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ESEA & IDEA: Presentation

Stakeholder Information

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What we will cover?

What is ESEA and how does it impact the students of Closter?

What is IDEA and how does it impact the students of Closter?

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ESEA - Elementary and Secondary Education Act

The federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) emphasizes equal access to education to ensure that every student succeeds. The current version of ESEA was authorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and signed into law on December 10, 2015. ESEA authorizes an important group of educational programs administered by the states. These programs provide supplemental support to eligible schools and districts to raise the academic achievement of struggling learners and address the complex challenges that arise among students who live with disability, mobility problems, learning difficulties, poverty, transience and the need to learn English as a second language.

Closter Public Schools receives funding for:

  • Title I, Part A – Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
  • Title II, Part A – Supporting Effective Instruction
  • Title III, Part A – Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students
  • Title IV, Part A – Student Support and Academic Enrichment

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ESEA Consortium

Title II, III and IV funds are managed by the Northern Valley Curriculum Consortium

  • Title II - professional development
  • Title III - for English Language Learners
  • Title IV - used for programs like TMS Fitness Center, iPads, Laptops, SmartBoards, and Anti-Bullying Programming, Standards-Based Instruction Online

Title I programs are arranged locally by Closter Public Schools

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Title I

  • The needs of the students
  • The criteria used to select student participation

  • The criteria used for low income

  • The services to be provided
  • How and where the services will be provided

  • How services will be assessed

  • How funds will be used 


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The needs of the students

Tenakill Middle School, 5-8

A minority of students underperform in mathematics

Basic skills expansion of program from grades 5-6 to 5-8 (also known as the Plus Program)

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The criteria used to select student participation

The following is used to help decide who participates in Plus:

  • Did not achieve a 4+ on PARCC, NJSLA
  • Benchmark Exams
  • Teacher Recommendation
  • Final Grade
  • Final Exam

Above are the present criteria, we are looking towards creating a rubric to equalize and streamline the process.

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The criteria used for low income

Closter receives funds based on:

  • Free/Reduced Eligibility Guidelines 2021-2022
  • Census

But students who participate in the Plus Program do not have to be low income

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The services to be provided in Tenakill

Dedicated mathematics Basic Skills Teacher for the Plus Program, in addition to the Basic Skills Teacher for Language Arts, both 5-8 grades

Pull-out program 1-2x per week

Expansion of Plus Program at TMS

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How and where the services will be provided

At Tenakill Middle School

During the school day 8:30 - 3:10

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Assessment

  • Progress Reports - standards-based criteria, given out at 2-3x per year
  • Exit criteria:
    • Plus Program Teacher Recommendation
    • Grade Level Math Teacher Recommendation
    • Achieve PARCC 4+

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Funds

Materials will be used to support the mathematics instruction of the program

Staff member hired to expand the availability of the Plus Program

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IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that requires each state to ensure that a free appropriate public education (FAPE) is available to all eligible children with disabilities residing in that state. IDEA creates provisions related to, and benefits available to, children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private schools, including religious schools, when the provision of FAPE is not at issue.

In IDEA, these children are often referred to as “parentally placed private school children” with disabilities, and the benefits available to them differ from the benefits for children with disabilities in public schools.

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What is the Purpose of IDEA?

IDEA is designed to improve educational results for all children with disabilities. Therefore, it provides benefits and services to children with disabilities in public schools and requires school districts to make services and benefits available to children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in nonpublic (private) schools. The law includes language requiring state education agencies (SEAs) and local education agencies (LEAs) to ensure the equitable participation of parentally placed children with disabilities in programs assisted by or carried out under the equitable participation requirements that apply to them.

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How does it Affect Us?

The LEA’s obligations to parentally placed private school children with disabilities are different from its responsibilities to those enrolled in public schools or to children with disabilities placed in a private school by a public agency (rather than by parents) as a means of providing FAPE. Parentally placed children with disabilities do not have an individual entitlement to services they would receive if they were enrolled in a public school. Instead, the LEA is required to spend a proportionate amount of IDEA federal funds to provide equitable services to this group of children. Therefore, it is possible that some parentally placed children with disabilities will not receive any services while others will. For those who receive services, the amount and type of services also may differ from the services the child would receive if placed in a public school by the parents or in a private school by a public agency. LEAs are required to consult with private school representatives and representatives of parents of parentally placed children with disabilities during the design and development of special education and related services for these children.

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Questions?

If you have any questions regarding ESEA and IDEA or to be a parent advisor, please contact: Director of Special Services, Building Principal, or Plus Program

Ms. Patricia Eichenlaub, Director of Special Services, eichenlaubp@nvnet.org

Mr. William Tantum, TMS Principal, tantum@nvnet.org

Ms. Ellen Monaghan, Plus Program Instructor, monaghan@nvnet.org