How a private school participates in How a private school participates in Title II professional development services for teachers and principals
Every yyear public school districts that receive federal Title II Part A funds are required to contact all private schools within their district boundaries. After identifying these schools, TUSD s Title I office contacts private schools in the fall by email and mail with an explanation of the services available and a response form to indicate whether or not the private school intends to participate. The following slides are designed to help you understand what The following slides are designed to help you understand what happens after a private school responds Yes on the Intent to Participate form for Title II Professional Development Services.
Private schools indicate their interest in participating in Title II by completing and returning this form
The Intent to Participate in Title II Part A interest form serves two functions: (1) It allows private schools to say Yes or No to participation in this federal program, and (2) If they intend to participate, it asks for the private school s total enrollment on a specific date. The date is significant only in that we want the student count to be the same day as TUSD s count. TUSD will determine a per pupil allocation (PPA) for all students (both TUSD and private schools). Each private school s Title II Part A allocation is equal to the PPA multiplied by their total enrollment.
G-2. What is meant by equitable participation? Participation is considered to be equitable if the public and private educational agencies and institutions: (1) assess, address, and evaluate the needs and progress of both groups of teachers in the same manner; (2) provide approximately the same amount of training and, where appropriate, instruction to teachers with similar needs; (3) spend an equal amount of funds per student to serve public and private school teachers; and (4) provide private school teachers with an opportunity to participate in Title II, Part A program activities equivalent to the opportunity provided public school teachers.
After the private school returns the Intent to Participate in Title II form
The Intent to Participate in Title II Part A email goes out to private schools in late September or early October with a response deadline in November. After the forms come in, the Title I office compiles the data and combines it with TUSD s enrollment data in December. These numbers are used for the annual application for Title II funds. Initial Title II allocations for private schools are sent out in the p Spring (hopefully before the school year ends in May).
Private schools complete a Needs Assessment as a crucial part of the consultation and program design process
The Needs Assessment is four (4) pages long. Every school must complete the 1 st page. Private schools with Title II funds must complete the 4 th page as well in order to identify desired areas for teacher and principal professional development. The activities listed by the private school on the 4 th page should y p p g promise to improve student achievement in the weakest academic areas listed on page 1 of the Needs Assessment.
G-6. What are the obligations of the LEA regarding the participation i of private school teachers in professional development programs funded under this program? As part of the application process, LEAs must assure that t they will comply with Section 9501 of ESEA (regarding participation by private school children and teachers). LEAs must consult with appropriate private school officials during the design, development, and implementation of the professional development program on such issues as: h h d f hild d h ill b id ifi d how the needs of children and teachers will be identified; what services will be offered; how, where, and by whom the services will be provided;
how the services will be assessed and how the results of the assessment will be used to improve those services; the size and scope of the equitable services; the amount of funds available for those services; and how and when the LEA will make decisions about the delivery of services. Consultation on the delivery of services must also include a thorough consideration and analysis of the views of the private school officials on the provision of contract services through potential third-party providers [Section 9501].
G-8. What are some of the eligible activities under this program in which private school teachers and other educational personnel may participate? As with any activity that the LEA carries out for public school teachers, activities supported with Title II, Part A funds that benefit private school teachers must meet the requirements of the statute. For example, activities to be carried out for private school personnel must be based on a review of scientifically based research and must be expected to improve student academic achievement.
Professional development activities may include: Improving the knowledge of teachers, principals, and other educational personnel in one or more of the core academic subjects and in effective instructional teaching strategies, methods, and skills; Training i in effectively integrating ti technology into curricula and instruction; Training in how to teach students with different needs including Training in how to teach students with different needs, including students with disabilities or limited English proficiency, and gifted and talented students;
Training in methods of improving student behavior,, identifying early and appropriate interventions, and involving parents more effectively in their children s education; Leadership development and management training to improve the quality of principals; and Training in the use of data and assessments to improve instruction and student outcomes.
G-10. How does the LEA ensure that it is providing equitable services? To ensure that it is providing equitable professional development services to private school teachers and other educational personnel, the LEA should consider ways to: Assess, address, and evaluate the needs and progress of both public and private school teachers; Spend an equal amount of funds per student to serve the needs of public and private school teachers and their students; Provide private school teachers with an opportunity to participate in Title II activities equivalent to the opportunity provided public school teachers; and Offer educational services to private school teachers that are secular, neutral, and non-ideological [Section 9501(a)(2)].
