| School Philosophy |
| School History, Motto, Colors, Song |
| School Phone Numbers |
| School Calendar, including Holidays and Teacher
Inservice Days |
| School Time Schedule |
| School Map |
| School Policies, Rules, Regulations and
Procedures on: |
|
Attendance and Absence |
|
Discipline |
|
Authority of the Administrator |
|
Infractions and Consequences |
|
Detention |
|
Suspension |
|
Expulsion |
|
Alcohol and Drug Abuse |
|
Dress Code |
|
Emergency Procedures -- Parent Notification |
|
Student Illness or Accident |
|
School Closings |
|
Grievances |
|
Insurance |
|
Lockers |
|
Medication |
|
Participation in Religious Exercises |
|
Policy of Nondiscrimination |
|
School Trips and Fees |
|
Telephone Messages |
|
Textbooks and Supplies |
|
Tuition and Fees |
|
Visitors |
| School Academic Program and Policies |
|
Course Offerings and Prerequisites |
|
Grading Policies |
|
Grade Reports to Parents |
|
Guidance Services |
|
Homework |
|
Parent/Teacher Conferences |
|
Promotion/Graduation Requirements |
|
Parents'/Students' Rights to Review Records |
|
Release of Records |
|
Transfer Procedures |
| Services to Students |
|
Cafeteria - Breakfast/Lunch Program |
|
Health Services |
|
Gifted and/or Remedial Programs |
|
Textbooks |
|
Transportation |
| Extracurricular Activities |
|
Athletics Eligibility and Requirements |
|
Clubs |
|
Contests |
|
Fund-raising |
|
Honor Society |
|
Religious Activities |
|
Student Council |
| Student Rights and Responsibilities |
| Parent Groups |
|
Boosters |
|
Classroom Aides/Volunteers |
|
Clubs |
|
School Advisory Board |
| Faculty Handbook |
| Absence and Tardiness - Faculty Procedures |
| Administrative Staff - Roles and Responsibilities |
| Attendance Procedures and Reporting for Students |
| Calendar: Holidays, Teacher Inservice, Faculty
and Department Meetings, Reporting Periods |
| Cheating |
| Child Abuse |
| Conference Attendance |
| Copy and Duplicating Services |
| Daily Class, Duty and Lunch Schedules |
| Disciplinary Procedures |
| Discipline and Classroom Responsibilities |
| Dress and Appearance |
| Emergency Plans |
| Faculty Meetings |
| Faculty Rights and Responsibilities |
| Fire Drills and Procedures |
| Fund-raising Activities |
| Grade Averaging and Reporting |
| Grievance Procedures |
| Guidance Services |
| Health Insurance and Other Benefits |
| Hiring Procedures |
| Homework |
| In-service Training |
| Keys |
| Map of School |
| Media Center: Materials and Equipment |
| Medication in School, Drugs, Alcohol |
| Membership in Professional Organizations |
| Moderators of Extracurricular Activities |
| New Teacher Orientation |
| Nondiscrimination Policy |
| Observation and Evaluation |
| Parent-Teacher Conferences |
| Pay Dates |
| Personal and Sick Days |
| Personnel Matters |
| Philosophy and Objectives |
| Progress Reports |
| Record Keeping |
| Reimbursement Policy - Procedures and Forms |
| Requests for Supplies |
| Resignation-Termination |
| Salary Schedule |
| School Trips |
| Smoking |
| Student Illness, Accident Procedures |
| Student Requirements for Promotion/Graduation |
| Substitute Teachers |
| Telephone |
| Use of Computers |
| Vehicles-Parking |
| Visitors |
| Administrator's File |
| It is important for every administrator to have
immediate access to certain data and information. It is recommended that the following be
kept in the file and be readily available at all times: |
| Faculty Handbook |
| Map of School |
| Parent/Student Handbook |
| School Directory - Names, Addresses and Phone
Numbers for: |
|
Child Abuse Hotline |
|
Fire and Police |
|
Frequently-called Businesses |
|
Instructional and Noninstructional Personnel,
including emergency numbers |
|
School Board and/or Home School Officers |
|
Students, including emergency numbers |
|
Substitute Teachers |
|
Superintendents/Principals/Coordinators of Special
|
|
