“March, when days are getting long, let thy growing hours be strong to set right some wintry wrong.”
- Caroline May
A great thaw is on the horizon, bringing with it an opportunity for us to shed off the weight of winter’s burdens. May the anticipation of spring, just around the corner, renew your sense of hope and purpose.
In this issue of the newsletter, you’ll find information on the updated guidance for within-district allocations due to COVID-19, reporting reminders, teacher certification notification and consultation with nonpublic schools.
CARES-ESSER I Funds Reminder (Project 613F/613FP)
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has sent email reminders to districts with CARES-ESSER I remaining in Project 613F/613FP. The award end date is Sept. 30, 2022.
If your district has funds remaining, please continue to spend these funds on allowable purchases in accordance with your GMAP spending plan and have all funds spent or encumbered by Sept. 30, 2022. Each district's award notification contain additional information about this grant.
Ensure Access to Teachers
As a reminder, districts must ensure that Title I, Part A funds received under ESSA 1111(g)(1)(B) will be used to identify that low-income and minority children enrolled in schools assisted under Title I, Part A are not served at disproportionate rates, as compared to non-Title I schools, by ineffective, out-of-field or inexperienced teachers. Districts also must work in consultation with the state to improve any identifiable gaps between the rates of students taught by ineffective, out-of-field or inexperienced teachers at Title I and non-Title I schools.
For more information, email Scott Tremoulis. This information has been added to the Title I, Part A Handbook (see page 7).
Updated Guidance on ESEA Flexibility for Within-District Allocations Due to COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Education (USED) recently updated its National School Lunch Program (NSLP) guidance regarding the successful implementation of state-administered programs in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) without complete National School Lunch Program data from school years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.
Certain ESEA programs – such as Title I, Title II and the Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) Program – require data on the number of low-income students in a school or district. Many districts rely on free and reduced-price school meal data to make these determinations. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, school meal programs have operated under a waiver for the past two school years that allows schools to serve free meals to all students.
The updated guidance primarily extends existing flexibilities, allowing districts in many cases to account for missing 2020-2021 or 2021-2022 NSLP data by using alternate options, including:
- Poverty data from other sources, including Medicaid or TANF;
- The “best available” NSLP data, including data from the 2019-2020 school year;
- Any NSLP data from a more recent school year that may be accessible, for example, direct certification data;
- A combination of the best available NSLP data from 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022; or
- Data from a survey conducted by the state or district which replicates NSLP data.
Some form of this alternate data can be used to determine eligibility and allocations for Title I, Title II and the RLIS program. It also may be used in some cases to adjust allocations for small districts, for within-district allocations or to calculate allowances for equitable services.
Please contact Erin Sudduth (Title I and RLIS) with any questions.
Consultation with Nonpublic Schools
Sections 1117 and 8501 of the ESEA require that timely and meaningful consultation between the district and each nonpublic school occur prior to any decision about the equitable services to be provided to eligible nonpublic school students, teachers and other educational personnel. The Providing Equitable Services to Eligible Private School Children, Teachers and Families Non-Regulatory Guidance defines effective consultation as “a genuine opportunity for all parties to express their views and to have those views considered.”
While there is no specific timeframe for beginning the annual consultation process, ESEA 1117(b)(3) does require consultation occur prior to any decisions being made that could affect the “opportunities of eligible private school children to participate in programs.” The suggested timeline for consultation available in KDE’s Title I, Part A Handbook recommends districts initiate the consultation process in March or April.
The Equitable Services Consultation Packet must be used during consultation meetings to ensure all required topics are discussed. A completed and signed packet will be uploaded to the GMAP District Document Library for each participating nonpublic school when the FY2023 GMAP application becomes available.
Reminder: Parent Notification Regarding Certification and Licensure Status of Teacher
As schools work to face school staffing challenges, district coordinators should ensure all Title I school administrators are aware of the requirement to notify parents regarding the certification and licensure status of teachers.
ESEA 1112(e)(1)(B)(ii) requires Title I schools provide parents with "timely notice that the parent's child has been assigned or taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet applicable state certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject areas in which the teachers has been assigned."
This requirement applies to schools operating both schoolwide programs and targeted assistance programs. A sample notification letter is available in the Title I, Part A Sample Documents folder.
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