Fremont qualifies for federal program

Fremont Elementary School this year will be designated a Title I school, a program aimed at giving extra funds to disadvantaged students, Associate Superintendent Susan Keema told Carson City School Board members Tuesday.

To qualify, schools must have more students receiving free and reduced-rate lunches than the district average.

In 2006, 47 percent of the students at Fremont were receiving free or reduced lunch service. This year, 51 percent of students qualify.

"We just saw a need to put our resources to that school," Keema said.

Keema said the district applied for a grant to fund after-school and intersession programs at the school but did not receive funding.

As a Title I school, Fremont will receive additional funding and programs to support education.

"More than 50,000 public schools across the country use Title I funds to provide additional academic support and learning opportunities to help low-achieving children master challenging curricula and meet state standards in core academic subjects," according to the Web site for the U.S. Department of Education. "For example, funds support extra instruction in reading and mathematics, as well as special preschool, after-school and summer programs to extend and reinforce the regular school curriculum."

Title I schools, however, face additional sanctions under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Because the school failed to meet adequate yearly progress for five years in English and three years in math, it becomes a "choice" school.

Parents can choose to send children to either Fritsch or Bordewich-Bray elementary schools if they wish. The school district must provide transportation.

Keema said a school's status under No Child Left Behind isn't necessarily a reflection of its quality.

"We feel like we've got really good schools," she said.

Other Title I district elementary schools are Empire, Bordewich-Bray and Mark Twain.