Adan Garca, a presenter for the Alisal Union Parent Advisory Committee, outlined the district's Title I program and the ways federal funds are distributed to schools, saying the district uses the state''s California Dashboard to guide spending and priorities. "Title I is for K-12 students in schools with a high percentage of economic disadvantage," he said, describing parent rights and the parent-school-district compact.

Why it matters: Title I funds are a federal resource meant to supplement school efforts to help students meet state standards. How the district directs those funds affects classroom interventions, parent trainings and supports for English learners.

Garca described the program's goals — boosting academic achievement, training teachers, offering parent workshops — and explained allocations are tied to each school's share of eligible students. He emphasized that Title I funds "supplement, not supplant" general funds. During the presentation staff cited the district-level Title I allocation as "1,657,197.21" and said $28,851 was set aside for parent education and involvement.

Presenters reviewed the California Dashboard metrics that the state uses to rate schools and districts by color bands. A district director (identified in the meeting as Pili) said Alisal Union remains in the orange band for English language arts, noting the district was about "55.6 points below the standard" on that measure but had small gains that kept the color from dropping. Staff highlighted mixed results across mathematics, English learner progress and science (the state's newly reported measure).

Staff asked parents to help set priorities: proposed uses of Title I money include targeted interventions for students not meeting grade-level standards, parent workshops to explain classroom instruction, and supports for socioemotional learning. Garca described a brief group activity for parents to recommend ways the district could increase parent involvement and build parent capacity to help students academically and emotionally.

What's next: Staff said results and parent input will inform the district's annual Title I plans and school-level spending. Parents were encouraged to complete nomination forms and to review district materials available in both English and Spanish.

Sources: Presentation and figures delivered during the Alisal Union parent advisory meeting; direct statements included were made by Adan Garca and a director identified as Pili.

The meeting closed after announcements about a superintendent meet-and-greet and a district communication survey.