Title I and Learning Assistance Program (LAP)

Title I and Learning Assistance Programs provide supplemental reading and/or math support for selected students and schools. These programs serve specific schools that meet the criteria set by the federal and state governments.

Title I in Bellingham Public Schools:

In the Bellingham Public Schools we have six elementary schools that receive Federal Title I, Part A funds – Alderwood, Birchwood, Carl Cozier, Cordata, Roosevelt, and Sunnyland.

Annual Notifications:

• Parent’s Right to Be Informed, Title I Part A (multiple languages)
• A Parent’s Guide:  What is Title I, Part A

Title I & Parent Involvement:

Family Engagement is one of our key strategies in The Bellingham Promise.  We strive to partner with families through parent involvement activities, open communication, and welcoming schools.

• District Parent Involvement Policy and Procedures
• Annual Title I Parent Meeting
• Each School Title I website contains School Parent Involvement Policy/Plans
• Link to OSPI Title I Parent Involvement Information & Resources

Services for Homeless Students:

Title I services are also provided to students in non-Title I schools who qualify for homeless status and are in need of additional academic support.

Title I & Private Schools:

As per federal regulations, Title I funds are also used to support the academic needs of qualifying students enrolled at private schools.  Private schools must opt in to participate in this program. All private schools are notified annually on how to indicate their intent to participate.

District & School Report Cards:

• Links to School Report Cards can be found on each school’s website
• Links to District Report Card
• NAEP
• Annual Measurable Objectives (AMO)
• Schools Identified as Priority, Focus, Emerging:  We are fortunate to not have any Bellingham Public Schools identified as Priority, Focus or Emerging. 

Complaint Process – File a Citizen’s Complaint:

OSPI has a written formal complaint process for resolving issues of violation of a Title I Federal regulation. If you have a concern with Title I services and/or regulations we encourage you to contact your child’s Title I teaching team, your school’s principal and/or the district’s Title I office (360-676-6542). You can also access the Citizen’s Complaint Process through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in Olympia.  The link below has all of the information for filing a complaint through OSPI.

• Links to OSPI Complaint Process OSPI Website with Citizen’s Complaint Information and Forms
• File a Citizen Complaint Against a School District, ESD or Other School Service Provider:  This page outlines the 5-step process through which a citizen can file a  complaint against a school district, educational service district (ESD) or other school service provider (subgrantee).
• File a Citizen Complaint Against OSPI:  This page outlines the 4-step process through which a citizen can file a complaint against OSPI.

LAP:

State Learning Assistance Program (LAP) funds in the Bellingham Public Schools are used to provide supplemental reading and math services to qualifying students at the elementary, middle and high schools.

Elementary LAP Reading Support:

Each elementary school has a part time reading support specialist who works with students to support their reading development.  The elementary LAP Reading Specialists provide supplemental instruction for striving readers.  The intervention materials used for much of this instruction is Fountas and Pinnell’s  Leveled Literacy Intervention (LLI) curriculum.

Community Partnerships:

LAP funds are also used to support Community Partnerships.  The Bellingham Public Schools – Western Washington University Collective Impact initiative strives to bring together community stakeholders and resources in an effort to bridge opportunity gaps by enhancing support and increasing opportunities for children in our schools.

Middle School & High School LAP Reading Support:

Each middle school also offers the Scholastic’s Read 180 curriculum as a part of their differentiated support for striving readers.  American Reading curriculum is also used in some middle school reading support classes. Read 180 is also currently offered at Squalicum High School.