There is a direct correlation between child poverty and school test scores in Rutherford County, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Education and 2015 American Communities Survey.
As the chart shows, the majority of school districts in which students have low or “below basic” test scores are high poverty districts.
School districts in low poverty areas therefore make up the minority of the test scores below average.
This holds true across all three testing categories: reading, science and math.
One of the ways in which the Rutherford County Board of Education is working to tackle this issue is with the help of Title I funds for county schools.
To determine who qualifies for funding, at least 40 percent of a school’s student body must receive free or reduced lunches, according to Laura Schofield, Title I facilitator of staff development for Rutherford County.
There are eight elementary schools and two middle schools in Rutherford County receiving Title I funds: Cedar Grove Elementary, Smyrna Elementary, Smyrna Primary, LaVergne Primary, LaVergne Lake Elementary, Roy Waldron Elementary, John Colemon Elementary, Kittrell, Smyrna Middle School and LaVergne Middle School.
Although there are no high schools currently receiving Title I funds, Schofield said if any school reaches 75 percent or more of its students receiving free or reduced lunches, that school must be served Title I funds under state law.
Once a school has Title I funds, it is entirely up to its directors and principals how that money is spent, Schofield said. Schools spend this money on anything from extra staff to new technology.
Schofield said that most of Rutherford County schools use the extra money to hire new staff and teachers.
However, Schofield noted parent training and workshops as one of the more effective ways in which she has seen schools spend the Title I funds.
“The typical thinking is…when we can increase parent engagement in schools, it also increases academic achievement.”
Title I schools in Rutherford County must spend at least one percent of their budget on programs for parents, Schofield said. She continued that the Title I department may guide schools in other ways to use the money as well, but parent-focused programs have become a key focus.
Roy Waldron Elementary School in Smyrna hosts six to 10 events for parents each year, according to Jennifer King, the school’s assistant principal. These events are centered around helping parents understand what their children are learning and how to create a learning environment at home, King said.
Although Schofield is confident in how well the parenting programs have succeeded, she stands behind the concept of people versus programs.
“We think nothing can replace a human…that can sit across a table and work with children in small groups.”
King emphasized the importance of people over programs as well; Roy Waldron Elementary has staff solely dedicated to recognizing and helping the students’ needs that go beyond academia.
“I can name academic programs we use and that have shown success, but we have learned that until we address the physical and emotional needs of our students, the academic success will be limited.”
Sydney Wagner 