Private Schools
Equitable Services to Private Schools
Title I, Part A, Equitable Services
The Title I program provides supplemental educational services so that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. Generally, to qualify for assistance under Title I, a student must reside within the attendance area of a participating public school located in a low-income area, complete the Educational Benefit Form through Child Nutrition Services, and be failing, or at risk of failing, to meet student academic achievement standards. Under Title I, local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to provide services for eligible private school students, as well as eligible public school students. In particular, §1120 of Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), requires a participating LEA to provide eligible children attending private elementary and secondary schools, their teachers, and their families with Title I services or other benefits that are equitable to those provided to eligible public school children, their teachers, and their families. The Title I services for private school students must be developed in consultation with officials of the private schools.
Title II, Part A, Equitable Services
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 non-ideological.
Expenditures for educational services and other benefits provided under this section for eligible private school children, their teachers, and other educational personnel serving those children shall be equal, taking into account the number and educational needs of the children to be served, to the expenditures for participating public school children.
Title III, Part A, Equitable Services
Title III, Part A English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement program provides funds to assist English Learner or EL students in attaining English proficiency and meeting the same State academic standards required of all students. Funds must be used to increase the English proficiency of EL students by providing high-quality language instruction and high-quality professional development.
Title IV, Part A, Equitable Services
Newly authorized, Title IV, Part A of ESSA, the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program is intended to help meet these goals by increasing the capacity of districts, schools, and local communities to: 1) provide all students with access to a well-rounded education, 2) improve school conditions for learning, and 3) improve the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. (ESEA section 4101).
For more information regarding equitable services for Private School students please contact the Categorical Programs Office at (909)307-5300 x20318 or Email Categorical Programs Office