June 2, 2016
Catholic Education News

Inside This Issue
Ombudsman Toolkit
ED FAQs
FAAC in DC
Catholic Schools and NAEP
Reading List
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Resources
Sorry for the missed week, all! It was a busy May at the USCCB and in Catholic education so we have a double-offering for you in this week's CE News. Enjoy!
Ombudsman Toolkit

The Ombudsman is a new role in the consultation process under ESSA. Appointed at the state level, the ombudsman is required to "monitor and enforce" the equitable services provisions of the law. It is crucial we get this position right.

Please see the Ombudsman Toolkit we put together to help you prepare for discussing this new role. Download, print, and share this document as much as you like - it is vital we have informed Catholic school administrators pushing for a neutral, empowered ombudsman.
 
ED FAQs

The U.S. Department of Education released an updated Transitioning to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to assist States during the transition from the No Child Left Behind Act to the ESSA.  The FAQs include questions about Title I, Part A equitable services. 

Two FAQs address Title I equitable services:  C-5d which states that Title I, Part A funds that an LEA would otherwise spend for choice-related transportation and supplemental educational services are subject to the requirement to provide equitable services to eligible private school children, their teachers, and their families; and  C-5e which provides guidance that LEAs in a State with a one-year transition plan must consult with private school officials prior to deciding how to use Title I, Part A funds that may be freed up.

The bottom line - if your state is doing a one-year transition, there will be more money available for Catholic school students. Make sure you know before you consult!

FAAC in DC

Members of FAAC before our day of advocacy.
The Federal Assistance Advisory Council, a dozen superintendents and State Catholic Conference Directors who assist my office in responding to Congress and crafting policy positions, met in Washington in May.

After a productive day of discussion and planning, we headed to Capitol Hill for a day of advocacy including 16 Congressional office visits and a 90-minute meeting with the Department of Education. We certainly made our presence known and received some positive feedback from Senators and Representatives.

Thank you to those who made the time to attend!  
 
Catholic Schools and NAEP

The "Nation's Report Card" will be reaching out soon (if they have not already) to request participation by Catholic schools in their assessments. 

Although private schools as a group do not respond enough to be reported, Catholic schools are reported -- and our students consistently perform significantly better than public school students on Math and Reading and on Technology & Engineering Literacy.

This is a great testament to the quality of Catholic education and results such as these can go a long way toward assuring parents their sacrifices are worth it for their children.

You can find out more about the National Assessment Governing Board here.
 
Reading List:
 
Best,
Greg Dolan