Programs-Public and Nonpublic Schools in the Area |
|
Teacher Aides and Volunteers |
|
State Education Department, Office of Nonpublic
Schools, Coordinators of Special Programs |
| Attendance Reports |
| Board Minutes and Membership |
| Bulletins Issued |
| Bus Schedules - Lists of students by district and
bus stop |
| Class Lists |
| Communications sent and received, dated |
| Computer Software Requests |
| Course of Studies and Outlines |
| Daily Class Schedules |
| Fire Drill and Fire Inspection Reports |
| In-service Plans |
| Library Materials Requests |
| Minutes of Faculty and Department Meetings |
| Personnel Files including: |
|
Education and certification |
|
Evaluations, observations |
|
Recommendations, commendations |
|
Salary level |
| School Evaluation and Reports |
| School and Department Budgets |
| State, Federal and District Reports |
| Student Lists by District with Addresses |
| Student Schedules |
| Teacher Schedules |
| Testing Information |
| Textbook Lists-Requests, Procedures |
Transportation Requests |
| Records Retention |
| It is important that a secure place be provided
for records which are to be retained in the school building and that a systematic
procedure be adopted to gain access to these records as needed. Some records should
be kept for longer periods than others. Records include: |
| Emergency Cards |
| Final Examination Papers |
| Health Records |
| Permanent Records: |
|
Individual Pupil Cumulative Achievement Record
Card |
|
Testing |
|
Transfers of Students |
| Personnel Records |
| Promotion and Graduation Lists |
| Registers of Attendance |
| Reports Sent to Area Office, Public School
District, State Education Department |
| School Lunch/Milk Program Records |
Suspension and Expulsion of
Students with Record of Related Meetings With Parents |
| Teacher Grade Books |
| Written Excuses for absence, field trips, leave
during day |
| Information on record retention and disposition
may be obtained by writing to: The State Education Department
State Archives and Records Administration
Local Government Records Services
Albany, NY 12230 |
UP |
| II. NEW SCHOOLS |
| Anyone planning to open a new school should first
inform the superintendent of schools of the district in which the school will be located
of the plan to establish a school and indicate the intended opening date.
Notification of the public school superintendent is essential because each public school
district has an obligation to all resident students to see that they are provided with an
adequate educational program. Before the new school opens, the superintendent of schools
of the district in which the new school is located should be invited to visit the
facility. An additional visit is recommended once the school is in operation. It is also
recommended that the administrator of the new school make every effort to develop good
relations with district officials. Both the school and students will benefit from a
cordial and cooperative relationship. |
| The superintendent of schools of the district in
which the school is located should be provided with the following: |
|
Assurance that the building is a safe place for
children to be. The best evidence of this comes from fire inspection reports or, in New
York City, a certificate of occupancy issued by the Department of Buildings. |
|
A list of the names of pupils from the district
who will be attending the nonpublic school and the names of other districts in which other
pupils reside. These lists will provide data to the district so that it can arrange to
provide the services to which those pupils are entitled. |
|
A copy of the school calendar for the coming year. |
|
A list of the grade levels and the total
enrollment at each grade level. |
|
A list of the courses and subjects which will be
taught at each grade level in school. |
|
A description of the testing program.
