Title V, Part A, General Requirements for Serving Private/Nonpublic Schools

• OPI ESEA Title V
  Part A
• Contact Us
  • Pat Johnson, Program Specialist
    444-2736
    patjohnson@mt.gov
  • Clare Bridge, Program Assistant
    444-0906
    cbridge@mt.gov
  • Jurenne Fuchs, Accounting Specialist
    444-2560
    jfuchs@mt.gov
• Purpose
• Requirements
  • Statuatory Requirements
  • District Requirements
    • Planning Committee
    • Needs Assessment
    • Use of Funds
    • Private/Nonpublic Schools
  • Professional Development Requirements
  • Reporting Requirements
• 27 Activities
• Forms
  • Approved Application
  • Final Program Report
  • Deadlines
• Related Links
• Definitions
• Title VA Services to Private/Nonpublic Schools
  • General Requirements for serving private/nonpublic schools
  • Specific Requirements for serving private/nonpublic schools with Title V, Part A
• Presentations and Informational Videos
• Final Program Report

Why Serve Private/Nonpublic Schools

The federal programs are supported from tax dollars; therefore all children and teachers are eligible to access these programs.  NCLB requires equitable services be provided to private/nonpublic school students, teachers, and other educational personnel.
 

Equitable Participation

Services should be equitable and should begin at the same time as the public school services.   E-Grants calculates the equitable share to be used for services to private/nonpublic schools.

The key word is services.  No public funds are distributed to private/nonpublic schools, only professional development services.

Participation Requirements

Public school districts must notify all private/nonpublic schools within the district boundaries of the professional development services available through Title V, Part A.

Private/nonpublic schools must submit the Intent to Participate forms by the spring deadline in order to qualify for services the following school year.  

Public school districts must:

• Review Intent to Participate forms and determine which districts wish to participate. 
• Contact private/nonpublic schools that indicate an intent to participate and begin consultation process (April-June).  Consultation must start prior to submitting the federal grant application and continue throughout the school year.
  
  

Consultation Requirements    

Consultation between the public school and private/nonpublic schools during the design, development, and implementation of the programs:

• Must be timely and meaningful and must happen prior to district decisions being made to ensure the needs of the private/nonpublic school are considered when professional development.
   
• Must take place on an annual basis, and be documented by the district.  Public school district should complete a written affirmation form (required for Title I) indicating the date the consultation took place between the public and private/nonpublic school. The affirmation of consultation should be signed by both the public and private/nonpublic school officials.
   
  
• Must continue throughout the year, to ensure the needs of private/nonpublic school teachers are being met.  Consultation is an ongoing process and can occur in many ways.  It can be phone calls, e-mails, or a site visit.
  
  
• Consultation must cover issues such as:

Complaint Process

If private/nonpublic school officials believe that timely and meaningful consultation has not occurred or that the district did not give due consideration to their views, they should first contact the federal programs representative or superintendent at the school district to discuss their concerns.

In the event the concern is not resolved, the private/nonpublic school has the right to file a formal written complaint with the Office of Public Instruction (OPI).   Section 200-3 of the OPI State and Federal Grants Handbook is the guideline for the complaint process.

The formal written complaint should include:

• A statement that the district, other educational agency, or in some cases the OPI, has violated a requirement of a federal statue or regulation that applies to a program requiring equitable participation;
• The specific requirement alleged to have been violated;
• The facts on which the complaint is based;
• The name and address of the complainant;
• The expected resolution of the alleged violation;
• The signature of the complainant.

The complaint should be sent directly to: