TITLE I, PART A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), is a federally funded program which provides supplemental support to students in high poverty schools. These funds are used to support schools in Leavenworth, Kansas Public Schools by providing opportunities for students to acquire the knowledge and skills identified in the challenging Kansas College and Career Ready State Standards. Title I, Part A funds provide resources to schools where the needs are the most significant through:

1. Supplemental academic, social-emotional and health supports,
2. Increasing professional development opportunities for staff,
3. Engaging parents in authentic opportunities to participate in their students’ education, and
4. School improvement planning that aligns the instructional focus of each campus to the District’s KESA Goals and Strategic Plan.

Title I Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is a federally funded program which provides additional support to students in high poverty schools. The purpose of Title I is to ensure all children have a fair, equal and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging Kansas College and Career Ready State Standards.

Leavenworth USD 453 believes family and community involvement can make a difference in each child's academic success. The district uses the National Standards for Family Partnerships which are endorsed by the Kansas State Board of Education, as a guide for developing family engagement policies. The six standards are:

1. Welcoming all Families in the School Community
2. Communicating Effectively
3. Supporting Student Success
4. Speaking Up for Every Child
5. Sharing Power
6. Collaborating with Community

TITLE II, PART A, funds are used to provide supplemental activities in Leavenworth Kansas Public Schools that strengthen the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders. The purpose of Title II, Part A is to:

1. Increase student achievement consistent with state standards,
2. Improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders,
3. Increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools, and
4. Provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders.

TITLE III, PART A, provides funding for multilingual services to support Bilingual and English as a Second Language Education in Leavenworth Kansas Public Schools. These alternative language programs are for all students identified as English learners, immigrant, migrant and refugee. The purpose Title III, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), aims to ensure that English learners (ELs) and immigrant students attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English.

Title IV, Part A, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant was reauthorized by (ESSA) the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. Title IV, Part A provides funds to increase the capacity of Leavenworth Kansas Public Schools to meet the following three goals:

1. Provide all students access to a well-rounded education,
2. Improve academic outcomes by maintaining safe and healthy students, and
3. Improve the use of technology to advance student academic achievement.

This notification is provided to inform you of your right to request the following specific information concerning the school and teachers:

Parents may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s/children’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals.

Professional qualifications include:
•    Whether or not the teacher has met Kansas licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas being taught;
•    The baccalaureate degree and any other graduate certification or degree and the field of discipline of both;
•    If services are provided by paraprofessionals, their qualifications;
•    If the teacher is teaching under an emergency or professional waiver.

We are proud to inform our parents that all teachers at our school meet the above criteria. Each one is licensed for the grade levels and subject areas being taught. Each one has a baccalaureate degree and none are teaching under an emergency or provisional waiver. The paraprofessional(s), who work under the direction of the Title I and classroom teachers, meet required qualifications for the position.

A teacher might not yet meet the federal “highly qualified” designation because of one of these reasons:
•    They have moved here from another state and are teaching under provisional status, pending final paperwork from the State of Kansas that certifies they have fulfilled all of the requirements of teaching in Kansas.
•    They are adding an endorsement area, but have completed only a portion of the university coursework required for the new endorsement, and they are teaching courses in the new area under provisional status for which the state has waived licensing criteria while they finish the required coursework.
For those teachers affected by one of these situations, the district and the teacher have an action plan in place to reach “highly qualified” status as soon as possible.

As a parent you will be contacted by administration if your child is taught by a “non-highly qualified” teacher for four continuous weeks or more.

As a parent you have the right to request your child’s state assessment scores.  You have a right to obtain the school and school district state reports cards.  This will be found on the district website once they are available from the state.

The McKinney-Vento Program has proudly served Leavenworth USD 453 students and their families by connecting them to community resources and agencies providing food, clothing, employment, emergency services, housing and utility assistance.

Our dedicated team is committed to meeting students’ basic needs and ensuring they have everything required to be successful. 

If you or someone you know may qualify for protection under the McKinney-Vento Act, please contact Amy Sloan at 913-684-1400. 

What is McKinney-Vento Program?

The McKinney-Vento Act provides rights and services to children and youth experiencing homelessness, which includes those who are: sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; staying in motels, trailer parks, or camp grounds due to the lack of an adequate alternative; staying in shelters or transitional housing; or sleeping in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or similar settings.

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, every local educational agency is required to designate a liaison for homeless children and youth.

Services Offered:

• Transportation to and from school (if applicable)
• Enrollment advocacy
• School supplies, uniforms, books
• Tutoring and counseling
• Referrals for clothes and food
• Hygiene items
• Housing assistance referrals
• Medical and dental vouchers (when available)
• Birth certificate referrals
• Cap and gown fee

Who is eligible for McKinney-Vento services?

A student or family that lives:

• doubled-up with friends or relatives on a temporary basis
• in a park, motel or campground
• in a shelter
• in a vehicle
• on a street
• as a runaway

A McKinney-Vento student has the right to:

• Attend their school of origin (known as the “home school”) or the school for the area where the student currently lives.
• Immediately enroll in school without providing documents, including proof of residency.
  • (Schools MUST permit you to enroll, even if you do not have these documents.)

They have 30 days to provide the following:

• • Birth certificates
  • Immunization records
  • Physicals (as needed)
  • Notarized forms
• Free lunch beginning first day
• Transportation to and from school (if applicable)
• Participate in tutoring and other school-related activities
• Referrals for uniforms, medical aid and food assistance

How You Can Help:

• Donate school supplies, gift cards, hygiene products, clothing, etc.
• Provide financial assistance to pay for housing, cap and gown fees, etc.
• Set-up fundraising events

 Additional Information on McKinney Vento Federal Law and Policies.