State Equitable Services Ombudsman

The state education agency (SEA) must designate an ombudsman to monitor and enforce the requirements related to equitable services provided to non-public school children, teachers, and other educational personnel in non-public schools as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
[Sec. 117(a)(3)(B) and Sec.8501(a)(3)(B)]

The ombudsman’s role as a fair and impartial mediator helps to ensure equitable services for non-public school children, teachers, and other educational personnel.

Ombudsman’s Roles and Responsibilities

• Monitors and enforces equitable services requirements under Title I, Part A and programs governed under Title VIII: Title I, Part C; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A; and Title IV, Part A & B;
• Monitors consultation between school districts and non-public schools;
• Addresses questions and concerns from non-public school officials and public school administrators regarding the provision of equitable services under Titles I and VIII;
• Serves as the primary point of contact for responding to and resolving any formal complaints regarding equitable services that the SEA receives under its ESEA complaint procedure;
• Provides resources, processes and training for equitable services;
• Works in partnership with the Office of Title Grants and Support to develop monitoring protocols applicable to the provision of equitable services under each program.

Resources

• Non-Public School Non-Regulatory Guidance
• ESSA Non-Regulatory Guidance Fiscal Changes
• Summary of Federal Programs
• Equitable Services
  • Equitable Services Video
  • Equitable Services Presentation to Non-Public Schools
  • Equitable Services Requirements Under ESSA Video
• Non-Public School List 12-20-18
• 2018-2019 Non-Public School Allocations
  • Title I, A
  • Title I, C
  • Title II, A forthcoming
  • Title III, A
  • Title IV, A forthcoming
  • Title IV, B
• Equitable Services Complaint Resolution and Appeal Process for Title I and Title VIII
  • Letter of Concern to the LEA
  • Letter of Complaint
• Non-Public School Equitable Share Transfer Process
• Equitable Services FAQ
• IDOE ESSA TI Equitable Share Calculator
• IDOE ESSA TII Equitable Share Calculator
• Process for Releasing the Unexpended Equitable Share to the LEA
  • Non-Public Unexpended Equitable Share Release Form
• Memo Regarding Title II-A Non Pub
• Memo Regarding Non-Public IRS

Resources to Support Non-Public School Consultation

• Introduction to Non-Public School Consultation
• LEA Affirmation of Non-Public School Consultation Forms
• Timeline for Title I Consultation
• Non-Public School Funding Worksheet
• Assessing the Non-Public School Title I Program
• Title I Assessment Data Summary Chart with Analysis (Sample)
• Using Assessment Results to Modify Instruction, PD and PI (Sample)
• Reading Achievement Chart for Title I K-6 Students (Sample)
• End-of-Year Non-Public School Teacher Survey (Sample)
• End-of Year Non-Public School Parent Survey (Sample)