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NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (P.L. 107-110)
Participation of private school students and teachers
Introduction
This brochure provides a summary of the parental involvement opportunities for private school parents in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This brochure indicates the opportunities under NCLBA for private school parents to become involved in their children's education. Private school representatives are advised to involve parents in their children's education and to disseminate knowledge to parents of their children's legal right to equitable services.
Consult the general summary brochure on NCLBA For a full list of all the programs in which private school students, teachers and personnel may participate. The complete text of NCLBA is also available at www.ed.gov/nclb.
TITLE I: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
One of the purposes of Title I is to provide parents with meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children. [Section 1001 (12)]
Part A: Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies
Parents of Title I private school students may obtain services that help them to be meaningfully involved in the education of their children. Such services must be designed to meet the needs of participating private school students, and must be based on current research on effective means of parental involvement that will enable children to achieve high academic standards. In addition, these services will aim at increasing parental participation in the planning, review, and improvement of the Title I program for private school students. [Section 1111 (d)]
Parents of limited English proficient private school students must be notified by the LEA if their child is identified for participation in or is participating in LEA-sponsored programs which provide language instruction. Information pertaining to parental rights includes written guidance that details the parents' right to have their child immediately removed from such a program at their request. In addition, written guidance must articulate the parents' option to decline to enroll their child in such a program or to choose another method of instruction, if available. Written guidance must also articulate the way in which parents will be assisted in selecting one among many programs, if more than one program is offered by the eligible entity. The written guidance should be presented in a uniform and understandable format. If possible and practical, the written guidance should be in the language understandable to the parent. Furthermore, there must be outreach to the parents to inform them of their child's progress in language instruction programs. This outreach should suggest ways for parents to be active participants in assisting their child in attaining English proficiency and in excelling in core academic subjects. [Section 1112 (g) (1) (A) (viii) (aa) (bb), (g) (2), and (g) (4)]
If a private school Title I program is determined to be failing for three years, the LEA at a minimum must provide annual notice to all parents of Title I students in the program of the availability of supplemental educational services, identify approved providers of these services, give a brief description of these services, and explain the qualifications of the providers on the approved list. This notice must be in an understandable and uniform format and to the extent practical, should be in the language most understandable to parents. [Section 1116 (e) (2) (A) (i), (ii), and (iii)]
An LEA's programs, activities, and procedures for parental involvement must include services to parents of Title I private school students. These programs, activities, and procedures should be planned and implemented through meaningful consultation between the LEA and parents of participating students, and should be designed to meet the needs of private school Title I students. [Section 1118 (a)(1)]
LEAs should develop jointly with, agree on with, and distribute to parents of participating children a written parental involvement policy for the Title I program. This parent compact should include the LEA's expectations for parental involvement. The policy should also include a description of how the LEA will provide the coordination, technical assistance and other support needed to assist in planning and implementing effective parental involvement services, which help to improve student academic achievement. In addition, the written policy should include a description of how the LEA will coordinate parental involvement strategies under this part with those in other programs, such as Reading First and Even Start. [Section 1118 (a)(2) (A), (B), (C), and (D)]
With the involvement of parents, LEAs will conduct annual evaluations of the content and effectiveness of parental involvement policies, including identification of barriers to greater parent participation. Particular attention will be given to parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background. Through this annual evaluation, LEAs in conjunction with parents will be able to design more effective parental involvement strategies and policies. [Section 1118 (a)(2)(E)]
Part B: Student Reading Skills Improvement Grants
Subpart 1: Reading First
When this program provides assistance to a target area within an LEA, services may include the training of private school parents in the target area who volunteer as a student's reading tutor in the essential components of reading instruction. These services should enable parents to understand and use instructional practices that are based on scientifically-based reading research and used by the student's teachers. In addition, these services may assist parents in encouraging reading and supporting their child's reading development through the use of materials and reading programs, strategies and approaches, including family literacy approaches, that are based on scientifically-based reading research. [Section (c) (7) (B) (ii) and (iii)]
Part B: Student Reading Skills Improvement Grants
Subpart 3: William F. Goodling Even Start Family Literacy
Services under this part should provide intensive family literacy services that involve parents and children, from birth through age seven. These services aim to help parents become full partners in the education of their children and help them assist their children in achieving their full learning potential. [Section 1234 (a)] A private school may serve as a direct Even Start grantee or private school students and parents may participate in the program of another entity.
