Some schools to lose millions

Twenty-eight Utah school districts — including San Juan, where one-third of students are considered homeless — are expected to lose $1.3 million in federal money to help low-income students achieve, U.S. Department of Education estimates show.

Meanwhile, the other 12 districts, mainly in urban areas, would split just under $6 million in new Title I school funds. Jordan District, the state's largest, would receive more than a third of the largesse.

The push and pull follows an apparent shift in where low-income residents live, according to 2002 U.S. Census poverty estimates. Title I money follows poverty.

The results will vary district to district. Some are happy to boost Title I schools' programs and give them smaller classes. But some of the ones losing money aren't sure what's next.

"I was kind of shocked . . . and disappointed to see we're losing that kind of money," Uintah District curriculum and instruction director Leonard Sullivan said. "I see it as hurting the kids in our district."

Title I money is used for various purposes, from hiring reading specialists to offering more individualized instruction.

Schools receiving Title I funds are scrutinized under No Child Left Behind more than well-to-do schools. NCLB sanctions, including inviting parents to transfer their children to higher-performing schools on the districts' dime, only apply to Title I schools that consistently miss the mark.

Twelve Utah districts are expected to receive more Title I money next school year: Washington, Logan, Cache, Murray, Davis, Wasatch, Granite, Salt Lake, Nebo, Alpine and Provo districts, in addition to Jordan, which will receive the $2.15 million largesse.

Jordan District officials, who two years ago juggled $1.3 million in Title I losses, recommend putting the money into its five Title I schools rather than adding more schools to the program. Doing so offers more stability and other potential cost savings, said Brenda Hales, district executive director over curriculum.

"Sanctions and requirements become more and more costly if you don't make adequate yearly progress" under NCLB in a Title I school, Hales said. The law requires 20 percent of the Title I budget to be set aside for sanctions, she said.

"Rather than have watered-down programs, why not have super programs."

Alpine School District, which would receive an extra $880,000 under the new estimates, has similar plans, said Barry Graff, administrator of K-12 educational services. The district has nine Title I schools that have various programs including extended kindergarten. Some stretch school time to cut reading classes in half.