Many private school leaders have long struggled with getting their students equitable access to federal ESSA title services during normal times. Those problems have increased under the remote learning environment required by COVID-19.
To help address this dilemma, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) just released (5/6/20) “Responding to the Changing Needs of Private School Students. A guide for Wisconsin LEAs on equitable participation during the time of COVID-19”.
The DPI’s goal is to help public school districts and private schools work together during the mandatory school closures, and distance learning.
The guide was created with key input from WCRIS’s own Abbie Pavela, who serves as the Wisconsin Private School Ombudsman under a public-private partnership contract between WCRIS and the DPI.
The guide aims to support the provision of equitable services to private school students, as required by federal law, by providing clarity about what is required and how school districts can work with private schools to meet that obligation.
Of particular interest, the guide notes that the federal Coronavirus relief funds provided in the March 2020 CARES Act, will likely be available to local public school districts by July. The districts will manage the funds for their private schools, as required by federal law.
Those funds will be administered in a fashion similar to how ESSA funds and programs are delivered to private school students. It requires timely and meaningful consultation. So, contact your district today to talk about CARES Act funding.
The DPI’s new checklist-style document will help school districts more effectively work with you to: understand your school’s current instructional situation; to address what challenges you are facing or are anticipating in the coming weeks; and, to support efforts to use ESSA funds in a way that bolsters CARES Act funding.
Because of school closures and the move to online learning, the guide also addresses the evaluation process for Title programs. It addresses what “pre-pandemic” data schools are accustomed to having, but may need to replace since those options are not currently possible.
As you continue consulting with your school district, remember to document your conversations and clearly communicate your student needs.
See the WCRIS website for background info on CARES Act funding.
If you have any questions related to ESSA title programs, please contact Abbie Pavela, the Wisconsin Private School Ombudsman at essaombudsman@dpi.wi.gov.
