What are FROG and Title I?

FROG stands for Fluent Reading Our Goal. FROG helps support students to be successful in their classroom and meet challenging state standards. Valparaiso Community Schools provides the FROG program which supports students in kindergarten and first grade with supplemental reading instruction. FROG services are provided in all VCS elementary schools.

Title I is a federal program which also provides services to children who need additional support beyond classroom instruction. Not all Valparaiso schools receive Title I funding. Title I programs are available at Central Elementary, Flint Lake Elementary, Parkview Elementary, and Thomas Jefferson Elementary. In Valpo, our Title I grant is written to support students in grades 2-5 for reading and K-5 for math. Both FROG and Title One programs are used in our Title I schools to support students in K-5 in reading and math.

How does my child qualify for services?

Students are selected to receive services through multiple assessments and teacher observations. For students in grades K-2, the areas assessed include letter recognition, phonemic awareness (letter sounds), initial sounds, segmenting (breaking words into individual sounds), and reading fluency. For students in grades 3-5, the areas assessed include fluency and comprehension. Math assessments include grade-level appropriate skills.

What does a typical day look like?

Students receiving FROG and/or Title I services meet several times a week for small-group instruction where they use research-based interventions. Services may include pull-out for small group instruction in the FROG room and/or "push-in" with the FROG/Title One staff going into the classrooms to work with students. Lessons are pre-planned and focus on skills specific to the child's needs. Groups typically last 30 minutes and students are still involved in direct classroom instruction, recess, and specials (PE, Art, and Music).

What does a school wide Title Program mean?

A school wide Title programs allow us more flexibility with the use of our materials and programs. All students have access to Title materials whether or not they participate in a FROG group.