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District proposes narrowing Title I eligibility to 75% poverty threshold; principals and trustees voice concern
Summary
Federal programs director Pamela Rhodes proposed ending the district’s elementary grade‑band Title I approach and limiting Title I funding to schools with at least 75% pupils in poverty; board members urged caution and asked for scenario modeling.
Pamela Rhodes, the district’s federal programs director, presented proposed changes to how Sumter School District would allocate Title I funds for fiscal 2026 and led a wide-ranging discussion at the Jan. 27 work session.
Rhodes told the board that Title I is intended to help schools with high concentrations of students in poverty meet state academic standards and noted the district currently uses a grade‑band model that allows all elementary schools (K–5) to receive Title I support even if they fall under the 75% pupil‑in‑poverty threshold. Rhodes said the district lost more than $600,000 in Title I funding from the previous year and that federal allocations are uncertain; the presentation said the district was allocated…
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