Did you know that Carl Cozier Elementary School is a Title I school? Title I federal funding is allocated to schools based on the number of students who receive free or reduced school lunches. We are one of five schools in Bellingham that receive this funding. Title I funds at our school pay for our outstanding K-5 literacy intervention programs to support students who need extra help learning to read and write with proficiency. The salaries of our literacy intervention teachers, Jodi Kinzel, Jennifer Trople, Michelle Mitchell and Lisa D’Hondt, as well as instructional assistant time from Caytie Cuniff, Stacey Major and Barb Walker, come from this funding.

Title I funds also pay for math intervention support to help students grow as mathematicians. Our math interventionist is John Kane-Ronning. Additionally, Title 1 funds help support behavior intervention programs and provide funds for our full-time Dean of Students, Carissa Jangard.

Throughout the year, we use Title I resources to support our school improvement plans. If your child qualifies for or exits from Title I intervention support, our Title I staff send written notification. These programs include small group instruction with programs such as Leveled Literacy Intervention, Barton, and Wilson. Math intervention is also small group instruction using support materials from our adopted curriculum, Bridges Math. Behavior interventions include small group work that focuses on specific social-emotional competencies to build problem-solving skills.

If you have any questions about this wonderful program or would like to request a meeting, please call 360-676-6410.

Kind Regards,

Arionda Feeney, M.Ed., NBCT

Principal

Teacher and Paraprofessional Qualifications: In compliance with the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Carl Cozier Elementary School would like to inform you that you may request information about the professional qualifications of your student’s teacher(s) or instructional paraprofessional(s).

A. The following information may be requested for teacher(s):

1. Whether the teacher has met Washington teacher certification requirements for the grade level and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.
   
2. Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency or other provisional status through which Washington qualifications or certification criteria have been waived.
   
3. The college major and any graduate certification or degree held by the teacher.
   
4. Whether the student is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications.
   

B. The following information may be requested for instructional paraprofessional(s):

Paraeducators that work in schools that operate a Title I, Part A program must have a high school diploma or GED and completed the following:

1. Completed at least two years of study at an institution of higher education; or
   
2. Obtained an associate’s or higher degree; or
   
3. Pass the ETS ParaPro Assessment. The assessment measures skills, and content knowledge related to reading, writing and math;
   
4. Completed previously the apprenticeship requirements and must present a journeycard or certificate. The portfolio and apprenticeships are no longer offered for enrollment; however, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will continue to honor this pathway.
   

It is a requirement that we inform families of the formal complaint process for resolving issues of violation of a Title I Federal regulation. If you have a concern with Title I services and/or regulations we encourage you to contact your child's Title I teaching team, your school's principal and/or the district's Title I office (676-6542). You can also access the Citizen's Complaint Process through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in Olympia.

Forms are available in the office and the links below have all of the information for filing a complaint through OSPI. Information can be found at http://www.k12.wa.us/TitleI/CitizenComplaint.aspx

View our Family Partnership Promise below.

We value your input! As a parent of a child who received Title I services in our school, you have the right to give input about our parent engagement policies and activities. Attached is our school’s Family Partnership Promise. You also received a copy at your November conference.

Please let us know what you think! What do you like about it? What would you like to see changed? What would you like us to consider adding?

Send your comments and input with your child to school or email Principal Arionda Feeney at Arionda.Feeney@bellinghamschools.org