Equitable Services to Private Schools
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) includes separate provisions governing equitable services for eligible private school students, teachers and other educational personnel, and families under Title I and programs covered under Title VIII, Part F, Subpart 1, Uniform Provisions Subpart 1—Private Schools: Equitable Services for Private School Students, Teachers, and Other Educational Personnel (Title VIII).7 Many of those requirements remain unchanged from requirements under the ESEA as amended by No Child Left Behind act (NCLB). The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which amended the NCLB, made a number of significant changes. Some of those changes are common to the equitable services requirements under both Title I and Title VIII; others are different.
Equitable Services Ombudsman
New Requirement: Ombudsman. To help ensure equitable services and other benefits for eligible private school children, teachers and other educational personnel, and families, a State Educational Agency (SEA) must designate an ombudsman to monitor and enforce ESEA equitable services requirements under both Title I and Title VIII. (ESEA sections 1117(a)(3)(B) and 8501(a)(3)(B).)
What are the roles and responsibilities of an ombudsman? An ombudsman should serve as an SEA’s primary point of contact for addressing questions and concerns from private school officials and the Local Educational Agency (LEA) regarding the provision of equitable services under Titles I and VIII. In addition, the ombudsman is required to monitor and enforce the equitable services requirements under Titles I and VIII and, thus, should have a significant role in the State’s monitoring process. Furthermore, the ombudsman should ensure that private school officials know how to contact the ombudsman.
The ombudsman for the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is Theresa Gregory, 849 Learning Lane, West Columbia, SC 29172, 803-734-3749, tgregory@ed.sc.gov.
Private Schools in South Carolina
The following links are made available by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) as a courtesy to the public. These links can help individuals find information regarding private schools in South Carolina. The SCDE is a public school administrative body. As such, it does not accredit, authorize or oversee private schools in SC. The SCDE neither maintains nor updates these sites. If you would like more information on the content of these sites please contact them directly.
Resources
