Title I Equitable Services for Private Schools

Required consultation meetings begin the first week of January 2025 for School Year 2025-26 participation. If your nonprofit private school is interested in participating or learning more, contact [email protected] as soon as possible to reserve your spot. 

Notice of Change in Service

Beginning with School Year 2025-26, the US Department of Education will no longer be administering Equitable Services under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as reauthorized in 2015 (ESEA) for eligible students from Arlington attending participating nonprofit private schools under the bypass provision. These services will be administered by Arlington Public Schools directly.

Title I Program Description

In addition to serving identified Arlington Public Schools and students, the Title I, Part A federal program administered by Arlington Public Schools serves private school students who:

• attend a nonprofit nonpublic school that elects to participate in the program with APS,
• live in the attendance zone of a Title I participating Arlington public school, which are identified annually by highest economic need, and
• evidence a need for additional educational support. Eligible students who are educationally disadvantaged and failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet high academic standards may receive supplemental educational services. To be eligible to receive Title I services, a private school student must meet multiple educationally related, objective criteria. Student eligibility is determined during the consultation process.

Is your non-public school eligible to participate with APS?

• The school enrolls K-5 students that reside in Title I Arlington Public School attendance zones. APS Boundary Locator tools assist in identifying the designated zone for student addresses.
• The school is approved as a Nonprofit entity under Section 501(C)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
• The school is in compliance with all applicable federal laws.

What does participation entail?

• Participating schools engage in ongoing meaningful consultation with APS. This will include group and individual meetings. Participating school leaders can anticipate in-person, virtual, and on-site activities in addition to email, online, and phone communications.
• Student Data: Program criteria include residential, income, and academic data. In order to participate, schools must provide certain information about students enrolled in the school. Data is used for student eligibility verification, funding allocation, program design, and evidence of effectiveness. This topic is discussed during consultation.
• Allocation of the funding that APS is awarded is impacted by several factors related to the number of students and low-income data across all participating public and private schools. This topic is discussed during consultation.
• All funds are fully controlled by APS as the fiscal agent of the program. Use of funds is managed by APS on behalf of the intended beneficiaries of program services. All operations are conducted in accordance with Arlington School Board Policies and Policy Implementation Procedures (PIPs).
• All use of Title I funds and activities conducted as part of the Title I program will be secular, neutral and non-ideological.

Regulations and Guidance

From the United States Department of Education

• ESSA Legislation, Regulation, and Guidance
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (PDF)
• ESEA Title I, Part A Equitable Services Non-Regulatory Guidance
• ESEA Title VIII, Part F Equitable Services Non-Regulatory Guidance

From the Virginia Department of Education

• Equitable Services web page
• Title I, Part A Canvas Site is a resource available to LEAs and private schools with students eligible to receive Title I, Part A services.

From Arlington Public Schools

• APS is governed by School Board Policies and Policy Implementation Procedures (PIPs)
• Participating private schools will be provided additional guidance relevant to the specific implementation for their students.