COMMONWEALTH
OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
P.O.
BOX 2120
RICHMOND,
VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 111
May 28, 2004
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Private
School Participation in Title I, Part A, of the No Child Left Behind Act
of 2001 |
This
information is being provided as school divisions prepare to submit 2004-2005
Title I federal program applications (or consolidated applications) that
address private school participation in federal programs. Under the general
provisions in Title IX of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, the
reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), local
education agencies (LEAs) receiving funds must comply with provisions of
participation by private school children and teachers. This provision requires,
after meaningful consultation with private schools, the equitable participation
in services and/or benefits to private school children, their teachers, and
other educational personnel. The educational services or other benefits,
including materials and equipment, shall be secular, neutral, and
non-ideological.
School
divisions are required to engage in meaningful consultations with private
schools that may serve children who reside within Title I eligible attendance
areas. These consultations could result
in the provision of limited services by the school division at the school
division site (usually services that do not require the transporting of private
school children). Virginia school
divisions, however, are prohibited by law from directly providing equitable and
more comprehensive Title I services to private school students and educators. In this case, the U.S. Secretary of
Education (Secretary) makes arrangements to provide services to eligible
private school children through a special contract. This is called the Bypass provision.
The
purpose of meaningful consultation, as it relates to Title I, is to ensure that
private schools are aware of available services through the LEA and of
available services through the provisions of the Bypass. School divisions that receive positive
interest from private schools regarding a desire to receive services from Title
I, Part A, should seek further information from the appropriate state Title I
specialist.
Questions from school divisions located in
Superintendents Regional Study Groups I, II, and V should be directed to Shady
Clark (sclark@mail.vak12ed.edu)
at 804-225-2901; in Superintendents Regional Study Groups IV and VI to Robert
Bourdeaux (rbourdea@mail.vak12ed.ed)
at 804-225-2904; and in Superintendents Regional Study Groups III, VII, and
VIII to Doris (Gabie) Frazier (gfrazier@mail.vak12ed.edu)
at 804-225-2907. With the stipulation that Virginia is a Bypass state,
additional information on private school participation can be found on the
Internet at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oii/nonpublic/index.html.
JLD/BAS/saj