1. Providing Equitable Services Under Title I of ESSA
To Accountability…and Beyond!! Brustein & Manasevit Fall Forum 2016 November 30 – December 2, 2016
Providing Equitable Services Under Title I of ESSA
Tiffany Kesslar, Esq. and Jennifer Castillo, Esq.

2. Top Equitable Services Findings under NCLB
Failing to conduct timely and meaningful consultation;
Miscalculating an equitable share of set-asides;
Not maintaining eligibility criteria for identifying private school students eligible for services;
Allowing paraprofessionals to provide instruction without the direct supervision of a highly qualified teacher;
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3. Top Equitable Services Findings under NCLB (cont.)
Failing to ensure that services do not provide a benefit to the private school (versus benefit to the student);
Failing to maintain supervision and control over contracts with third-party providers;
Failing to evaluate the program (not just the students' progress); and
Failing to maintain public control of the program.
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4. Deriving the Proportionate Share Calculation Allocation of Funds
Consultation
Deriving the Proportionate Share Calculation
Allocation of Funds
Eligibility
Types and Delivery of Equitable Services
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5. Where are the requirements?
Statutes and Regulations
NCLB – Section 1120(A)
Regulations 34 CFR –
ESSA Section 1117
EDGAR Sections –
Applicable Non-Regulatory Guidance
Title I Services to Eligible Private School Children, October 17,
arta/psguidance.doc.
Ensuring Equitable Services to Private School Children: A Title I Resource Tool Kit, September
parta/ps/titleitoolkit.pdf
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6. Consultation Requirements
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7. Consultation Sec. 1117(a)(1)(A) and (b)
(NEW): The goal of all parties should be to reach an agreement on how to provide equitable and effective programs for eligible private school children.
LEA must provide “timely and meaningful” consultation with appropriate private school officials.
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8. Consultation (cont.) Sec. 1117(b)(3)
Timely
Before the LEA makes any decisions
During the design and development of the program
Meetings shall continue throughout implementation and assessment of services
Annual Requirement
A simple letter explaining the intent of the Title I program is not enough
ED suggests invitation to meeting to explain
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9. Consultation (cont.) Sec. 1117(a)(1)(A)
Meaningful
Genuine opportunity for parties to express their views
EDGAR
Views seriously considered
The LEA may initiate consultation with a proposal for services
Final Decisions made by the LEA after consultation
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10. Consultation Topics Sec. 1117(b)(1)
Consultation must include:
How the LEA will identify the needs of eligible private school children;
What services the LEA will offer to eligible students;
How, where and by whom the services will be provided;
How the LEA will academically assess the services and how the LEA will use the results to improve the Title I services;
The size and scope of the equitable services that the LEA will provide;
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11. Consultation Topics (cont.) Sec. 1117(b)(1)
The method/sources of poverty data used;
Delivery of services
Must give consideration to the views of the private school officials regarding the provision of services through a contract with third- party providers;
How, if the LEA disagrees with private school officials regarding provision of equitable services through a contracted third-party provider, the LEA will provide notice, an analysis, and reasons to the private school officials;
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12. Consultation Topics (cont.) Sec. 1117(b)(1)
Whether the agency shall provide services to eligible students directly or through third-party contractor;
(NEW) Whether to provide funding through a “pool of funds” or with the proportion of funds allocated under this section;
(NEW) When services will be provided; and
(NEW) Whether to consolidate and use Title I Part A funds in coordination with funds from other eligible programs that are dedicated to providing equitable services to private school students.
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13. Disagreement Sec. 1117(b)(2)
(NEW) If an LEA disagrees with the views of private school officials with respect to any topic subject to consultation,
The LEA must provide in writing to such private school officials the reasons why the local educational agency disagrees.
Final decision rests with the LEA.
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14. Written Affirmation Sec. 1117(b)(5)
LEAs must obtain written affirmation that timely and meaningful consultation occurred
(NEW) LEAs must also give option of signing a written affirmation indicating that timely and meaningful consultation did not occur or that the program design is not equitable with respect to eligible private school children.
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15. The State Ombudsman Sec. 1117(a)(3)(B)
(NEW) To help ensure equity, the SEA shall designate an ombudsman (an official) to monitor and enforce these requirements.
After consultation –agreement to be forwarded to ombudsman.
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16. Deriving The Allocation
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17. The Equitable Services Allocation
General Formula:
Based on number of…
Private school students
From low-income families
Who reside in Title I-participating public school attendance areas
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18. Proportionate Share Sec. 1117(a)(4)
(NEW) Must be calculated BEFORE any allowable expenditures and transfers by the LEA!
