Welcome to Federal Programs

Title I, the cornerstone of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, is the largest federal education program.  Many of the major requirements in NCLB are outlined in Title I - Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), teacher and paraprofessional requirements, accountability, sanctions for schools designated for improvement, standards and assessments, annual state report cards, professional development, and parent involvement.  On this site you will find basic Title I facts and lists of Title I schools.  For additional Title I information you may consider visiting the U. S. Department of Education website.

The Department of Federal Programs is comprised of various programs, some of these programs are financed through federal funding and other programs may be financed through state and grant funds.  One purpose of Federal Programs is to increase academic achievement by improving teacher and principal quality.  This program is carried out by: increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in classrooms; improving the skills of principals and assistance principals in schools; and by increasing the effectiveness of teachers and principals by holding LEAs (Local Education Agency) and schools accountable for improvements in student academic achievement. 

The staff of Federal Programs is committed to the academic success of all students from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Class Reduction Size

Class Size Reduction (CSR) is a reform strategy that is used at the state and national levels. Federal funds available for CSR is based on research that shows positive outcomes for early grade levels. CSR increases the available instructional time between the teacher and student while reducing the student-to-student interaction. Teachers also spend less time on classroom management and more time on classroom instruction which should enhance student performance. Covington County Schools goal with CSR funds is to reduce the number of students in some classes to twenty or fewer students. We currently have three teachers paid with CSR funds. For more information about CSR please contact Covington County Schools.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she turns 18 years of age or enters a postsecondary educational institution at any age. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students."

Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.

Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school amend education records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student's education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):

School officials with legitimate educational interest;
Other schools to which a student is transferring;
Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
Accrediting organizations;
To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. Schools will notify parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools will notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA which may be by special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article.

Parents have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education regarding the alleged violation of FERPA. The Family Policy Compliance Office may be contacted at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

PPRA affords parents and students who are 18 or emancipated minors ("eligible students") certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:

Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas-

• Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student's parent;
  
• Mental or psychological problems of the student or student's family;
  
• Sex behavior or attitudes;
  
• Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
  
• Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
  
• Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, or ministers;
  
• Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student's parent; or 
  
• Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of-

• Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
  
• Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
  
• Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

Inspect, upon request and before administration or use -

• Protected information surveys of students;
  
• Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
  
• Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

Covington County Schools will develop and adopt policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. Covington County Schools will directly notify parents and eligible students of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Covington County Schools will also directly notify parents and eligible students at least annually at the start of each school year of the specific or approximate dates of the following activities and provide an opportunity to opt a student out of participating in:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
  
• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening.
  
• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Education.
  

Parents/eligible students who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-5920