Saturday, June 30, 2012

NEW SES REGS EXPAND PROVIDERS’ ABILITY TO DIRECTLY MARKET SERVICES TO PARENTS

By SI&A Cabinet Report | http://bit.ly/N4bkFe

Thursday, June 28, 2012  ::  Among the many things competing for attention this time of year are the federally required parental notifications for students eligible for Supplemental Education Services at Title I schools – especially where it pertains to the new state rules governing the program.

Under federal law, schools that have been in Program Improvement for more than two years are required to offer SES – tutoring – to eligible students. These schools must offer SES enrollment at least twice during the year following a grading period.

Although the California State Board of Education adopted and the California Department of Education issued new regulations governing SES more than a year ago, there continue to be reports of misunderstandings and a general unawareness of the new rules, which have changed significantly.

One change in particular is catching some district administrator unaware, that is the new rule defining the parameters of SES provider marketing and communication with parents and the community– which local educational agencies had more discretion over in the past.

Under the new regulations, “An LEA may not prohibit or limit an approved provider from promoting its program or the general availability of SES to members of the community. An approved provider may distribute the LEA’s enrollment form to the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school offering SES and submits completed forms to the LEA within two business days.”

There have also been questions over incentives that a SES may provide students. The new rules now limit incentives to those educational materials and tools that support the delivery of the SES.” Incentives shall not exceed a monetary annual value of $50 per students. The limitation of the $50 value shall not apply to computers or other technical equipment used as the primary instructional tool providing these services.

SES Regs

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