Oak Grove highlights Title I primary reading program and waiting list

Primary-level staff told the Oak Grove board that Title I funds are used at early childhood and primary levels to provide daily, targeted reading instruction.

Presenters described two reading teachers who run eight small groups of six students each, with sessions of about 35 minutes per day. Staff said they use screeners and progress-monitoring to determine eligibility; i-Ready data was cited as a placement tool. The presenters described the program’s scope and sequence around the five pillars of reading — phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension — and said they provide nightly take-home bags and materials with guidance so parents can support learning at home.

Staff shared last year’s Title I outcomes for the primary: presenters reported first-grade phonemic awareness rising from 62% secure at the start of the year to 100% at exit, and second-grade phonemic awareness improving from 65% to 95% for students who completed the program. The group-size limit is six students; staff said group length was reduced slightly from 40 to 35 minutes to add capacity. Presenters also noted there is a waiting list they estimated at roughly 10–12 students and discussed efforts to encourage families to complete free/reduced lunch or household forms that affect the district’s Title I allocation.

Board members asked whether the building qualifies as a Title I school; staff said the primary does not meet the threshold for a fully funded Title I building and that the district chooses to use its partial allocation at early grades. Staff emphasized that eligibility for the service is academic (based on assessment), while the funding distribution is income-based. The presentation included videos of classroom instruction and examples of parent progress-monitoring materials.