Our Title I Schools
In Dorchester School District Two, Title I funds are allocated to elementary and middle schools where at least 40% of the student population qualifies under the poverty index.
- Alston-Bailey Elementary
- Alston Middle
- Dubose Middle
- Eagle Nest Elementary
- Flowertown Elementary
- Ft Dorchester Elementary
- Gregg Middle
- Joseph Pye Elementary
- Knightsville Elementary
- Newington Elementary
- Oakbrook Elementary
- Oakbrook Middle
- River Oaks Middle
- Sires Elementary
- Summerville Elementary
- William Reeves Elementary
- Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary
Dorchester District Two monitors the implementation of its Title I plan and welcomes input from parents regarding current and future Title I plans. If you have comments or suggestions, contact the Office of Federal and State Programs. A response to any suggestions or concerns will be provided in a timely manner.
Leading the way, every student, every day, through relationships, relevance, and rigor.
Parent‘s Rights
- To receive a description of your school’s Title I services and curriculum
- To provide feedback, suggestions, and ideas into the development of the Title I plan and Parent Involvement Policy
- To receive information in an understandable format and to the extent feasible in a language you understand
- To conference with your child’s teacher at a time convenient for you and to have your student’s annual test results explained to you
- To receive a copy of both the school’s and district’s Title I Parent Involvement Policy
- To attend an annual Title I parent meeting
- To receive written notice if your child’s school becomes a Priority or Focus School
- To receive training in how to help your child succeed academically through monthly workshops offered at various times and on a variety of days
- To receive information on the professional qualifications of the staff teaching your child
- To receive written notice if your child has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by an inexperienced, out of field, or ineffective teacher
Staff information can be obtained through your school.
Complaint Resolution Procedures
Organizations or individuals may file a complaint alleging the state or school district is violating a federal statue or regulation that applies to federal programs. A copy of the complaint procedure is available at all Title I schools or may be obtained by contacting the Dorchester School District Two Office of Federal and State Programs.
ddtwo.org/district/departments/federal-programs
Dorchester School District Two
Chad Daugherty, Superintendent
2026-2027
Teresa Kelly, Chief of Federal and State Programs
Alyssa Liles, Title 1 and Parent & Family Engagement Coordinator
815 S. Main Street Summerville, SC 29483
843-873-2901
Revised April 2026
Distributed August 2026
What is Title I?
Title I is:
- funded with Federal monies
- authorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
- used to provide opportunities for all students, particularly those who are low-achieving and educationally disadvantaged, to meet proficient and advanced levels of performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics
- used to enrich the regular academic program(s) based on research and effective practices
- a strong promoter and supporter of Parent Engagement
- a promoter of including teachers in decisions regarding curriculum and assessment
District Wide Expenditures
To assist in reaching the “Every Student Succeeds” goal of have all students meet the state’s high levels of student achievement, the activities listed below are included in the District’s Title I Plan:
- Provide ongoing high-quality professional development
- Support (4) Parent & Family Engagement Centers
- Provide opportunities for tutoring outside of normal school hours
- Fund the salaries/benefits for the Chief of Federal and State Programs, the Coordinator of Title I and Parent & Family Engagement, 2 Federal Programs Specialists to assist schools with fulfilling program planning, implementation, and ESSA legislative requirements
- Fund portions of the school Facilitator’s salary to ensure implementation of Title I activities and Title I compliance
- Provide assistance for Homeless students
Parent Involvement Policy
Dorchester School District Two (DDTwo) works closely with parents and families to support student success. Together, we create and share a district Parent and Family Engagement Policy that explains how families can be involved in their child’s education.
DD2 involves parents in the development of the district’s Title I Plan, Parent and Family Engagement Policy, and in the process of school renewal and improvement:
- At the district and school levels parent participation is sought in various committees and groups including, SIC, PTA, Title I Planning Teams, Parent Advisory Council, and Business Partner Liaisons.
