Policies and Procedures Handbook


Last Updated: 4/01/2005
Garrett County Public Schools
40 South Second Street
Oakland, MD 21550
(301)334-8900

 

TITLE I SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Administrative Procedure

Introduction

With the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), commonly known as "No Child Left Behind," which became law on January 8, 2002, students in Garrett County attending Title I schools designated as being in school improvement status (Year II, corrective action, or restructuring) by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will be provided with the opportunity to receive supplemental educational services from a list of MSDE-approved vendors. If the Public Schools lacks the capacity to provide the supplemental services option to all students attending a Title I school identified as in School Improvement, Year II, status or beyond, as defined above, then the supplemental services option will be offered on an equitable basis in accordance with the specific provisions of the federal law. In exercising equitable options for students to receive supplemental services, the Board will give priority consideration to the lowest-achieving students from low-income families, as determined by eligibility for the federal free and reduced meal program.

General Guidelines

1. To be eligible for the supplemental educational services option, students must be eligible for free and/or reduced-priced meals and be enrolled in a school identified as being in School Improvement, Year II, status or beyond for the applicable school year.

2. Up to 20% of Title I funds will be utilized to provide the mandated supplementaleducational services.

3. No Title I funds will be utilized to provide transportation for students availing themselves of the supplemental educational services option.

4. In School Improvement, Year II, status or beyond, as required by law, parents will be given the opportunity to receive both the Title I school transfer option and the supplemental educational services option.

5. Students, who have transferred voluntarily into a school identified for school improvement, will not be eligible for the supplemental educational option. It will be available only to students attending their home schools (and if their home schools are Title I schools that have been identified for School Improvement, Year II, status or beyond as defined above).

Procedures

1. Parents will be notified via a letter sent by US mail, as well as through the school's newsletter, of a parent meeting to discuss their School Choice and Supplemental Educational Services options, eligibility guidelines, required forms, and deadlines for submission of either school transfer or supplemental services applications. (Applications received after the deadline for submission will not be honored.) Applications will be sent to and processed by the Director of Elementary Education.

2. Parents will be asked to visit their children's school to obtain and complete the application form requesting Supplemental Educational Services. (Parents will also be apprised of the absolute deadline for submitting their applications.) Parents will forward to the school office their signed agreement that identifies the selected supplemental service provider. The school will send the signed agreement to the Director of Elementary Education for processing.

3. A Supplemental Educational Services Committee, consisting of the Director of Elementary Education, the Supervisor of Pupil Services, the Supervisor of Special Education, the Coordinator of Staff Development and School Improvement, and the Curriculum Coordinator, will review all applications and prioritize them against two criteria: (a) those students performing significantly below grade level (one or more years below their assigned grade level) and (b) the socioeconomic status of each student's family (the family must qualify for the federal free and/or reduced meal program). No more than 20% of the annual Title I allotment for the Garrett County Public Schools will be used to subsidize the both the Title I School Transfer Option and the Supplemental Educational Services Option. Once this threshold is reached, then a waiting list will be established; Title I student transfers and supplemental services will be offered to parents whose children are on the waiting list as openings at the receiving schools materialize or funding becomes available for tutorial support during the academic year in conformance with "No Child Left Behind" administrative guidance. Arrangements for all approved Title I school transfers and supplemental services contracts will be completed by the Director of Elementary Education, in consultation with the Supervisor of Pupil Services, the Supervisor of Special Education, and/or the Director of Transportation. Parents will be asked to travel to their selected school or supplemental services providers to finalize the registration process prior to the opening of the new academic year and/or the commencement of any and all supplemental services or academic interventions.

4. Parents will be notified in writing by the Director of Elementary Education regarding the approval of their Supplemental Educational Services application and the date upon which the tutorial support will commence.

5.  The Director of Elementary Education will work with the parent, the child's teacher, and the principal to develop the contracted services between the parents's selected supplemental educational service provider and the Garrett County Public Schools.  The contract will be tailored specifically to the unique academic needs of the individual student and will include, as a minimum, the following:

a. Individualized achievement goals - The school system will develop with the service provider and the child's parent(s) or legal guardian a statement of specific achievement goals for the student, including how the student's progress will be measured and a timetable for improvement in achievement. If the student is identified as disabled, then the achievement goals must be consistent with the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) under the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).

b. Notification - The agreement will describe how the student's parent(s) or legal guardian and the student's teacher(s) will be regularly informed of his or her academic progress, i.e., the benefits gained from the private vendor's instructional interventions.

c. Termination - The agreement will stipulate specific conditions and circumstances that would terminate the contract if the service provider is unable to meet the stipulations of the agreement, i.e., the agreed-upon academic goals and timetables.

d. Payments - The agreement will specify when and how service providers will be paid, i.e., at the beginning of the month, at the end of the month, upon receipt of an invoice, etc.

e. Privacy issues - The agreement will prohibit the service provider from disclosing to the public or any other agency the identity of any student eligible for, or receiving supplemental educational interventions, without the informed, written consent of the student's parent(s) or legal guardian.

6. The school system will provide supplemental educational services through the end of the school year at issue. Continuation of these services in subsequent years will be predicated upon the school's progress toward meeting annual achievement targets and the level of the eligible student's federal free and reduced meal status.

Student Supplemental Educational Services Eligibility

First Level of Eligibility

Students receiving free and/or reduced meals and who are the lowest achieving students, as measured by state and local assessments and quarterly progress reports, will be given first priority for Title I-subsidized supplemental educational services.

          Second Level of Eligibility

          Students receiving free and/or reduced meals and who are deemed low performing students, as measured by state and local assessments and quarterly progress   
             reports, will be given second priority for Title I-subsidized supplemental educational services.    

             Third Level of Eligibility

              Students receiving free meals will be given third priority for Title I-subsidized supplemental educational services.

          Fourth Level of Eligibility

              Students receiving reduced price meals will be given fourth priority for Title I-subsidized supplemental educational services.

Title I Supplemental Educational Service Option Adobe Acrobat is required to view this chart.  Download free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html )


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Instruction 341.51 DDF
Adopted 11/11/2003