1. Equitable Services to Private Schools Series
Benefits & Services to Private School Students & Teachers

2. Keith Woodruff Equitable Services and Charter Schools Coordinator Consolidated Planning & Monitoring (615)

3. Agenda

4. Agenda Background and Overview Title VIII, Part E Uniform Provisions
Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs)
Title I, Part C (Education of Migratory Children)
Title II, Part A (Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-quality Teachers, Principals, and Other School Leaders)
Title III, Part A (Language Instruction For English Learners and Immigrant Students)
Title IV, Part A (Student Support & Academic Enrichment)
Title IV, Part B (21st CCLC)

5. Background and Overview

6. Background and Overview
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires districts to provide for the equitable participation of private school students, teachers and, in some cases, parents and other education personnel in some of the major programs.

7. ESEA Programs Requiring Equitable Participation
Title I - Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs (Part A)
Education of Migratory Children (Part C)

8. ESEA Programs Requiring Equitable Participation
Title II – Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-quality Teachers, Principals, and Other School Leaders
Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants (Part A)

9. ESEA Programs Requiring Equitable Participation
Title III - Language Instruction for EL and Immigrant Students
Language Instruction For English Learners and Immigrant Students (Part A)
Title IV – 21st Century Schools
Student Support & Academic Enrichment (Part A)
21st Century Community Learning Centers (Part B)

10. Types of Federal Grants
Formula Grants
Predetermined formula
Non-competitive
Most grants are awarded to State Education Agency (SEA)
Discretionary Grants
Competitive grants to SEAs, districts, and/or other eligible entities
Department has discretion in determining who receives the grant

11. Title VIII, Part E Uniform Provisions

12. Programs Requiring Equitable Services
Covered Programs
Title I, Part A (Improving Basic Programs)
Title I, Part C (Education of Migratory Children)
Title II, A (Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-quality Teachers, Principals, and Other School Leaders)
Title III, A (Language Instruction For English Learners and Immigrant Students)
Title IV, A (Student Support & Academic Enrichment)
Title IV, B (21st Century Community Learning Centers)

13. Equitable Services Requirements
Districts are required to:
engage in timely and meaningful consultation with private school officials; and
provide private school students and teachers with an opportunity to participate in activities equivalent to the opportunity provided to public school students and teachers.

14. Equitable Services Requirements
Additionally, districts are required to:
assess and address the needs of private school students and teachers;
provide benefits and services that meet the needs of private school students and teachers; and
spend an equal amount of funds per student to provide services.

15. Eligible Students
Private school students, enrolled in nonprofit private elementary and secondary schools, including those in religiously affiliated schools, located in the district, are generally eligible to receive services from that district.
Some ESEA programs restrict eligibility or participation to a particular group of students, in which case the eligibility or participation of private school students likewise is restricted.
A private school student’s residency is not a factor, even if the student resides in a district and/or state that is different form the district and/or state in which the private school is located.

16. Consultation
Timely and meaningful consultation between the district and private school officials during the design and development of the services is required on such issues as:
how the children’s needs will be identified;
what services will be offered; and
how and where the services will be provided.

17. Consultation Additionally, consultation should include such issues as:
how the services will be assessed and how the results of the assessment will be used to improve those services;
what service delivery mechanisms will be used to provide equitable services;
who will provide the services; and
the amount of funds available to serve private school students.

18. Consultation Moreover, consultation should include such topics as:
the size and scope of the services to be provided;
how and when the agency will make decisions about the delivery of services; and
consideration of the views of the private school officials regarding use of third-party providers.

19. Consultation Topics Expanded
Topics subject to consultation have also been expanded to include whether to provide equitable services to eligible private school participants:
by creating a pool or pools of funds with all of the funds allocated under programs covered under § 8501(b), or
on a school-by-school basis based on each the proportionate share of funds available to provide services in each school.

20. Consultation Finally, it should be noted that:
consultation must continue throughout the implementation and assessment of services; and
such consultation shall occur before the district makes any decision that affects the opportunities to participate of eligible private school children, teachers, and other education personnel.

21. Expenditures
Expenditures for equitable services for programs governed by Title VIII for private school students must be equal to those of public school students on a per-pupil basis, taking into account the number and the education needs of children to be served.
The district remains in control of the federal funds and maintains ownership of materials, equipment, and property purchased with such funds.

22. Complaints
If private school officials believe timely and meaningful consultation has not occurred, they should discuss this with the district, then if needed, with the SEA’s ombudsman.
In the event the issue is unresolved, private school officials have the right to file a formal written complaint to the ombudsman.
A formal complaint must include: a statement that a violation of the equitable services requirement has taken place, the facts on which the statement is based, and the signature of the complainant.

23. Complaints
Non-public schools may file a complaint with the state’s ombudsman if they believe that:
timely and meaningful consultation did not occur;
the district did not give due consideration to the views of the non-public school officials; or
the funds generated or services to be provided are not equitable.