Old rule: Private school students also must get equitable share of some set-asides:
Off the top for districtwide instruction
Off the top for parental involvement
Off the top for professional development
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19. Proportionate Share (cont.) Sec. 1117(a)(4)
Do private school students, parents and teachers get an additional portion of districtwide initiatives or other district level set asides as in the past??
Unclear, especially for parental involvement
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Options for Calculating Poverty Data on Private School Students Sec. 1117(c)(1)
To obtain the count of private school children from low-income families, LEAs may use:
Data from the same source
Survey, with extrapolation
Proportionality
Correlated measure
Comparable data
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Options for Calculating Poverty Data on Private School Students (cont.)
Same source is the preferred method
BUT all options are equally available
May use more than one method
The choice of poverty measures is subject to timely and meaningful consultation with private school officials
However, the NCLB regulations make clear that after such consultation, the LEA will have the final authority in determining the method used CFR section (a)(2)(iv).
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22. State Notice To Private Schools Sec. 1117(a)(4)(C)
(NEW) Each SEA must provide notice in a timely manner to the appropriate private school officials in the State of the allocation of funds for educational services and other benefits under this part that the local educational agencies have determined are available for eligible private school children.
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23. Allocation of Funds
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24. Distributing the Funds Sec. 1117(a)(4)(J)
Two options:
1) Pooling: pool the funds to use for students with greatest educational need anywhere in LEA; or
2) School-by-School: funds follow child to private school for educationally needy children in that school
(This codified the previous guidance on this topic.)
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NCLB Carryover
If LEA provided equitable services in first year…
Then carryover funds revert to regular program pot.
If LEA did not provide equitable services,
Then must earmark funds for services to private school students in the carryover year; and
Use in addition to entire amount of the next year’s equitable services set-aside.
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26. ESSA Carryover?? Sec. 1117(a)(4)(B)
(NEW) Funds allocated to a local educational agency for educational services and other benefits to eligible private school children shall be obligated in the fiscal year for which the funds are received by the agency.
What happens to unexpended funds?
What happens to NCLB carryover?
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27. Eligibility
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28. Eligibility for Services Sec. 1117(a) and 1115(c)
Reside in participating public school attendance area;
Attend a private elementary or secondary school (regardless of location);
AND
Be identified as an eligible Title I student (same as targeted assistance school Section 115(c) criteria)
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29. Eligibility for Services (cont.)
Title I funds may not be used to identify private school children who are eligible to participate; private school data should be used for this purpose.
However, Title I funds may be used to select participants from among those who are eligible and to determine their specific educational needs.
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30. Preschooler Eligibility
It depends on the State definition of “elementary schools”
If elementary education includes preschool then YES.
If elementary education starts with kindergarten then NO.
After consultation with private school officials, an LEA may determine that all or part of the "equitable services" set-aside would best be spent on preschool.
See ED's nonregulatory guidance, "Serving Preschool Children Through Title I" (October 2012), Q&A B-9, pdf
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31. Types and Delivery of Equitable Services
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32. Types of Equitable Services Sec. 1117(a)(1)(A)
Services MUST benefit students and NOT the private schools CFR section
(NEW) Services, may include:
Special educational services,
Instructional services (including evaluations to determine the progress in meeting such students’ academic needs),
Counseling or Mentoring,
One-on-one tutoring,
Other benefits under Title I (such as dual or concurrent enrollment, technology, equipment, etc.).
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33. Types of Equitable Services (cont.)
(NEW) “Well Rounded Education” Sec. 8101(52)
Such educational services or other benefits, including materials and equipment, shall be secular, neutral, and non-ideological. Sec. 1117(a)(2).
English, reading or language arts, writing,
arts, music
history, geography,
science, technology, engineering, mathematics,
career and technical education,
computer science,
health, physical education, and
foreign languages,
civics and government,
others as designated by State/LEA
economics,
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34. Equity in Equitable Services 34 CFR 200.64
Services are equitable if the LEA —
Addresses and assesses the specific needs and educational progress of eligible children on a basis comparable to public school children;
Meets the “equal expenditure” requirement or total funds equals total funds generated;
Provides private school students with an equitable opportunity to participate and provides reasonable promise in achieving the state’s standards or equivalent standards applicable to private school students.
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35. EDGAR Comparable Benefit 76.654
The program must be comparable in quality, scope, and opportunity for participation.
