By PAT NEWMAN
Staff Writer

The Georgia Department of Education has released its list of schools receiving Title I funding, and the progress they have made in improving their performance levels.

According to Glenn Walker, social studies and physical education coordinator for the Fayette County School District, there are no county schools on the list. “We don't have to worry about that,” Walker said. Consistently high test scores on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills for reading and math preclude Fayette County schools from receiving Title I funding for elementary or high schools.

The school district does receive limited Title I funding for four Pre-K programs to prepare 4-year-olds for kindergarten. “It has been very successful,” Walker noted.

The Pre-K classes are at East Fayette, Tyrone, North Fayette and Peachtree City elementary schools.

“Title I is the largest single federal education program aimed at helping economically disadvantaged children and providing about $200 million to Georgia annually,” said Linda Schrenko, state school superintendent.

Out of 1,887 Georgia public schools, 1,020 are Title I schools. The Title I schools are sorted into two types: 564 school-wide programs and 456 targeted assistance schools. In the case of SWP, Title I funds are spent to improve the entire school and the test scores include all children. In TAS, Title I funds are spent only on students in the greatest need, and only their scores are reflected in the evaluations.

Adequate progress was made last year by 204 Title I schools, of which, 45 are further designated Distinguished schools for making adequate progress for three or more consecutive years. Two hundred and ten Title I schools are on “special notice,” meaning they did not make adequate process in 1998-99. These schools must meet criteria the next year in order to be removed from SN status.

Finally, 606 Title I schools are “in need of improvement,” meaning that they have failed to make adequate for two or more years in a row. To be removed from this status, the NI schools must meet the criteria for two out of the next three years.