24. Complaints
A sample complaint form will be available on ePlan under “TDOE Resources” and on the department’s website.
Private schools must send the complaint to the district and the SEA.
The district must upload to ePlan the complaint concerning equitable services and all documents they want to be considered by the ombudsman.
The timeframe for the ombudsman’s response is 45 days.

25. Title I, A Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs

26. Purpose
Ensure that all children served by the program have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards* and state academic assessments.*
*or other more appropriate standards and/or assessments for private school Title I students as determine by an LEA after consultation.

27. Examples of Available Services for Eligible Private School Students
Instruction outside the regular classroom;
Extended learning time (before and after school and in the summer);
Family literacy programs;
Early childhood education programs;
Counseling;
Home tutoring;
Instruction using take-home computers;
Computer-assisted instruction; and
A combination of services listed above.

28. Consultation
Timely and meaningful consultation between the district and private school officials during the design and development of the services is required on such issues as
how children’s needs will be identified;
what services will be offered;
how and when decisions about the delivery of services will be made;
how, where, and by whom services will be provided;
how services will be assessed and improved based upon assessment results;
the size and scope of services; and
proportion of funds allocated for services.

29. Consultation
Timely and meaningful consultation between the district and private school officials should also include:
the method of determining poverty;
equitable services to teachers and parents of participants;
thorough analysis of the views of private school officials regarding third-party contractor;
what service delivery mechanisms will be used to provide equitable services; and
where the district disagrees with the views of the private school official on the provision of services through a contract, the district shall provide to the official a written explanation of the reasons why the district has chosen not to use a contractor.

30. Consultation Consultation must:
include meetings of the district and private school official;
occur before the district makes any decision that affects the opportunities of eligible private school children to participate in programs; and
continue throughout the implementation and assessment of services.

31. Control of the Program
The district must maintain control of the Title I funds, materials, equipment, and property.
The district must provide assurances that it will:
administer the program in accordance with all applicable statutes and regulations; and
maintain control of the program.

32. Control of the Program
The district is not required to match their supports and services with Title I to supports in non-public program(s).
For example, if public schools are focusing Title I services in grades K–2 (in a K–8 school), the non-public is not restricted to serve only grades K–2. The non-public could serve additional grade spans if determined through consultation and collaboration.

33. Equitable Funding for Students
The total amount expended by the district for services to eligible private school children must be proportionate to the amount of funds generated by private school students.
Private school students generally must receive an equitable amount off the top of the Title I allocation before calculating funds for public school students.

34. Equitable Services for Families
Districts are required to calculate funds based on their total Title I allocation to carry out required parental involvement activities.1
Districts are required to reserve the calculated funds for parental involvement activities from the private school portion allocated for Title I.2
1 Title I § Title I §

35. Assessments
The district must annually assess private school Title I participants, using the state assessments or other more appropriate assessments, as determined in consultation.
In consultation with private school officials, the district must define “annual progress” for private school Title I participants. If annual progress is not met, the district must modify the Title I program.
Note: The Title I requirements for state to test all students annually does not apply to private schools.

36. Student Identification
The children must reside in a participating public school Title I attendance area AND are failing or most at risk of failing to meet high standards.
Children are selected on the basis of multiple educationally related, developmentally appropriate criteria.
It should be noted poverty is NOT a criterion.
The district chooses children to be served from the list that the private school provides of eligible students.

37. Title II, A Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants

38. Purpose
To increase student academic achievement through strategies such as improving teacher and principal quality and increasing the number of highly effective teachers in the classroom and highly effective principals and assistant principals in schools.
Districts may use Title II, A funds for a variety of teacher-quality activities that may or may not include professional development. However, services for private school teachers and other educational personnel must be for professional development.

39. Expenditures
The amount a district must reserve to provide equitable services for private school teachers and other educational personnel for Title II, Part A services is based on the district’s total Title II, Part A allocation, less administrative costs.

40. Expenditures
The district determines the amount of funds available for Title II, Part A equitable services for private school teachers and other educational personnel by calculating, on a per-pupil basis, the amount available for all public and private school students enrolled in participating private elementary and secondary schools in areas served by the district (regardless of a student’s residency), taking into consideration the number and needs of the children, their teachers and other educational personnel to be served.

41. Equitable Services: Title II, A
Districts are encouraged to complete the Title II, A Equitable Services Worksheet to determine allocations. This worksheet is located in the “Related Documents” section of the Consolidated Funding Application.

42. Equitable Services
Districts must assess the needs of private school teachers and other educational personnel when designing the professional development program for private school teachers and those personnel and provide services that meet the needs of the private school teachers.
If the professional development needs of the private school teachers and other educational personnel are different from those of public school teachers and personnel, the district, in consultation with private school officials, should provide different services.

