Private Nonprofit Equitable Services
🏛️What Are ESSA Equitable Services?
Equitable services are provisions within the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)- the main federal law for K-12 education that require School Systems to use a portion of their federal funds to provide services to eligible students, teachers, and sometimes families in local private, nonprofit schools.The core principle is to ensure that all eligible students and teachers can benefit from federally funded programs, regardless of whether they attend a public or private school.Key Principles of Equitable Services
- No Direct Funding to Private Schools: This is the most critical point. The School System always maintains control of the funds. Money is never given directly to the private school. The School System pays for the services, materials, or staff.
- Secular, Neutral, and Non-ideological: All services, materials, and instruction funded under ESSA must be secular and non-religious.
- Supplemental, Not Supplanting: These federal services must add to (supplement) the core educational services the private school already provides. They cannot be used to replace (supplant) services the private school would otherwise be required to offer.
- Based on Student Need: Services are provided based on the needs of the eligible students and teachers, not the needs of the private school itself.
What is Title I, Part A and Title II, Part A?
Title I, Part A: Private School Equitable Services
Through ESSA, federal grant funding is made available every year to serve students who meet certain criteria, such as students from low-income families. Those grant funds are awarded to the state education agency (TEA). TEA then allocates funds directly to the School System. “Private school equitable services” refers to the process of providing students, teachers, staff, and families at eligible private schools, fair access to federally funded education programs and services, as appropriate. The process depends on a “timely and meaningful consultation” between the School System and private school officials.
Note: Private schools do not directly receive equitable services funds. Funds for the provision of equitable services are allocated to the School System. It is the School System’s responsibility to provide equitable services directly or through a separate government agency, consortium, entity, or third-party contractor.
Title II, Part A: Private School Equitable Services
The purpose of Title II, Part A equitable services is to increase student achievement consistent with the challenging State academic standards; improve the quality and effectiveness of teachers, principals, and other school leaders; increase the number of effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders who are effective in improving student academic achievement in schools; and provide low-income and minority students greater access to effective teachers, principals, and other school leaders in the private nonprofit sector. The intent of the funding is to support educators in their work to improve the overall quality of instruction and ensure equity of educational opportunity for all students.
Education Service Center, Region 20 Private Nonprofit Support provides training and technical assistance to School Systems and private schools in the following areas:
Title I, Part A Shared Service Arrangement (SSA)
Title II, Part A Equitable Services Support
Title I, Part A Shared Service Arrangement (SSA)
As a member of the Title I Non-Public School SSA, member districts and the Education Service Center, Region 20, enter into a Shared Services Arrangement – in consultation with appropriate private schools - to provide educational services in compliance with the ESEA/ESSA federal requirements for non-public Title I, Part A services. The intent of the program is direct services to eligible private school children who are in greatest educational need and who reside in participating public school attendance areas. ESC- Region 20 will serve as the fiscal agent for the equitable services allocations of all participating private schools.Title II, Part A Service Contract Support
Education Service Center, Region 20 (ESC-20) offers dedicated support for private non-profit (PNP) schools through a Title II, Part A service contract. This service is designed to assist PNPs in successfully navigating the federal requirements for equitable services under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Our goal is to ensure you can maximize the use of your available Title II, Part A equitable services for high quality professional development for teachers and school leaders.
Key services provided through this contract include:
- Compliance Support: We help you understand and meet all ESSA requirements for equitable services, ensuring your programs are compliant.
- Effective Use of Funds: Our team offers guidance on how to strategically use Title II, Part A equitable services for allowable activities, such as:
- High quality, sustained professional development.
- Program Coordination: We assist in coordinating the delivery of services, whether they are provided by the school district or a third-party contractor, to ensure they meet the specific needs of your teachers and staff.
By partnering with ESC-20, your school gains the expertise needed to effectively manage and deploy your TItle I and Title II equitable services, ultimately supporting effective instruction and leadership on your campus.