- The district and schools hold annual meetings to review and seek parental, community, and educator input regarding Tile I programing, the plan, and the Parent and Family Engagement Policy
- Summaries and complete copies of the district and school Title I Plans are available upon request at the District Office and at each school site
DD2 provides coordination, technical assistance, and support to schools for effective parent involvement and engagement:
- DD2 requires each Title I school to expend Title I funds for parent engagement activities and trainings
- Each Title I school is annually provided with the District's Parent Information Brochure for distribution to parents that includes the parent notification requirements of the Every Student Succeeds legislation
- DD2 supports each Title I school as they provide information related to school and parent programs, meetings, and other activities in a format and language parents can understand. DD2 provides translations of written documents and translators to schools upon request.
- The district annually provides in-service training and materials to school facilitators on implementing effective parent involvement activities
DD2 builds the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement:
- Opportunities for parent training and involvement/engagement activities are sponsored monthly and are to be held at different times during the day and on different days of the week. The focus may be literacy, math, technology, or parenting
- Childcare/ student activities may be available while adults are participating in the training/meeting
- Volunteer programs are encouraged at each school.
- Parents are encouraged to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their child. Parents are invited and encouraged to be an active part of the Student Support Team focused on supporting their struggling student, if applicable.
- Parent-teacher conferences are held with all parents annually at a time that is convenient for parents. Ongoing communication with parents is supported.
- DD2 supports schools when providing a description and explanation of the curriculum and assessments in use. Student proficiency levels are explained. This is accomplished through school meetings, newsletters, student handbooks, and school report cards.
- Parents may always request additional support in the education of their child.
- Schools and families have access to (4) district Parent and Family Engagement Centers that contain resources to be used by parents to enhance their ability to work with their children.
- DD2 supports school-provided opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency and with disabilities in school-wide initiatives.
- Spanish translators are directly available along with web-based translators for all languages.
- ParentSquare (district-supported communication system) is available in each school for messages and reminders to parents.
DD2 ensures seamless coordination and integration of parental involvement/engagement across Title I programs and other initiatives:
- DD2 supports each school’s Title I facilitator or administrator who coordinates the parent and family engagement activities and trainings. DD2's Public Relations Department is the contact for Business Partners, PTA’s, SIC’s, and Volunteers.
DD2 will involve parents in the annual evaluation of the content and the effectiveness of the Parent Involvement Policy:
- Each Spring the district surveys the parents of each Title I school regarding the Parent Involvement Policy and activities. The findings are used to design strategies for more effective parent involvement and for the revision of the school and district parental involvement polices.
- Each Spring, parent committees evaluate the policy’s effectiveness and barriers to parent participation are addressed.
DD2 supports schools as they develop a Principal-Teacher–Parent–Student Compact:
- Written agreement between the Principal, parent and student that identifies the activities each stakeholder will share in being responsible for improved student achievement and student success. Completed at the beginning of the year and for any new student who enrolls during the year. The compacts are kept on file with the Title I Facilitator.
- This is to be reviewed by parents and families each year and updated/changed accordingly
The Parent Involvement Policy is annually reviewed by the school’s and district’s Title I Committees.
If you have comments or suggestions regarding this existing policy, please contact a member of your school’s administrative team or the Office of Federal and State Programs at 843-873-2901. This policy reflects stakeholder input from the 2025/2026 school year.
Curriculum and Assessments
Dorchester District Two Schools implement a high-quality, standards-based, curriculum that is approved by the South Carolina Board of Education.
Textbooks used in the classrooms have been reviewed by a committee of teachers and adopted and endorsed by the State Department of Education. Specific educational programs in each school are targeted to meet the identified needs of the children in the school. Dorchester District Two administers a variety of standardized assessments to its students. State Assessments are given to students in grades three through eight and measures student performance on the state standards. High school students are also given state assessments to measure students’ academic achievement on high school academic standards. For ongoing monitoring of student progress, all students are given teacher-prepared assessments. If requested by parent, opportunities for regular meetings to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their student, and schools must respond to any suggestions as soon as practically possible.
