Title I Programs
Santiago STEAM Magnet Elementary School receives additional funds from the state for school improvement in the form of Title I funds. Additional funds give representative staff members and parents an opportunity to work together to plan educational objectives that support the academic program.
The School Site Council is a group of teachers, parents, and classified employees that work with the principal to develop, review and evaluate school improvement programs and school budgets. Our School Site Council has selected a variety of programs aimed at improving student academic achievement. The School Site Council (SSC) representation changes annually and new parent members are actively recruited.
Below, is a listing and description of several programs chosen to boost academic achievement. Some of these programs are available to all students, while others are aimed specifically at English Learners. The Council aims to direct 50% of funds to programs that benefit all students, and 50% of funds to programs that assist English Learners. Most of the items listed below are used in all classrooms to benefit all students.
Growth Mindset – In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits that they are just born with. In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work and that intelligence and talent can grow through practice and learning. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Scientific research findings about the brain’s malleability have shown that, just as people can get stronger by working out their muscles, anyone who works out their brain through learning can get smarter. For example, 7th graders who were taught that intelligence is malleable and shown how the brain grows with effort showed a clear increase in math grades. Studies on different kinds of praise have shown that telling children they are smart encourages a fixed mindset, whereas praising hard work and effort cultivates a growth mindset.
Bloomz – Social Media Mobile App used to create an online community for Parents, Teachers, and Staff. Teachers and staff are able to send out instant notifications and reminders to parents in multiple languages.
Digital Citizenship – Whether it’s cyberbullying, students divulging too much personal information online, or online issues creating classroom-management issues, schools across the globe are navigating the behavioral and social issues that stem from students’ online lives. To help students harness technology for learning, Santiago is working to implement this program to help students learn how to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly with technology.
System 44/Read 180 – System 44 Next Generation is a reading program for the most challenged readers in Grades 3–12+. System 44 is proven to help students master the reading skills required for success with the new standards, college, and career through explicit instruction in phonics, comprehension, and writing. READ 180 provides a personalized learning experience for students in Grades 4–12+ reading two or more years below grade level. The Read 180 and System 44 intervention programs have been implemented for grades four through six grade as another instructional tool for students that are struggling in certain components of language arts and specifically reading.
Read Naturally – Most English Language Learners (ELL) also face the difficult tasks of learning to read English, learning to speak it, and learning about a new culture. Because of these challenges, ELL students need additional support in three areas while learning to read English fluently: English language skills, vocabulary, and general background knowledge. Read Naturally Strategy programs are well-suited to provide this extra support.
ST Math – Created by MIND Research Institute, ST Math is game-based instructional software for K-12 and is designed to boost math comprehension and proficiency through visual learning. MIND’s approach consists of language-independent, animated representations of math concepts delivered via the Spatial-Temporal (ST) Math® software games.