-
Private Schools Program Equitable Services
Title II, Part A - Supporting Effective Instruction
Title II, Part A, Equitable Services - Title II, Part A (CA Dept of Education)
Title II, Part A requires that local educational agencies (LEA) provide eligible elementary and secondary private schools teachers, principals, and other educational personnel with Title II, Part A educational services that are equitable in comparison to services provided teachers, principals, and other educational personnel in public schools.
Since the initial passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), private school students and teachers have been eligible to participate in certain federal education programs. President Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) on December 10, 2015. The ESSA strengthens and enhances the equitable services provisions which are found under Sections 8501-8504 (Title VIII Uniform Provisions). Title II, Part A, Equitable Services for Private Schools, is subject to the requirements in Title VIII Uniform Provisions.
Educational services and other benefits provided under this section for private school children, teachers, and other educational personnel shall be equitable in comparison to services and other benefits for public school children, teachers, and other educational personnel participating in the program and shall be provided after timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate private school officials. Educational services or other benefits provided under this section, shall be secular, neutral, and nonideological.
Purpose of Title II, Part A
Provide supplemental activities that strengthen the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders. Activities funded with Title IIA, must meet the purpose of Title IIA, which is to:
- Increase student achievement consistent with the challenging state academic standards
- Increase the number of teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools
- Improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders
- Provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders
Professional development services must meet the definition of “professional development” in ESEA section 8101 (42). Services must be high quality, sustained, evidence based and focus on improving teaching and student learning and achievement. The activity must be
1) Part of the strategies for providing educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to enable children to succeed in a well-rounded education, and
2) Sustained (not stand alone 1-day or short-term workshop): must be part of a larger PD plan for the school, intensive, collaborative, job embedded, data driven, and classroom focused. Students may not receive services with Title II, A funds.
What types of activities may an LEA provide to private school participants?
An LEA may use Title II, Part A funds to provide professional development activities for teachers, principals, and other school leaders to address the specific needs of their students. Additionally, there may be other permissible uses of Title II, Part A funds for the benefit of private school participants. Any use of Title II, Part A funds for the benefit of private school participants must:
- Be an allowable local use of Title II, Part A funds under the authorizing statute. (Elementary and Secondary Education Act [ESEA], as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) section 2103(b)(3)).
- Meet the specific needs of students enrolled in a private school, and not the school itself. Title II, Part A funds may not be used to meet the needs of a private school or the general needs of the students enrolled in the private school. In some instances, however, a program or activity that primarily benefits a private school’s students (because it addresses specific, rather than general, needs of the students) will also incidentally benefit the school. (34 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 76.658).
Equitable Services for Eligible Private School Children, Teachers, and Other Educational Personnel
Non-Regulatory Guidance (US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION)
https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/non-public-education/files/esea-titleviii-guidance-2023.pdf
Improving Teacher Quality State Grants - ESEA Title II, Part a - Non-regulatory Guidance
https://oese.ed.gov/files/2019/09/guidance-2.pdf
Title IX, Part E: Uniform Provisions - Subpart 1-Private Schools
