Federal Programs

Title I Programs

Title I, Part A is a federal program designed “To provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.” Title I, Part A can support early learning and Kindergarten to grade 12. Title I, Part A programs and services provide customized instruction and curricula that helps these students meet academic standards and take an active, engaged interest in what they learn and can do. As the oldest and largest federal education program, Title I, Part A programs build equity of opportunity for children whose struggles often keep them on the academic sidelines.

Title I, Part A funds are allocated to each state.  The state then allocates resources to school districts who in turn allocate funds to buildings.  Funds are allocated based on low income and the use of funds in our district is strategically coordinated with other programs, such as the state funded LAP program (Learning Assistance Program.)

In the Lake Stevens School District for the 2019-20 school year, Title I, Part A funds are used to serve students in three elementary schools: Mt. Pilchuck, Skyline and Stevens Creek.

Parents of students in buildings that receive Title I funds have the right to request information on the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher(s).  At a minimum this includes whether the teacher has met state qualifications and licensing criteria for grades and subjects taught, whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional status and the baccalaureate degree major of the teacher, any other graduate certification or degree held, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.  If your child is being provided services by a paraprofessional, the paraprofessional’s qualifications may also be requested.  

To request information on your child’s teacher(s) or paraprofessional(s) please call 425-335-1500 and ask for the “Parent Request Form for Information Regarding Teacher Qualifications."

Parent Involvement
Parent involvement is an expected, integral and valued part of a successful Title I program. Lake Stevens School District has a Parent Involvement Policy and welcomes your feedback on its content and effectiveness.

Parental involvement can influence the success of their child more than any teacher or federal program. By becoming an active participant in the Title I Parent Involvement plan at your student's school, you will: 

• Serve as a role model, showing students that you support his/her education;
• Assure that you are aware of your student's educational progress; thereby demonstrating how important that progress is to you; and
• Teach your student that your input at the school is appreciated and that you support its efforts.

Each fall, meetings are held at each Title-served school to share information and gather parental input. Each spring, a survey is conducted to gather feedback to help shape our programs.

Additional information is available on the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s website (Title I) or by contacting Sarah Danielson at 425-335-1589 or sarah_danielson@lkstevens.wednet.edu. OSPI also publishes a Title I Parent's Guide, which explains the state and federal programs.

Title II Programs

The purpose of Title II, Part A is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools improve teacher and principal quality and ensure that all teachers are highly qualified. Title II, A funds are used to address the challenges of teacher and principal quality. This includes teacher preparation and qualifications of new teachers, recruitment and hiring, induction, professional development and retention. In addition, Title II, A funds are used to improve the skills and knowledge of principals for effective school leadership.

LAP
The Learning Assistance Program (LAP) is Washington's state-funded program (WAC 392-162 and Chapter 28A.165 RCW) that provides additional academic support to eligible students.

Eligible Students
Eligible students are those achieving below grade level on the state’s assessment, and 11th- and 12th-grade students at risk of not graduating. Multiple measures of student performance are used to determine student eligibility.

LAP funds are available to support programs in grades K-12 in reading, writing, mathematics and readiness for those subjects.  The majority of LAP funds in the Lake Stevens School District are used to support literacy in grades k-4 in our elementary schools.

English Language Learners (ELL)
Lake Stevens School District offers a program for students where English is a second language. The primary purpose of the ELL program is to provide students with an educational environment that gives them the best opportunity for success.

The district’s K-12 ELL program is designed to develop competency in English as rapidly as possible in order to provide a language base for the regular curriculum. The program focuses on developing oral proficiency with the integration of reading and writing as the student progresses through the various stages involved in learning a new language.

As part of our registration process for new students, parents must respond to questions regarding the student’s first language. If the first language is anything other than English, the student is referred to the ELL program staff for testing. Access to the ELL program is determined by a student’s score on the English Language Proficiency Assessment for the 21st Century (ELPA21) Screener, upon entry into school.

Students who score as Emergent or Progressing in their English development qualify for ELL services. English learners are taught by teachers trained in ELL methodology who provide specialized instruction. In accordance with state law, students exit from ELL when they score as Proficient on the ELPA21 annual assessment given each spring.

Federal Program Complaint Procedures

Lake Stevens School District makes every effort possible to implement all Federal Programs authorized under ESEA with fidelity and to the fullest extent expected by all requirements of federal statute and state law.  If there is reason to believe that this has not happened, a formal complaint may be filed by following the procedures provided below:

WAC 392-168, Special Service Programs – Citizen Complaint Procedure for Certain Categorical Federal Programs applies to federal programs authorized under ESEA and administered by OSPI. Any individual or organization may file a signed, written complaint if the individual or organization believes the state, a local school district, an educational service district, or other sub-grantee has violated one or more requirements of federal statutes or regulations or state regulations that apply to a federal program.

The formal written complaint should include:

• A statement that the district, other educational agency, or in some cases OSPI, has violated a requirement of a federal statue or regulation.
• The specific requirement alleged to have been violated.
• The facts on which the complaint is based.
• The name and address of the complainant.
• The expected resolution of the alleged violation.
• The signature of the complainant.

A complaint should be sent directly to: 

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Attn: Title I/LAP and Consolidated Program Review Office
PO Box 47200
Olympia, WA 98504-7200

Or visit the OSPI Citizen Complaints page. Receipt of a complaint activates a time limit not to exceed sixty (60) calendar days. After a complaint is received by OSPI, a copy of the complaint, along with any accompanying documentation, is sent to the school district, and the district is asked to respond to the allegations. A copy of the district’s response is sent to the complainant, and he or she is given an opportunity to reply to the district’s response. After review of all information,

OSPI will make an independent determination as to whether the district is in violation of any federal program requirement as authorized under NCLB or WAC 392-168. OSPI will issue a written decision to the complainant that addresses each allegation and may provide technical assistance activities or negotiations and corrective measures necessary to resolve the complaint. All actions shall be instituted no later than thirty (30) calendar days following the date of the decision. The written decision by OSPI is the final decision in the matter. A complaint is considered resolved when the superintendent has issued a written decision and corrective measures, if warranted, have been completed. Appeals to OSPI decisions can be made to the United States Department of Education.