The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
                        Benefits to Private School Students and Teachers   

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as reauthorized by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, provides benefits to private school students, teachers and other education personnel, including those in religiously affiliated schools.  These services are considered to be assistance to students and teachers and not to private schools.  The reauthorized ESEA requires the equitable participation of private school students, teachers and other education personnel in some of its major programs.  The following information provides explanations of some of the law's provisions and brief summaries of relevant ESEA programs.     


               TITLE I:  Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged

Title I, Part A - Improving Basic Programs Operated by LEAs

Title I, Part A, provides supplementary instruction by public school teachers or through a third-part contractor to students who are educationally disadvantaged and failing or most at risk of failing to meet high academic standards, and who live in areas of high poverty.  Instruction may take place during the school day, before or after school, or in the summer.  Title I services may be provided on site at the private school, including religiously affiliated schools, or at other locations.  Funds are generated on the basis of the number of children from low-income families who reside in participating public school attendance areas and attend private schools.  Private school students who reside within a Title I attendance area and who are failing or most at risk of failing to meet high academic standards are eligible for services.

Services may include a targeted, assisted pullout model, supplementary instruction, direct instruction, computer-assisted instruction, tutoring, counseling, family literacy and early childhood programs.  In addition, the law requires equitable participation of private school teachers of Title I students in professional development activities and of parents of Title I students in parent involvement activities.  Title I is not governed by the Uniform Provisions; it has its own requirements.  Under Title I, LEAs are required to maintain a written affirmation signed by an official for each participating private school that the required consultation has occurred.

Title I, Part B - Reading First

Reading First provides funding to implement comprehensive reading instruction for children in kindergarten through third grade.  Funds must be used for reading programs; instructional materials; professional development; administering screening, diagnostic and curriculum-based reading assessments; collecting and reporting data; and promoting reading and library programs.  Reading First is governed by the Uniform Provisions, and private school children in the areas served by public schools receiving Reading First funds are eligible for services.


               TITLE II:  Preparing, Training and Recruiting High Quality Teachers 
                               and Principals
                             
Title II, Part A - Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund

The Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund provides assistance for preparing, training, recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers.  This program is governed by the Uniform Provisions, but the amount of funding available for services to private school personnel is governed by Section 9501 (b) (3), which requires equitable participation of private school teachers and other education personnel to the extent that the LEA uses its funds for professional development.  For the purposes of determining the amount of program funds to be made available for services to private school teachers, the law "imputes" a minimum amount of program funds devoted to professional development as the total amount spent in fiscal year 2001 for professional development under the predecessor Eisenhower Professional Development Program and the Class Size Reduction Program.  Activities may include improving teachers' knowledge in the core academic subjects and effective instructional teaching strategies; technology integration training; teaching students with different learning styles; using assessments to improve instruction and student outcomes; involving parents more effectively; and education leadership development.

Title II, Part B - Mathematics and Science Partnerships

The Mathematics and Science Partnerships program provides funds to improve mathematics and science teaching through a variety of activities.  Partnerships must include an engineering, math or science department of an institution of higher education (IHE) and a high-need LEA.  Private schools may be members of these partnerships.  Activities include professional development; stipends and scholarships for advanced coursework in mathematics, science or engineering; and programs to bring math and science teachers into contact with working scientists, mathematicians and engineers.  This program is administered jointly with the National Science Foundation.  The Mathematics and Science Partnerships program is governed by the Uniform Provisions and requires the equitable participation of teachers who teach in private schools located in school districts where grants are awarded.

Title II, Part D - Enhancing Education Through Technology

The Enhancing Education Through Technology program provides funds for innovative initiatives to support the integration of education technology into classrooms to improve teaching and learning.  Activities include professional development in technology integration and the use of the Internet; distance learning initiatives; acquiring education technology; and using technology to enhance parental involvement.  This program is governed by the Uniform Provisions and requires the equitable participation of students and teachers in private school located in school districts where grants are awarded.


               TITLE III

TITLE III, Part A - English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement

The English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement and Academic Achievement program provides funds for helping limited English proficient (LEP) children attain English proficiency and meet the same challenging state academic standards as all children are expected to meet.  Funds must be used for increasing English proficiency of LEP children by providing high-quality language instruction and high-quality professional development.  Private school students and teachers whose schools are located within an LEA that receives a subgrant from the state are eligible to participate in this program, as required by the Uniform Provisions.


               TITLE IV

Title IV, Part A - Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities

The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act supports programs that foster a safe and drug-free learning environment.  Authorized activities include drug, violence and suicide prevention programs; professional development and training; developing school security plans; conflict resolution, community service and character education programs; family involvement activities; counseling; mentoring; and emergency intervention services.  The Uniform Provisions for the equitable participation of private school students apply to programs authorized under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, including the competitive grant programs awarded directly by the Department.

Title IV, Part B - 21st Century Community Learning Centers

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) programs provides before and after school (including summer) services to children and their families that include academic enrichment activities, particularly for students who attend low-performing schools, to help them meet state and local student performance standards in core academic subjects.  Activities may include remedial education, academic enrichment, art, music, tutoring, mentoring, recreation, technology, drug and violence prevention, counseling, character education and family literacy.  The Uniform Provisions apply to the 21st CCLC program and require the equitable participation of private school students, teachers and other education personnel who are part of the target population.


               TITLE V

Title V, Part A - Innovative Programs

Innovative Programs support education reform and innovative school improvement programs to improve school, student and teacher performance.  Private school students, teachers and other education personnel may receive professional development, library materials, educational equipment and repair and minor remodeling or construction of public facilities.  Other activities may include community service programs; consumer education; purchase of computer hardware and software; programs to hire and support school nurses; school-based mental health services; programs for cardiopulmonary resuscitation training in schools; and parent and community involvement.  The program has its own provisions for the equitable participation of private school students, teachers and other education personnel (section 5142).