Lake Anne Elementary School Loses Title I Funding

Lake Anne Elementary School has lost its Title I funding due to recent changes in the structure of the federal program, which was established by the U.S. Department of Education.

If a school has more than 75 percent or more students with eligibility for free and reduced meals, the program creates funding opportunities. Each local school district sets eligibility requirements.

This year, Fairfax County Public Schools increased the threshold from 40 percent of students eligible for free and reduced meals to 45 percent. The decision was due to “fluctuations in funding and increasing costs of programs and other supports,” according to a Wednesday statement by principal Jill Stewart.

In an email to parents, Stewart wrote that the loss of funding is expected to have a “minimal impact” on the school community. She noted that the school thoughtfully invested its funds in resources with longterm benefits for students, including:

• diversified and increased our novel units for literacy instruction
• expanded our leveled readers that are used for guided reading instruction across grade levels
• purchased additional laptops for students
• enabled us to purchase math manipulatives that provide concrete examples of math concepts
• refined and expanded the instructional practices of our teachers
• funded staff members participation in Title I professional development
• attended a conference with Virginia Department of Education to learn more about family engagement practices
• allowed Title I specialists to train our teachers and in our school

The school plans to discuss the funding change at a Parent Teacher Administration meeting tomorrow (Thursday) at 7 p.m.

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