ESSA

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is a United States federal statute originally enacted in 1965. These federal funds are authorized for supplemental professional development, instructional materials, resources to support educational programs, as well as parent and family engagement programs. The current reauthorization of ESEA is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA was signed into law on December 10, 2015 and became effective on July 17, 2017.

Ferris ISD receives funding for the following entitlement programs within the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Title I, Part A
Title I, Part C: Migrant Education
Title II, Part A
Title III, Part A: English Learners (EL)
Title IV, Part A

Title I, Part A: Improving Basic Programs

Provides supplemental funding for resources to help schools with high concentrations of students from low-income families provide a high-quality education that will enable all children to meet the state's student performance standards. These programs must use effective methods and instructional strategies that are grounded in scientifically-based research.
All five Ferris ISD campuses are served as Title I Schoolwide Campuses.

(Visit the the Ferris ISD Title I webpage for more information.)

Title I, Part C: Education of Migratory Children

The purpose of the Migrant Education Program is to design and support programs that help migratory students overcome the challenges of mobility, cultural and language barriers, social isolation, and other difficulties associated with a migratory lifestyle. These efforts are aimed at helping migratory students succeed in school and successfully transition to postsecondary education and/or employment.

Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction

Provides supplemental funding to improve student achievement. The funds are used to elevate teacher and principal quality through recruitment, hiring and retention strategies, and to increase the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom. The program holds districts and schools accountable for improvements in student academic performance.

Title III, Part A: English Learners (EL) English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement

Provides supplemental resources to local education agencies to help ensure that children who are learning English as a second or other language attain English proficiency at high levels in core academic subjects to meet state mandated achievement performance standards.

Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment

Provides all students with access to a well-rounded education.
Improves schools conditions for student learning.
Improves the use of technology in order to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students.

Private Non-Profit (PNP) Schools: Equitable Services

School districts who receive federal grant funds are required to provide equitable services for eligible PNP school children, teachers, and other educational personnel. The term “equitable services” refers to the process of providing students, teachers, staff, and families at eligible PNPs fair access to federally funded education programs and services, as appropriate. Services provided by the LEA for private school participants are designed to meet their educational needs and supplement the educational services provided by the private school. Educational services or other benefits, including materials and equipment, provided under this section, shall be secular, neutral, and non-ideological. The process depends on a “timely and meaningful consultation” between school district officials and officials of eligible PNP Schools.

A Private Non-Profit (PNP) school may opt to participate in applicable programs if it meets the following specifications:

The private school submits documentation of approved IRS non-profit 501(c)(3) status. Note: Homeschools in Texas are considered to be private schools, but to participate in ESSA equitable services the homeschool must also submit documentation of approved IRS non-profit 501(c)(3) status.
The private school is accredited, licensed, or otherwise operates in accordance with Texas state law.
The private school submits all requested documents to the district to determine eligibility.
The private school and/or its students (depending upon the program of interest) are located within the geographic jurisdiction of a local educational agency (LEA) that is eligible and receives funding. If the LEA does not receive funds for a specific program, it is not possible for the PNP to receive funds for that program.
The private school official consults in a timely manner with district officials to discuss service delivery.

Under 34 CFR 77.1, the term “nonprofit” as applied to an agency, organization, or institution means it is owned and operated by one or more corporations or associations whose net earnings do not benefit, and cannot lawfully benefit, any private shareholder or entity. If a church that operates a school meets the definition of nonprofit, the school does not need separate nonprofit status. (USDE Office of General Counsel).

Equitable services are provided to eligible Private Non-Profits Schools under the following federal ESSA Title programs:

Title I, Part A: Improving Basic Programs for Educationally Disadvantaged Students
Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction
Title III, Part A: English Learners (EL)
Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants

Note: Ferris ISD participates in the PNP Shared Service Arrangement through Education Service Center Region 10. All ESSA consultation with PNPs is conducted by the ESC 10 SSA staff, with the exception of consultation with PNPs for the IDEA-B and IDEA-B Preschool grants. Consultation for these grants is conducted by the Ferris ISD Director of State & Federal Programs, Dr. Kevin Dixon, who may be reached at kdixon@ferrisisd.org.