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Diocese of Sacramento |
Benefits
for Private School Students and Teachers from Federal
Education Programs
Private school students and teachers, including those in religiously affiliated schools, can receive many federal education program benefits. The benefits are designed to meet the needs of the students being served and not of the private school itself. Following are summaries of some programs from the U.S. Department of Education that provide benefits to private school students and their teachers. For more information on federal programs for private school students and teachers, visit www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/NonPublic/.
NOTE: many of these programs depend upon the public school district in which the Catholic school is located to apply for and receive these funds. If the local public school does not participate in the program, then funds are not available for the private school. Contact your local Catholic school principal to determine if your Catholic school is eligible for and/or participating in a specific program.
Title
I ESEA - Education for Disadvantaged Students
Title I provides supplementary instruction by public school teachers to students who are failing or in danger of failing to meet high academic standards and who live in areas of high poverty. Instruction can also be provided through the use of computer-assisted instruction, after-school programs, tutoring, and other ways that will beet the needs of the participating students. If you think you have a student who qualifies for Title I services, please contact your school's principal.
Title
II ESEA - Eisenhower Professional Development
Program
The Eisenhower Professional Development Program provides professional development opportunities to private school teachers that are designed to meet the specific needs of private school students. Priority is given to professional development activities in math and science.
The Reading Excellence Act provides benefits to students at private schools located in public school districts participating in this program to assist in ensuring that every child learns to read well and independently by the end of the third grade.
Title
III ESEA - Technology Education for All
The Technology Literacy Challenge Fund is provided to every state, which in turn competes grants to its public school districts. Students attending private schools located in public school districts that receive these grant funds can participate in the program benefits, which include computer hardware and software, professional development and parent training.
A competitive Technology Innovation Challenge Grant is provided to consortia made up of at least one high-poverty public school district and can include other public schools, private schools, public television, community organizations, and literacy associations. Students attending private schools located in public school attendance areas receiving assistance from the grant, or private schools that are participating in a consortium receive benefits from the program.
Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to Use Technology, also a competitive grant program, provides professional development activities to private school teachers that are designed to meet the needs of private school students.
Title
IV ESEA - Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program
Private school students can receive equitable services from the public school district under the state and local grant program to meet their specific needs for a violence-free and drug-free environment. The services can include prevention programs, alternative activities, peer mediation, counseling services, and crisis intervention programs.
Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, a coordinated grant from the Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services, provides services to private school students located in public school districts receiving this competitive grant. Services can include linking parents to community services and providing information on healthy living.
Title
VI ESEA - Innovative Education Program
Title VI provides innovative assistance, including supplementary educational materials such as computers, computer software, library materials, and reference materials; programs to improve the higher-order thinking skills of disadvantaged students; and programs to serve gifted and talented students. The materials or services are those that will meet the needs of the private school students.
The Class-Size Reduction program is also part of Title VI and provides for the hiring of public school teachers to reduce class size. These funds cannot be used to reduce class size in private schools. However, public school districts also have the option of setting aside a portion of their Class-Size Reduction funding for professional development. In these cases, private school teachers also receive professional development that is designed to meet their needs.
Title
VII ESEA - Bilingual Education
When a public school district receives a competitive grant under the Bilingual Education Program, students attending private schools located in that district can receive benefits from this grant. Benefits include bilingual instruction, parent programs and professional development.
The Bilingual Education Professional Development Program also provides benefits to private school students by providing professional development activities for their teachers.
Districts with a threshold number of proportion of recent immigrants qualify for the Emergency Immigrant Assistance Act funds, which generally flow by formula from the states. When a district participates in this program, immigrant students attending private schools located in this district receive educational materials and other benefits.
IDEA
- Part B
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that every state have in effect policies and procedures to ensure that all children with disabilities residing in the state are identified, located, and evaluated. This includes children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who are in need of special education and related services. Children attending private schools who are found to have a disability may receive services that are funded with the federal dollars that fund special education. If the state allows, they may also receive services through state and local funding sources.
Telecommunications
Act - E-Rate
Private schools are eligible to apply for discounts for connectivity expenses to be linked to telecommunications, including the Internet. Discounts vary depending on the level of poverty at the private school. Discounts are funded through the Universal Service Fund. The E-Rate program is administered by the Schools and Libraries Division of the Federal Communications Commission.
For further information, visit the Office of Non-Public Education on the Web at www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/NonPublic/
"That
Catholic schools help to form good citizens is a fact
apparent to everyone. Both government policy and public
opinion should, therefore, recognize the work these schools
do as a real service to society. It is unjust to accept the
service and ignore or fight against its source." The
Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School,
#46, The Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome,
1988