Cheltenham outlines $8.81 million Title I allocation; funds to support reading specialists, class-size reduction and family engagement

Dr. Charlene Collins presented the district's federal program submission for the 2025'26 school year to the Educational Affairs Committee, detailing allocations and proposed uses for Title I, II, III and IV funds.

Dr. Collins said the district's Title I allocation for 2025'26 is $8,814,228, an increase of $63,638 from the previous year. Identified Title I schools include Cheltenham Elementary and Myers Elementary; Cheltenham High School will be identified for targeted-assistance programming, meaning select students will receive support based on student-level data. Dr. Collins said the funds are intended to accelerate learning for students performing below grade level while minimizing removal from core instruction: elementary supports occur during "win" time and high-school supports are delivered through reading-support classes and targeted pull-in services.

Dr. Collins said a significant portion of the Title I budget will fund salaries for reading and math specialists at the elementary schools and one reading specialist at the high school. She emphasized that the specialists are district employees and that, while their positions are supplemented by Title I funds, they are part of the district staffing structure and would be affected if funding changed. Other Title I line items described included supplies (listed at $24,000), a restored Beyond the Bell program ($72,000) to provide additional literacy and math supports (and ELL services), professional development for staff at Title I schools, parent and family engagement activities ($10,000 allocated across three buildings), a small allocation for nonpublic school students (reported in the packet) and a line to support homeless students.

Dr. Collins explained that Title I funding rules generally require that most funds be used at the building level and that the district will host parent meetings at each Title I building to seek feedback and review progress. She also said the district is in a consortium with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) for Title III (English learners and immigrant students); Cheltenham's Title III allocation is $26,345 and the consortium provides PD, instructional resources (example: Lexia for ELL) and a small local allocation for district needs.

Title II funding for 2025'26 was listed as $135,252 (an increase of $11,055). The district reported using Title II funds to support class-size reduction; this year the funds will be used to reduce third-grade class sizes at Cheltenham and Myers Elementary Schools. The district said it would transfer $55,960 from Title IV into Title II to support the class-size work. The Title II nonpublic allocation was shown as $29,637.84 and is determined by enrollment at nonpublic schools located in the township.

Committee members asked how Title-funded specialists interact with the district's MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports). Dr. Collins said the reading and intervention specialists are integrated into tier 2 and tier 3 supports: specialists participate in ongoing progress monitoring, support students identified for intensive interventions and may work with students beyond those explicitly identified as Title I if the district-level needs require it.

Board members also asked about nonpublic allocations. Dr. Collins explained that some federal allocations to nonpublic schools are calculated by the nonpublic schools'enrollment within the district; for Title I, students who would have been served at district Title I schools may be eligible for services if they attend a nonpublic school and meet eligibility criteria. The district contracts with MCIU for services to nonpublic students, and Dr. Collins said nonpublic allocations are calculated automatically by the federal reporting tool.

No formal vote occurred; the presentation was informational. Staff said they will continue to meet with building leaders and parents to implement Title-funded programs and will return with monitoring reports as required by federal program rules.