Technology Opportunities and Programs
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (P.L. 107-110)
Participation of private school students and teachers
Introduction
This brochure offers a summary of the technology opportunities and programs accessible to private school students and teachers under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLBA), which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The NCLBA provides many opportunities for private school teachers and administrators to receive training in the language and use of current technology as well as how to incorporate technology into curricula and instruction. Private school representatives are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities and to be creative when structuring programs and using the knowledge. Although there are numerous titles in NCLBA which include the participation of private school students and teachers, this brochure specifically targets the technology opportunities and programs for which private school students and teachers are eligible. Please refer to the summary NCLBA brochure for a detailed description of all NCLBA programs in which private school students and teachers may participate. The complete text of NCLBA is also available at www.ed.gov/nclb.
TITLE I: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
Part A: Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies
Technology services that will foster parental involvement and will support a partnership between parents and the Title I program can be funded to support eligible private school students. [Section 1118 (e) (2)]
After timely and meaningful consultation with the appropriate private school officials, local education agencies (LEAs) are obligated to provide equitable services and benefits to eligible private school children that address their specific needs. Such services and benefits may include educational radio and television, computer equipment and materials, and other technology that address their needs and ensure that teachers and families of the students also participate in such services on an equitable basis. [Section 1120 (a) (1)]
Part B: Student Reading Skills Improvement Grants
Subpart 1: Reading First
Private school students and teachers whose schools are located in a Reading First target area, or students and the teachers of students who reside in a Reading First target area are eligible to receive services and benefits that procure and implement instructional material that is based on scientifically-based research. Instruction material may include educational technology such as software and other digital curricula. [Section 1202 (c) (7) (A) (iii)]
Part C: Education of Migratory Children
Through this program, services to eligible private school students may involve programs that include the integration of information technology into the educational and related programs for migratory children. [Section 1304 (c) (6) (D)]
TITLE II: Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals
Part A: Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund
Private school teachers and administrators may benefit from services such as innovative professional development opportunities to effectively integrate technology into curricula and instruction, including training to improve teaching, learning, and technology literacy. [Section 2113 (c) (10) and (11) and Section 2123 (a) (5)]
Part B: Math and Science Partnerships
One of the purposes of Title II Part B is to improve and expand the training of math and science teachers, including training these teachers in the integration of technology into curricula and instruction. LEAs that participate in this program must provide equitable services to private school teachers. [Section 2201 (a) (5)]
Private school teachers are eligible for services that may include professional development programs and summer workshops or institutes for math and science teachers that may include training in using technology in the classroom. [Section 2202 (c) (3) (B) (iii)]
Additionally, private school math and science teachers may obtain professional development services to develop programs that encourage young women and other underrepresented individuals to pursue math and science careers, including careers in technology. [Section 2202 (c) (10)]
Part D: Enhancing Education Through Technology
Some of the purposes of Title II Part D are to implement and support the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools to improve student achievement as well as to encourage initiatives that increase access to technology, particularly in high-need schools. [Section 2402 (a) (1) and (2)]
Through this program, private school students may be provided with services that help deliver specialized academic courses and curricula though the use of technology, including distance learning technology. Moreover, private school teachers are eligible for on-going, intensive professional development services that integrate technology into curricula and instruction and utilize those technologies to generate new learning environments. These professional development opportunities include training in the use of technology to access data and resources to create curricula and instructional materials and to help teachers to use the internet and other technologies to communicate with parents, other teachers, principals, and administrators. Professional development activities should lead to improvements in classroom instruction in the core academic subjects. Services should provide teachers and students, including students with disabilities and limited English proficiency, with access to educational technology. [Section 2415 (a) (1), (a) (2), (a) (3) (A), (a) (3) (B) (i) and (ii), (a) (3) (C), (a) (4), (a) (5) and Section 2416 (a) (1) (B) (i), (a) (1) (C), (b) (1), (b) (2) (A), (b) (2) (B), (b) (3)]
In addition, services may be provided through Title II that use technology to create or enhance efforts to connect schools and teachers with parents and students to develop greater parental involvement. Technology could be used to foster more communication about curricula, assignments, and assessments between students, parents, and teachers. Also, technology provided through the program may be used to effectively help parents understand how technology is being incorporated into their child's education so that the parents can reinforce at home the instruction their child has received at school. [Section 2416 (b) (4)]
Private school teachers may also receive services that prepare elementary and secondary school teachers as technology leaders. These teachers would then be able to train other teachers in the effective uses of technology. [Section 2416 (b) (5)]
Through this program, services may include acquiring connectivity linkages, resources and services, including hardware, software, and other electronically delivered educational learning materials, for the use of teachers, students, academic counselors, and school library media personnel to improve student achievement. [Section 2416 (b) (7)]
Private schools whose students and teachers are receiving services through this program should have in place a policy that includes the operation of a technology protection measure with respect to any computer with internet access to protect against visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography or harmful to minors. [Section 2441 (a) (1) (A)]
TITLE III: Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students
Part A: English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement
Through this program, limited English proficient private school students may receive services that improve their instruction by providing for the acquisition or development of educational technology or instructional materials. [Section 3115 (d) (7) (A)]
TITLE IV: 21st Century Schools
Part B: 21st Century Community Learning Centers
One of the purposes of Title IV Part B is to establish or expand programs in community learning centers to provide students with a wide variety of services and activities, such as telecommunications and technology education programs. Private school grantees or private school students participating in the program of another entity may obtain services that provide for various before and after school activities, including activities during summer recess, that utilize telecommunications and other technology. [Section 4201 (a) (2) and Section 4205 (a) (8)]
TITLE V: Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative Programs
Part A: Innovative Programs
Through this program, services to private school students and teachers may include technology activities related to implementing school reform efforts, including the purchase of computer hardware and software. It can also include professional development to help teachers, principals, and other school personnel use technology effectively in the classrooms and school library media centers. [Section 5131 (a) (2)]
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
| NCLBA Issue Brochures
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NCLBA Program Brochures
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For more information, contact:
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Department of Education
U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
PH: 202/541-3132
FAX: 202/541-3390
E-mail: federal@usccb.org
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Office of NonPublic Education
U. S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-3600
PH: 202/401-1365
FAX: 202/401-1368
Web: www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/NonPublic |