G-11 Does the professional development program for private school teachers have to be the same as the professional development program for public school teachers? No. Consultation and coordination are essential to ensuring highquality, sustained, intensive, and classroom-focused professional development activities for private school teachers. LEAs must assess the needs of private school teachers in designing the professional development program for private school teachers. If the professional development needs of the private school teachers are different from those of public school teachers, the LEA, in consultation with private school representatives, should develop a separate program.
G-12. May Title II, Part A funds be used to pay for a private school teacher s attendance at a professional conference sponsored or conducted by a faith-based organization? Yes. To the extent that the conference is part of a sustained and comprehensive secular professional development plan for the teacher, then Title II, Part A funds may be expended to pay for the portion of the costs of the conference that, as determined by the LEA, represent the secular professional development in which the teacher participated. In this case, the LEA would pay or reimburse the teacher for attendance at the conference.
G-13. May funds be used to pay stipends to private school teachers participating in a Title II, Part A professional development program? Yes. Title II, Part A funds may be used to pay for stipends for private school teachers, as reasonable and necessary. For example, if the professional development activity is conducted during after-school hours or in the summer, stipends may be needed d to compensate teachers for their participation outside their regular employment hours. Stipends for private school teachers must be available on the same basis as those for public school teachers and the stipends must be paid directly to the private school teachers for their own use, and not to the private school.
G-14. May Title II, Part A funds be used to pay any portion of a private school teacher s salary or benefits? No. While LEAs must set aside an amount of Title II, Part A funds for the equitable participation of private school teachers in professional development activities, funds may not be used to pay or subsidize any portion of a private school teacher s salary or benefits. G-15. May Title II, Part A funds be used to pay for substitute teachers who replace teachers from private schools while they attend professional development activities? No. The Title II, Part A program does not authorize payments to private schools to be used for hiring substitute teachers.
G-24. May yprofessional development be conducted within private schools? Yes, professional development activities may be conducted in the private school facilities.
When deciding whether a particular Professional Development activity is allowable, TUSD Title I must consider: (1) Whether the activity is allowable given the general guidelines of Title II guidance. (2) Whether the activity or training can be directly tied to the private school s Needs Assessment plan to enhance their teacher s ability to raise the academic performance of students. (3) Whether the activity is supplemental to the private school s regular program that is, would the private school provide the activity or training in the absence of the Title II funds?
After the private school completes the Needs Assessment
There is a long break between the initial gathering of private school total enrollment numbers and the preliminary notification of each private school s Title II Part A allocation. Private school enrollment numbers are collected in the Fall (November) and added to TUSD s student data. During the Winter, TUSD leadership considers various Title II funding scenarios before determining a district wide per pupil allocation (PPA). Once the per pupil allocations is announced, we can determine each private school s preliminary Title I allocation based on their total enrollment.
This preliminary allocation figure is a best guess number given in order to allow TUSD Title I and private schools to plan for the coming school year. Private schools can use this preliminary allocation number as a basis for thinking through a training plan for the coming year. The federal funds are distributed to states and then to public school districts during summer months (typically July). Adjustments may need to be made to the preliminary allocations based on the actual funds received. These final allocations are then communicated to private schools via email as quickly as possible.
The many ways a private school can obtain training
There are five (5) ways for a private school to use Title II Part A funds to obtain live or in-person professional development training for their teachers: (1) Registering for a Conference (2) Using a TUSD Contracted Vendor at your school (3) Using a Non-Contracted Vendor at your school (4) Using a TUSD employee as a trainer at your school (5) Participating in TUSD Professional Development training i events
If there is a conference that would address the professional development needs of a private school s teachers, Title II funds can be used to pay for the conference registration and travel expenses (please see travel policy on the TUSD Private School Support website). http://www.tusd1.org/contents/depart/title1/documents/travelpolicy.pdf Conferences involving travel tend to be more expensive and therefore a less efficient way to use Title II funds (fewer teachers helped).
TUSD has a number of vendors who are contracted with the district to provide professional development training at TUSD schools. These same vendors are available for use by private schools. You can find a list of these contractors on the Title I Private School Support website on the Professional Development Opportunities page. http://www.tusd1.org/contents/depart/title1/documents/ps_pdleadership.pdf http://www.tusd1.org/contents/depart/title1/documents/ps_pdtrainingcoaching.pdf The third column on each list of contractors gives you the PD topics most often addressed by these companies.