Even Start programs should include the identification and recruitment of families most in need of services provided under this subpart, as indicated by a low level of income, low level of adult literacy or English language proficiency of parents. Programs should also involve a screening of parents, including teenage parents, and children to ensure full participation of parents and children in services and activities, including testing, referral to necessary counseling, other development and support services, and related services. [Section 1235 (1) and (2)]
Programs should be designed to accommodate parents' work schedules, and the location of the services should allow for joint participation of parents and children. When parents are participating in the Even Start program, child care should be provided for their children. Also, if necessary, transportation should be provided to enable parents and children to participate. [Section 1235 (3)]
In addition, programs should include high-quality instructional programs that promote adult literacy and empower parents to support their child's educational growth, developmental appropriate early child educational services and preparation of their child for success in a regular program. Even Start programs should specially train staff, including child care staff, with the needed skills to work with parents and children in the full range of instructional services. Finally, programs should provide and monitor integrated instructional services to participating parents and children through home-based programs. [Section 1235 (4), (6) and (7)]
Eligible participants for the Even Start program include parents who are eligible for participation in adult education and literacy under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, parents who are within the State's compulsory school attendance age, as long as the LEA provides the basic education component required, or parents who attend secondary schools. [Section 1236 (a) (1) (A) and (a) (1) (B)]
Part C: Education of Migratory Children
Programs for parental involvement for parents of migratory children should be implemented according to the same requirements as those for programs and projects under Section 1118. [Section 1304 (c) (3) (A)]
Parents of migratory children should collaborate with education officials to develop a comprehensive State plan for the education of migratory children. [Section 1306 (a) (1) (B) (ii)]
TITLE II: Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals
Part A: Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund
Private school teachers and principals may be provided with training that will help them to involve parents in their children's education, especially parents of limited English proficiency children. [Section 2123 (a) (3) (B) (iv)]
Part D: Enhancing Education Through Technology
Services and programs may support efforts to use technology to promote parental involvement in education and communication among students, parents, teachers, principals and administrators. [Section 2401 (a) (8)]
In addition, services may be provided to utilize technology to promote parental involvement by developing and expanding efforts to connect parents and students with schools and teachers. Also, program services can be used to provide technology to increase communication between parents, teachers, and principals as well as to help parents understand and reinforce the technology being applied in their child's education. [Section 2416 (b) (4)]
TITLE III: Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students
Part A: Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act
Private school personnel and parents of private school students who are eligible for Title III Part A services are eligible for services that may provide technical assistance and other forms of assistance to promote parental and community involvement in language instruction educational programs for the parents and communities of limited English proficient children. [Section 3111 (b) (2) (C) (iv)]
Through this program, private school personnel and parents may obtain services that provide community participation programs, family literacy services, parental outreach, and parental training activities for limited English proficient children and their families. These services should also assist parents in helping their children to improve their academic achievement and in actively participating in the education of their children. [Section 3115 (d) (6), (d) (6) (B) and (e) (1) (A)]
TITLE IV: 21st Century Schools
Part A: Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
According to the Principles of Effectiveness, programs should include meaningful and continuous consultation with and input from parents in the development and application of programs and services which combat violence and drug use in schools. Services should promote involvement of parents in activities and programs. [Section 4115 (a) (1) (E) and (b) (1) (D) (i)]
Private school parents may obtain services which include professional development in prevention, education, early identification and intervention, mentoring and rehabilitation referral as related to drug and violence prevention. [Section 4115 (b) (2) (D)]
Services may also include school-based mental health services as related to illegal drug use and violence, including direct individual or group counseling services provided to students, parents and families by qualified school-based mental health service providers. [Section 4115 (b) (2) (E) (vii)]
Moreover, parents' views will be taken into account in the development of character education programs, as a component of drug and violence prevention programs. [Section 4115 (b) (2) (E) (xvii)]
Parents should be informed of and included in the State's efforts to prevent violence and drug use. [Section 4116 (a) (1) (C)]
Part B: 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Private school grantees and private school students participating in the 21st Century program of another entity may participate in a broad range of before and after school services and activities, including during summer recess periods, that advance student academic achievement. These activities include programs to promote parental involvement and family literacy. [Section 4205 (a) (10)]
TITLE V: Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative Programs
Part A: Innovative Programs
Private school parents are eligible for services that may promote adult literacy skills, especially for parents of children served by an LEA, including adult education and family literacy programs. Services may include an expansion and enhancement of school-based mental health services, including direct individual or group counseling services for students and parents. Services may also include initiatives to create, maintain, and support parental and community involvement. [Section 5131 (a) (6), (a) (14) and (a) (21)]
Parents of children attending elementary or secondary schools in an area served by the local LEA should be involved in systematic consultation with the LEA in regards to planning, designing, and implementing innovative assistance programs. [Section 5133 (b) (7)]
TITLE IX: General Provisions
Part E: Uniform Provisions
Subpart 1: Private Schools
Parents may file written complaints concerning violations of Section 9501 by SEAs, LEAs, education service agencies, a consortium of these agencies, or other entities. The State will develop written procedures for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
| NCLBA Issue Brochures | NCLBA Program Brochures |
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For more information, contact: | |
| Department of Education U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 3211 4th Street, NE Washington, DC 20017 PH: 202/541-3132 FAX: 202/541-3390 E-mail: federal@usccb.org |
Office of NonPublic Education U. S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-3600 PH: 202/401-1365 FAX: 202/401-1368 Web: www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/NonPublic |