Slide 1
Equitable Services
Sections 1117 and 8501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), require participating local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide eligible private school students, their teachers, and their families with services that are equitable to those services provided to eligible public school students, their teachers, and their families.

Slide 2
ESSA’s Equitable Services Requirements
Section 1117:
Title I Part A - Academic Achievement of At-Risk Students

Section 8501:
Title I Part C - Education of Migratory Children
Title II Part A - Supporting Effective Instruction
Title III Part A - Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students
Title IV Part A - Student Support and Academic Enrichment
Title IV Part B - 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC)

Slide 3
Timely Allocations
Private schools must have equitable access to advance, preliminary, and final funds, just as the LEA does. 
The LEA should not withhold allocation amounts from private schools at any time.
To ensure that equitable services are provided in a timely manner, an LEA must obligate the funds allocated for equitable services under all applicable programs in the year for which they are appropriated (Sections 1117(a)(4)(B) and 8501(a)(4)(B), ESEA- which can be found at the following website https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114s1177enr/pdf/BILLS-114s1177enr.pdf#page=71). 

Slide 4
Test your knowledge
When should an LEA provide a private school access to their allocation?
Notes: When LEAs receive their 25% advances in early July, private schools should also have access to 25% of their allocation amounts at this time. Once the LEA has an approved application, private schools should have access to their entire allocation amount, regardless of the status of the LEA allocation (preliminary allocations vs. final allocations). LEAs should not withhold allocation amounts and access to funds from private schools at any time.   If the amount changes during the year which it often does, the LEA can and should revise the allocation accordingly.

Slide 5
Chart with two columns. 
First column states:
Consultation should provide ample time and genuine opportunity: for all parties to express their views, to have their views seriously considered, and to discuss viable options for ensuring equitable participation.

Second column states:
Consultation should not include pre-determined program decisions with no input from all parties, such as: already established third party contract, already determined services, and already established timelines.

Slide 6
Test your knowledge
What is the goal of consultation?
Notes: The goal of consultation is reaching an agreement between the LEA and appropriate private school officials on how to provide equitable and effective programs for eligible private school children, teachers and other educational personnel, and families.

Slide 7
Consultation topics must include:
•	How LEA will identify the needs of eligible private school children;
•	The method or sources of poverty data (Title I Part A only);
•	What services will LEA offer and how, where, when, and by whom will those be provided (including delivery of services and whether a third-party contractor will be used);
•	The size and scope of the equitable services that the LEA will provide;
•	How will the LEA academically assess services and how will those results be used to improve services;
•	How, if LEA disagrees with private school officials regarding provision of equitable services, the LEA will provide notice, an analysis, and reasons to the private school officials;
•	Whether to provide funding through a “pool of funds” or with the proportion of funds allocated under this section;
•	Whether to consolidate and use Title I Part A funds in coordination with funds from other eligible programs that are dedicated to providing equitable services to private school students.

Slide 8
Suggested Timeline for Equitable Services
December: LEA contacts non-profit private schools in LEA’s boundaries.
January to February: The LEA hosts an information session about equitable services and begins. consultation process. This session includes setting up the consultation calendar for the up-coming school year.
February to May: Ongoing consultation to determine needs and develop program.
April to May: Identify students, if applicable, & determine equitable services amount.
July: Start date should be the same as public schools. Services can begin.
August to June: Ongoing consultation, services, and assessment activities. 
Spring: Start consultation process for next school year.
Notes: Ideally, planning for private school equitable services should begin in the late fall prior to the school year for which services are being planned. ESSA requires consultation before any decisions are made affecting services to private school children.

Slide 9
It is important to discuss administrative costs during consultation with appropriate private school officials.
Chart with two columns.

First column states: 
Administrative costs may include portions of salaried positions related to the running of the grant; and it also includes the LEAs indirect cost amount.

Second column states: 
Administrative costs may not include salaried positions responsible for the delivery of program activities or services; and other costs related to program delivery.

Slide 10
Ongoing Consultation Efforts and Documentation
•	Ongoing consultation can be conducted in person, via e-mails, by mail, and through LEA-organized meetings.
•	It is important that LEAs document their efforts and the ongoing communication between them and the private schools. 
•	Documentation can include e-mails, phone call logs, letters, attendance sheets, meeting agendas, webinar information, etc.

Slide 11
Written Affirmation
•	LEA must obtain written affirmation that timely and meaningful consultation occurred.
•	Keep in mind that private school administrators should have the opportunity to sign a written affirmation indicating timely and meaningful consultation did not occur, or that the program design is not equitable.
LEAs will be required in the future to submit written affirmations documentation to the equitable services ombudsman every year. 
Notes: Funds cannot be withheld from a private school if a school representative declines to provide written affirmation that timely and meaningful consultation has occurred.  

Slide 12
Consultation and Allocation Request
•	Section 1117(a)(4)(D) of the ESEA, as amended by the ESSA, requires that the agreement between the LEA and private school(s) be transmitted to the equitable services ombudsman.
•	Information requested will include: written affirmation and equitable services allocation for each applicable title program.
•	LEAs will receive a memo outlining the request’s details.

Slide 13
Roll Forward Funds
To ensure that equitable services are provided in a timely manner, an LEA must obligate the funds allocated for equitable services under all applicable programs in the year for which they are appropriated (ESEA Sections 1117(a)(4)(B)- which can be found at the following website https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114s1177enr/pdf/BILLS-114s1177enr.pdf#page=71 and 8501(a)(4)(B)- which can be found at the following website https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-114s1177enr/pdf/BILLS-114s1177enr.pdf#page=308). 
Contact the equitable services ombudsman if you have questions or concerns about this requirement.

Slide 14
Equitable Services Website
We have created a page for equitable services within the department’s website. We will be adding recourses, allocations, and other information as these become available.
www.fldoe.org/finance/equitable-services/ 

Slide 15
•	Coming soon…
•	21st CCLC conference (6/27-6/28) in Orlando;
•	Complaint process;
•	Consultation and allocation data request; and
•	Equitable services resources.

Slide 16
www.fldoe.org 
Nicolle Tanner
Equitable Services Ombudsman
Nicolle.Tanner@fldoe.org 
850-245-9349 (office)