If there is no TUSD contracted vendor that can provide the professional development desired by the private school, it is possible to enter into a process of requesting quotes from other vendors for these services. Please note well, if there is a contracted vendor who can, address the desired topic, the private school must use the vendor contracted with TUSD.
TUSD has many employees who are capable trainers. It may be that we can provide someone to train your teachers on a specific topic or program. All TUSD employees who are used as trainers at private schools will be billed at $50 per hour (up to $400 for an 8 hour day). A unique service provided by TUSD is the training and science kits available through the TUSD Regional Science Center. For more information please see the Title II and TUSD s Regional Science Center on the TUSD Private School Support webpage for Professional Development Opportunities. http://www.tusd1.org/contents/depart/title1/documents/titleii_science.pdf
All private school educators are welcome to attend TUSD professional development activities. The Curriculum Connection is forwarded monthly by the Title I office to all private schools listing current offerings. If you have a teacher who is interested in participating in a TUSD event, please let the Title I Program Coordinator know, and they will arrange for their registration through the TUSD Professional Development Office. For more information and a fee schedule, please see Title II and TUSD Professional Development Training i on the TUSD Private School Support webpage for Professional Development Opportunities. http://www.tusd1.org/contents/depart/title1/documents/titleii_pd.pdf
It is also possible to use Title II funds for non-live training. Non-live training options include: - On demand video (usually requires a license) - Online courses - Training Books - Training DVDs - Webinars
After training is completed, please complete the two (2) page evaluation form and send it to the Title I Office
Using Title II funds for conferences that involve travel
There are several entities that sponsor professional training conferences and workshops in Tucson. Using local conferences lowers the expense and stretches your Title II allocation. Many companies as well as national teacher organizations hold annual conferences that move around the country. A conference must be at least 50 miles outside tid of Tucson for a participant s tii t travel costs to be covered by Title II. Wh f i l l b d When a conference involves travel, expenses can be covered by Title II funds by either (1) Purchase Orders or (2) submitting receipts for reimbursement.
A purchase order is an official and binding document issued by a buyer (TUSD) to a vendor (e.g. a contractor, conference, or hotel) authorizing the expenditure of funds for goods and services. A purchase order creates an "encumbrance" or "lien" dedicating funds at the time the purchase order is issued by TUSD s purchasing department. By using a purchase order, everyone involved in the purchase process can track the order by referring to the unique purchase order number as a standard reference. A purchase order contains a description of the transaction including the seller, quantities, prices, discounts, payment terms, dates, and any other terms and conditions of the purchase.
The preeminent rule of purchasing is that no funds can be spent prior to the generation of a purchase order. When traveling for a conference, we can use purchase orders to cover the costs of registration, hotels, and airfare prior to the conference. If the teacher/traveller personally pays for any of the expenses, they will be reimbursed after the conference. Travel per diems and other expenses (such as a taxi or shuttle) paid during the conference are always reimbursed to the teacher/traveller after the conference.
Reimbursements are paid by check to the person listed as paying on any travel expense receipt. If a school administrator or other personnel is paying for an expense (such as hotel room or airfare) for someone else, please make this clear to us so that we can list them in our documentation ti and they can be reimbursed after the conference.
Private schools should become familiar with the travel policy, forms, and receipt requirements for Title II activities
Private schools use this form to submit requests to use Title II funds for conferences involving travel
Private schools use this form to submit receipts for reimbursement after the conference
This chart will help you go step by step through the process for using Title II funds for arranging travel
Always consult with the TUSD Title I program coordinator before making any PD commitments. Approval and paperwork have to be completed prior to any conference even if costs will be covered by reimbursement after the event. Never pay for any cost that you want TUSD to cover with a purchase order. If you pay for a cost up front, you will be reimbursed after the event. TUSD Title I will only make travel arrangements up to one day prior and one day after the conference and round trip itineraries from Tucson. Any other arrangements must be made by the teacher/traveller and be reimbursed after the event.
Everything you need and the most up to date
Please note that everything you need is available on the TUSD Private School Support webpage: http://www.tusd1.org/contents/depart/title1/privateschool.asp Thi b it h th f d i f ti th t t t This website has the forms and information that are most up-todate for your use!
If you need help, please do not hesitate to contact the TUSD Title I Program Coordinator serving Tucson s private schools Bill Glad Tucson Unified School District 1010 E. 10 th Street Building A, Room 221 Tucson, AZ 85719 520.225.6290225 Phone 520.225.6162 Fax william.glad@tusd1.org g