To ensure that Arkansas school districts understand how to manage a contract to provide Title I services to a private school, a Commissioner's Communication outlining the procedures is being issued as Commissioner’s Communication FIN-07-017.
A contract must be issued between the public school district and the employee. The only mention of the private school would be in designating the location where the services would be provided. The private school principal cannot sign the contract between the employee and the public school district. The Title I staff person is an employee of the local public school working under the supervision of the local public school in the private school performing Title I duties as described in the employee contract.
ADE is recommending that the local public school district use a standard teacher/non-certified staff contract for employing district Title I staff to work in a private school.
Time certification is required for Title I staff members teaching in private schools. Semi-annual certifications are required for full-time Title I staff and monthly certification for part-time staff. Sample letters and forms to be used in time certification have been previously provided to districts in required financial training sessions.
In addition, public schools must determine that a professional development activity is not a required state or local activity before using Title I funds to provide the activity.
U. S. Department of Education Non-Regulatory Guidance “Title I Services to Eligible Private School Children” issued October 17, 2003, contains further details. This Guidance can be found at http://www.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/psguidance.doc.