Greater Commonwealth Virtual School and Title I

Greater Commonwealth Virtual School (GCVS) is a Title I school, which places certain obligations on both the school and its families. A school is designated as Title I if at least 40% of its students come from low-income households. The Federal government provides additional funding to these schools to ensure that students who are most at risk of failing to meet the State’s challenging content and performance standards are provided the support they need. This support gives schools the tools to improve student achievement, staff development, and encourage parent involvement.

What will Title I do for my child?

The GCVS Title I program provides remedial and early intervention academic support in reading and mathematics, provided by highly qualified teachers, specialists, and tutors. Students work throughout the day with their classroom teachers and Title I specialists and may receive one or more of the following academic interventions:

  • One-on-one academic support
  • Small group support focused on:
    • Foundational skill building
    • General curriculum support
    • General classroom support

Title I Compacts

As a Title I school, we are required to complete a compact with the families of students who attend GCVS. A compact is a shared agreement between the school, its teachers, our students, and their families. Below is an explanation as to how families, school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improving student academic achievement and the means by which the school and families will build and develop a partnership that will help students achieve the State’s high standards.

GCVS Will Provide:
  • High-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the participating students to meet the state’s student academic achievement standards.
  • Opportunities for family/guardian-teacher conferences.
  • Regular reports to families/guardians on their students’ progress.
  • Accessible forms of communication with staff for families/guardians.
  • Opportunities for families/guardians to volunteer and participate in their student’s classes, and to observe classroom activities.
  • Organized, ongoing, and timely systems for families/guardians to be actively involved in the planning, implementation, and review of programs, including but not limited to family engagement policies and the development of any schoolwide program plans.
  • At least one annual meeting of learning coaches annually at a convenient time and location, offering multiple meetings and opportunities for multiple languages, if necessary, at which the school will inform learning coaches/families/guardians of the school’s participation in Title I and the requirements of Title I, including family engagement requirements.
  • Information to families/guardians of participating students in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats, upon the request of families/guardians with disabilities, and, to the extent practicable, in a language families/guardians can understand.
  • Information to families/guardians of participating students about Title I, Part A programs that include a description and explanation of the school’s curriculum, the forms of academic assessment used to measure students’ progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet.
  • Opportunities for regular meetings for families/guardians to formulate suggestions and to participate, as appropriate, in decisions about the education of their students. The school will respond to any such suggestions as soon as feasible.
  • Individual student performance reports to each family/guardian about the performance of their student on the state MCAS assessments in at least mathematics and English language arts/reading.
  • Timely notice to each family/guardian when their student has been assigned or has been taught for four (4) or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who has not met state licensure requirements.

Family Responsibilities

Learning Coaches and Families Will:
  • Ensure regular student attendance
  • Track and support the completion of assignments
  • Prepare the student for required assessments, such as MCAS and Star 360
  • Volunteer to support their student’s school and/or classroom
  • Participate in decisions related to their student’s education
  • Stay informed by promptly addressing all notices from the school or the school district and responding, as appropriate
Students Will:
  • Attend classes consistently
  • Complete assignments and ask for help when needed
  • Participate in all required assessments (MCAS, Star 360)
  • Share all notices and information from the school with their learning coach

When a student enrolls with GCVS, the learning coach is required to sign the learning coach contract.

Parents' Rights: Did you know…..?
  • You have the right to know the qualifications of your child’s teacher.
  • You have the right to know the qualifications of the substitute teacher when your child has a substitute for more than four weeks.
  • You have the right to know how the school is rated based on the Massachusetts MCAS tests.
  • You have a right to understand the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and Standards, the MCAS Assessment Program, and your child’s test scores.
  • You have the right to expect regular communication with your school in a language that you understand.
  • You have a right to work with other parents, teachers, and the principal in developing an action plan for the school – School Improvement Plan.
  • You have the right, if your child’s school is in Corrective Action because they haven’t met the state and district student achievement goal, to transfer your child to a higher performing school with transportation provided.
  • You have the right, if your child’s school has not made their student achievement goals for two consecutive years, to enroll your student in free tutoring classes.
  • You have the right to ask for a meeting with the principal or your child’s teacher or Title I teacher.
  • You have the right to volunteer at the school.
  • You have the right to join your school’s PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) and the school council to learn more about the school.