• To promote and facilitate communication and cooperation among Title I education and management specialists throughout the state
  

• To provide an opportunity for Title I directors to discuss, propose, and take action on education issues that impact school districts in Illinois
  

• To bring together and stimulate the development of the most effective and efficient programs
  

• To make available a pool of human and technical resources that may be drawn upon by all school districts;
  

• To inform members and concerned groups about legislation that would impact compensatory education under Title I
  

• To promote and provide for continuous in-service training for members, staff, and parents.

The Illinois Association of Title I Directors began in 1980 in Little Rock, Arkansas. While attending the National Title I Regional Workshop for Parent Involvement on June 11 - 13, nine directors of large Title I projects met informally to discuss the possibility of forming a large district director's organization. Of particular interest to the group was political action, since there was a federal movement at that time to eliminate Title I and other grants.

The original Planning Committee consisted of: Gene Alston (Alton), Joe Burnett (Kankakee), Gilbert Deimel (Springfield), Edna Horne (Rantoul), Jeanne A. Nelson (Peoria), W. Frank Perry (Chicago), Marge Stillwell (Champaign), Mary Williams (Mattoon), and Agnita Wright (Decatur).

An invitation was extended to all directors of a $100,000 or greater project to attend a meeting on September 23, 1980. At that meeting it was decided to form the organization, Association of Title I Directors in Illinois. A second meeting was held on November 21, 1980, and officers were elected in late December. On January 30, 1981, Gil Deimel presided at the first official meeting of the Association. By-Laws were adopted on April 8, 1981, and membership was opened to any director interested in joining.

Who are we today? Professional staff at the LEA level that administers the Title I Program, or who write the application, or who have a part in the planning and implementation of the Title I Program.