. 

Monitoring includes the following actions:

• FBISD submits an annual ESSA application and evaluation to the Texas Education Agency.
• The district maintains required documentation through Campus and District Improvement Plans, Title I Crate, financial documents, schedules, agendas, services provided, etc.
• FBISD submits PEIMS financial, student and staff data to TEA annually.
• The district has an external auditor that conducts annuals audits.
• TEA conducts a variety of financial and program audits.

Title I district and campus funds may be utilized to improve the instructional services for students to receive a well-rounded education and demonstrate growth and success in the state’s challenging student academic performance standards (TEKS). 

Expenditures from Title I must be based upon a Comprehensive Needs Assessment for the campus/district and the Campus/District Improvement Plan.

The following is a visual that may be helpful in expressing the intended use of ESSA Title I funds:

Source: https://gtlcenter.org/sites/default/files/Principals_ActionPlan_ESSA.pdf

As a partner with Fort Bend ISD Title I campuses the Department of Collaborative Communities will create and foster mutually beneficial partnerships with stakeholders that support and enrich student achievement and success. 

Fort Bend ISD welcomes and encourages parents and community members to get involved and share their time, talents, and skills with our students by becoming a VIPS.

Become a school volunteer by completing the FBISD Volunteer Criminal History Application and contacting the Campus or by calling Collaborative Communities at (281) 634-1109.

As of February 2020, Fort Bend ISD has documented that more than 75% of Marshall students are economically disadvantaged, which is the threshold required to be considered a Title I school. In the 2019-20 school year, a thorough needs assessment and community engagement was conducted to consider Title I application and designation for Marshall High School. At the begining of school year 2020-2021 Marshall High School was designated Title I and has received supplemental funding from Federal funds. These funds will provide additional instructional support positions for Marshall High School, in addition to the supports currently in place.