By DR. ROBERT McDANIEL

By DR. ROBERT McDANIEL

\»M. Superintrndent of School*

Educational activities are„ in full swing in Rappahannock County’s Title 1 classrooms and labs. Approximately 218 students are actively involved in grades one through twelve. Letters went out the first week of school to parents of all elementary students referred to the Title 1 program as a result of their former school progress andor scores on achievement tests. Parents were asked to return the forms indicating whether they would like for their son or daughter to participate in the Title 1 program. Only one parent indicated her desire to keep her child out of the program. Her wish was immediately granted. Several parents contacted the schools with questions about the programs and after these questions were answered, all decided to place their children in some aspect of the program. As additional students are referred during the year, the same parent consent procedure will be followed.

At the high school, parents are involved in the process as the student's schedule card is developed jointly by the guidance department, parent and student.

Title I. a federally funded activity, is designed specifically for those student's, who for various reasons, have fallen behind their peers in math and-or reading. A brief description of the Title I offerings in Rappahannock County follows:

New to Rappahannock County this year is the Transitional Readiness Class with Miss Barbara O'Byrne, a newcomer from Maryland, at the helm. Assisted by Mrs. Julia Atkins. Miss O’Byrne works with twenty (20) first grade students utilizing reading and math programs designed specifically for youngsters who need additional readiness activities. It is anticipated that many of these students will advance into the regular reading text (Benchmark Series) before the end of the school term. Miss O'Byrne, although utilizing Title 1 materials and having the assistance of a Title I aide, is paid through local funds.

At the second grade level, forty-two students are involved in the Open Court program. Open Court, a reading program instituted in the 1976-77 term as a replacement for the highly structured and controversial Distar program, will be phased out at the end of this school term. The only Title 1 funds being expended this year on this program is for workbooks and the salary of an aide shared by the two teachers Mrs. Beatrice Austin and Miss Linda Wallace. Mrs. Austin and Miss Wallace are being paid (as in the entire life of this program) by local funds.

Another new aspect of Title 1 this year is the Primary Resource Reading Laboratory, Grades 1-3. Miss Judy Sweetland, recently imported from Colorado, is currently accepting referrals from second and third grade teachers. Priority will be given to third graders who have no other Title 1 remediation option. Referrals will be accepted from first grade teachers after the third