43. Eligible Activities Professional development activities may include:
Improving the knowledge of teachers, principals, and other educational personnel in effective instructional teaching strategies, methods, and skills necessary to enable students to succeed in a well-rounded education and to meet the challenging state academic standards
Training in effectively integrating technology into curricula and instruction
Training on how to teach students with different needs, including students with disabilities or limited English proficiency, and gifted and talented students

44. Eligible Activities
Additionally, other professional development activities may include:
Training on methods to improve student behavior, identifying early and appropriate interventions, and involving parents more effectively in their children’s education
Leadership development and management training to improve the quality of principals and superintendents
Training in the use of data and assessments top improve instruction and student activities

45. Clarification of Well-rounded Education
The term well-rounded education refers to:
English/reading or language arts/writing,
mathematics,
science, technology, engineering, computer science,
foreign languages,
civics and government,
economics,
arts and music
history and geography,
career and technical education, and
healthy, physical education.

46. Title III, A Language Instruction For EL and Immigrant Students

47. Purpose
To help ensure that English learners (ELs) attain English language proficiency and meet the same standards that all children are expected to meet
Services are provided to private school students, their teachers, and other education personnel and are considered assistance to students and teachers rather than private schools themselves.

48. Purpose
The provision for Title III includes services and benefits, not funds, designed and implemented by the district in consultation with private school officials, to meet the needs of teachers and private school students.
The Title III, A program (Title III) is subject to the equitable services requirements in the Title VIII Uniform Provisions of the ESEA. These requirements apply to districts awarded subgrants under the Title III English Learners State Grants.

49. Eligible Activities
Some examples of Title III services a district may provide to private school ELs, their teachers, and other educational personnel include:
administration of English language proficiency (ELP) assessments for identification and/or for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of services (test booklets, teacher training, stipends to teachers to administer assessments);
participation in district-sponsored professional development (PD), or PD organized specifically to meet the needs of the private school teachers;
tutoring for students before, during, or after school hours;

50. Eligible Activities (Continued)
participation of private school ELs in summer school;
participation of students in a weekend program; and
purchase of supplemental instructional materials and supplies

51. Eligible Activities: Assessment Clarification
Title III does not require districts to administer their state’s annual EL assessments for identified ELs in private schools. Districts are required under Title VIII to consult with the private school officials regarding:
how the Title III services provided to private schools and teachers will be assessed; and
how the results of the assessment will be used to improve those services.

52. Eligible Activities: Assessment Clarification
A district may use Title III funds to pay for initial EL assessments for private school students in cases where the use of funds would not supplant other federal, state, and/or local funds that may be used for such purposes.
Use of any assessments should be determined through timely and meaningful consultation.

53. Eligible Activities: Assessment Clarification
The district is ultimately responsible for covering the cost of administering these assessments. The district and private school officials are advised to ensure that EL assessment(s) are:
the most appropriate instrument(s) to administer to the target students, and
valid and reliable for these students.

54. Supplemental Program
For public schools, the Title III program is supplementary to civil rights obligations and must be used to supplement, and not supplant, state, local, and federal funds.
Title III services to private school students and teachers must be supplementary to what the private school would have provided to ELs in the absence of the Title III services.
Districts cannot provide Title III funds directly to private schools; rather, districts provide services to private school students and teachers.

55. Title IV, Part A Student Support & Academic Enrichment

56. Purpose
Provides funds to support providing all students with access to a well-rounded education, improving school conditions for student learning, and improving the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.

57. Equitable Services
When designing a program, grantees must provide comparable opportunities for the participation of both public and private school students in the area served by the grant.
Grantees must consult with private school officials during the design and development of the Student Support & Academic Enrichment program and before making any decision that will impact the participation of private school students.

58. Title IV, Part B 21st Century Community Learning Centers

59. Purpose
Provides funds to support the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools.

60. Equitable Services
When designing a program, grantees must provide comparable opportunities for the participation of both public and private school students in the area served by the grant.
Grantees must consult with private school officials during the design and development of the 21st Century Community Learning Center program and before making any decision that will impact the participation of private school students.

61. Resources

62. Resources
United States Department of Education Non-Regulatory Guidance and Resources
ESEA Ensuring Equitable Services Title I Toolkit
ESSA Non-Regulatory Guidance: Fiscal Changes & Equitable Services
ESEA Non-Regulatory Guidance: Title I - Equitable Services for Eligible Private School Students
ESEA Non-Regulatory Guidance: Title IX (ESSA Title VIII) - Equitable Services for Eligible Private School Students/Teachers
ESSA Non-Regulatory Guidance: Title II, Part A - Building Systems of Support for Excellent Teaching and Leading
ESSA Non-Regulatory Guidance: Title III – English Learners
ESSA Non-Regulatory Guidance: Title IV, Part A – Student Support and Academic Enrichment Program

63. Questions

64. Questions

66. Notifications can also be submitted electronically at:
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