|
"It will not always be summer; build barns."
– Hesiod
It may seem counterintuitive to propose a season of fun in the sun as a time for somber and serious building, but as ancient Greek poet Hesiod wisely noted, reality returns. There are few satisfactions in the world more rewarding than the feeling of having planned well.
Serving Students at Private Schools Outside the District's Boundaries
34 CFR 200.62(b)(1)(i) defines eligible private school children as children who reside in a participating Title I public school attendance area of a local educational agency (LEA), regardless of whether the private school they attend is located in the LEA. The LEA in which a child resides is responsible for providing services to the child. The funds generated for services by these students can cross a district’s geographic boundaries. These funds must be used to provide services to students from the district in which the funds were generated.
For example, imagine a private school serves students residing in two districts (District A and District B). Any Title I, Part A funds generated by students residing in District A must be spent on the students residing in District A who are most at-risk of not meeting state academic standards. Funds generated by students residing in District A cannot be used to provide services to at-risk students who reside in District B. This example was discussed during the May Title I webinar.
According to question A-5 of the Providing Equitable Services to Eligible Private School Children, Teachers, and Families Non-Regulatory Guidance, the district has a responsibility to contact private schools outside the district if the LEA has reason to believe students who reside in a participating Title I public school attendance area attend those schools. An LEA may not be aware of every instance in which a student who resides in a participating Title I public school attendance area attends a private school outside of the district. If a private school has students it believes may be eligible for Title I services because they reside in a participating Title I public school attendance area in another LEA and the private school has not been contacted by that LEA, it would be prudent for private school officials to contact the LEA directly in order to ensure that their eligible students are considered for Title I services.
As districts continue to notify and consult with private schools, be sure to verify that private schools located in other districts have been notified as applicable.
Summer Planning for the Title I Annual Meeting Requirement
Section 1116(c)(1) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires each school served with Title I, Part A funds “convene an annual meeting, at a convenient time, to which all parents of participating children shall be invited and encouraged to attend, to inform parents of their school’s participation under this part and to explain the requirements of this part, and the right of the parents to be involved.”
When assembling an annual Title I school meeting, planning ahead is imperative to promote family involvement. Typically, schools host the meeting early in the school year to get parents involved in their students' academic achievement as soon as possible.
These tips can maximize parent and family involvement when preparing for an annual Title I meeting:
-
Organize agenda. The purpose of the meeting is to inform parents about Title I programs and the right of families to be involved in their children's education. Some discussion topics could include:
- Explanation of what it means for a school to be served by Title I, Part A. Include information about the purpose of the program, why the school qualifies for services and how the school uses Title I funds.
- School and district family engagement policy. Note that families must be involved in the timely review of family engagement policies and the joint development of a Title I schoolwide program, but it is permissible for schools to have a separate process for reviewing a Title I schoolwide program. [See ESSA 1116(c)(3).]
- School-family compact.
- Policy for getting parent and family feedback on the best use of the 1% set-aside for family engagement.
-
Include facilitators. This does not necessarily have to be the principal, but it should be someone on staff who knows the school's Title I programs.
-
Ensure high attendance. To increase participation, ESSA allows Title I funds to be used for childcare and transportation to the annual meeting.
-
Offer accommodations. Provide information in a language that families can understand to the extent practicable. Don't forget to accommodate parents with disabilities. Schools can provide translators and assistive communication devices as necessary. [See ESSA Section 1116(f).]
-
Keep proper documentation. Family engagement is required of all schools receiving Title I funds. Show fidelity by keeping records that may include:
- Publicity for the event, such as flyers, school newsletters, social media posts or take-home messages. Be sure that the event is publicized through a variety of means to increase the likelihood that all families receive notification. For example, some families may not have reliable internet access at home or use social media.
- Sign-in sheets with parent signatures, time and date of meeting.
- Agenda, meeting handouts and minutes.
- Audio or video recordings of the meeting, which also could appear on the school website.
- Invoices and receipts for costs related to the meeting, such as childcare, transportation, materials and light refreshments.
- Notes of parent disagreements, such as dissatisfaction with the Title I schoolwide program, to show engagement and meaningful, two-way communication.
Schools may consider making information about their participation in the Title I, Part A program available to parents outside of the annual meeting. Basic information about the program could be included in a school handbook or posted to the webpage along with any presentation or document shared during the annual meeting.
|