If the needs of the students enrolled in private schools are different than those of public school students, then shall provide different benefits.
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Timing of Services
Services for private school children must begin at the same time as services for public school children, according to ED’s Nonpublic School Guidance under NCLB.
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37. Delivery of Equitable Services Sec. 1117(a)(5)
Directly, through private company, or another LEA
May be on-site at private school, with safeguards
Neutral, secular, and non-ideological
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38. Teacher and Paraprofessional Qualifications Sec. 1111(g)(2)(j)
State Assurances
(NEW) The State must ensure all teachers and paraprofessionals working in a Title I program meet applicable State certification and licensure requirements.
DOES apply to: LEA teachers teaching private school students and LEA paraprofessionals.
Do NOT apply to: Private school teachers or paraprofessionals or third-party contractor teachers or paraprofessionals.
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39. LEA Control Over Services Sec. 1117(d)
LEA controls!
The LEA plans, designs, and implements program.
The LEA controls all funds, title to materials, equipment, and property purchased.
The LEA administers such funds, materials, equipment, and property.
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40. LEA Control Over Services (cont.)
The LEA may place equipment and supplies in a private school for the period of time needed for the program.
Equipment and supplies must only be used for Title I purposes and must be removed without remodeling the private school facility.
The LEA is required to remove the equipment and supplies from the private school if the LEA no longer needs these items to provide the Title I services, or if removal is necessary to avoid unauthorized use of the items for other than Title I purposes. 34 CFR
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Administrative Costs
Can the LEA charge administrative costs to the proportionate share? NO.
The administrative costs of operating both public and private school services are from the LEA administrative set-aside.
The proportionate share is only for instructional services to eligible private school students, parents, and teachers. Nonpublic School Guidance, question B-57.
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42. Evaluations and Assessments
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43. Assessment of Students
An LEA must provide participating private school students with an equitable opportunity to meet the state standards.
However, these standards may not necessarily be aligned with the private school curriculum.
After consultation, the LEA may use other assessment measures that more accurately reflect the progress of those students.
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44. Evaluation of the Program Sec. 1117(b)(1)(D)
An LEA must determine how services will be academically assessed and how the results of that assessment will be used to improve those services.
The LEA will normally assess private school children in the subjects in which they receive Title I services.
Title I funds may be used to assess these students, but only to the extent that the assessment is not otherwise conducted for other purposes.
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45. Complaints and By-Pass
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46. State Complaints Sec. 1117(b)(6)
Private school officials have the right to file a complaint with the SEA if they believe that LEA officials have not complied with appropriate legal requirements.
Specifically may complain that:
The LEA did not engage in consultation that was meaningful and timely;
The LEA did not give due consideration to the views of the private schools; or
The LEA did not make a decision that treats the private school students equitably as required by ESSA.
In addition, any dispute involving the poverty data on private school students may be appealed to the state. Sec. 1117(c)(2).
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47. State Complaints (cont.) Sec. 1117(b)(6)
The SEA is required to have complaint procedures in place that conform to applicable statute and regulation.
It is up to the LEA and SEA to ensure that private school officials are made aware of complaint procedures.
The private school official must provide the basis of the LEA's noncompliance; and
The LEA must forward the appropriate documentation to the SEA in response.
(NEW) The General Provisions of ESSA (Title VIII) require that an SEA provide a written resolution to a complaint within 45 days. Sec. 8503(a).
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48. State Bypass Sec. 1117(b)(6)(C)
(NEW) The SEA must provide the required equitable services under Title I either directly or through third-party contracts if the appropriate private school officials have met two criteria:
The private school officials have requested that the SEA provide such services directly; and
The private school officials have demonstrated that the LEA involved has not met the legal requirement to provide equitable services to private school students.
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49. Complaint Appeal Process Sec. 8503(b)
If the SEA's resolution is not satisfactory, private school officials may appeal to the U.S. Secretary of Education.
30 days to appeal (or may appeal after SEA 45 deadline passes if unresolved).
ESSA mandates that the Secretary must complete an investigation and resolve the appeal within 90 days.
(NCLB was 120 days)
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USDE Bypass Sec. 8502
If an LEA or SEA is prohibited by state law from providing equitable educational services to private school students, or
If the Secretary determines the LEA or SEA has substantially failed or is unwilling to do so,
Then ED will “bypass” the educational agency and assume the responsibility of providing the required services using an appropriate portion of the educational agency’s allocation.
Bypass procedures and appeal rights are under EDGAR –
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QUESTIONS?
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