State-mandated tests should be part of the total program to evaluate pupils. In addition,
every school is encouraged to use nationally-normed standardized tests. These test results
provide the most objective data on pupil achievement. |
| The new school should show that it plans to
instruct pupils in required subjects and during time periods sufficient to achieve results
comparable to those of the public school. The subjects are listed in the section on
Program Requirements. Public schools, in order to qualify for a maximum of State aid, are
in session for at least 180 days each school year. While this requirement is not binding
on nonpublic schools, the length of the school year and school day in a nonpublic school
should approximate that of the public school. |
| If the new school enrolls pupils from outside the
district in which the school is located, the nonpublic school administrator should provide
the superintendent of schools of each of the districts which have pupils enrolled in the
school with the following: |
|
Written notification that the new school is
opening. |
|
A list of the names of pupils from the district
who are enrolled in the school. |
|
A copy of the school calendar for the coming year. |
| Based on the information received from the new
nonpublic school and as a result of the on-site visit, if the superintendent ascertains
that the new nonpublic school is providing substantially equivalent instruction, the
superintendent should so notify the board in writing and send a copy to the nonpublic
school. |
| If the information received from the nonpublic
school is not satisfactory, the superintendent should discuss the deficiencies with the
administrator and ascertain whether or not these deficiencies can be overcome in a
reasonable amount of time. They should agree on a schedule for arriving at a
satisfactory solution. Since time is required to put into place all aspects of an
educational program, it is recommended that a continuing relationship be maintained by
public and nonpublic school officials. |
| The most objective way to ascertain student
progress is through standardized test results. It is recommended that the nonpublic
school administrator share such results with the superintendent during the first two or
three years of the school's existence. |
| It is further recommended that the administrator
of a new school inform the Office of Nonpublic Schools of its opening and provide some
basic information. The Office will then have the school put on the State Education
Department's mailing list so that information regarding issues and events affecting the
school will be sent directly to it. The Office of Nonpublic Schools is a source of
information and counsel, acting as a liaison between other offices in the State Education
Department and all nonpublic schools of New York State. |
UP |
| III. STATE REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRAMS |
| Equivalency of Instruction |
| The compulsory attendance law in New York State
requires that all children between the ages of six and sixteen be provided with a program
of instruction, either at a public school or elsewhere. The object of the compulsory
attendance law is to see that children are not left in ignorance, that from some source
they receive the instruction that will fit them for their place in society. If a
child attends a nonpublic school or is being educated at home, the board of education of
each school district must be assured that the child is receiving instruction which is
substantially equivalent to that provided in the public schools of the district of
residence. The Board's responsibility is the children living in the district;
it has no direct authority over a nonpublic school. The board usually asks its
superintendent of schools to gather the information necessary for determining equivalency.
With regard to new schools, the steps in the section on New Schools should be followed. |
| If a nonpublic school is chartered by the Board
of Regents, or if a secondary school is registered by the Board of Regents, the State
Education Department recommends that the board of education of the district in which the
school is located accept the registration as evidence that the nonpublic high school has
an equivalent program of instruction. |
| Local school officials are usually familiar with
the programs of nonpublic schools which have been in existence for a period of
time. Such schools have a known record through children transferring in and out of
school and their subsequent achievements in public schools and colleges. |
| If a serious question does arise about
equivalency of instruction in a nonpublic school, the superintendent of the district
should inform the administrator of the nonpublic school that a question has been raised
and arrange time for an informal discussion between the superintendent and nonpublic
school officials regarding the inquiry. |
| The Office of Nonpublic Schools is available for
counsel regarding the matter of equivalency. This Office has published
"Guidelines for Determining Equivalency of Instruction in Nonpublic Schools"
which is available upon request. |
| Staffing |
| There is no State requirement that any personnel
employed by a nonpublic school be certified. Many schools choose to hire only certified
teachers but they are not required to do so. The administrator has the responsibility of
employing (or recommending for employment) those persons who are qualified and competent
to carry out their assigned tasks in a manner consistent with the goals of the school. |
| The administrator should see that any new teacher
has information about the school, its purpose and its instructional program. Also, the
administrator should provide a new teacher with instructions and guidance about the
school's testing program with particular emphasis on using the results of standardized
tests to improve the instructional program. Since State tests are not given at every grade
level, the administrator should make sure that all teachers are aware of these tests and
how they relate to the total instructional program. |
| Providing for staff development is another
important part of the administrator's role. Scheduled during faculty meetings or on
special in-service days, staff development can enrich each teacher's knowledge and
stimulate new ideas and approaches for the classroom. Plans can also be made for meetings
and workshops to be conducted jointly with other neighboring schools. The State Education
Department can provide workshop leaders on a variety of topics ranging from specific
content areas to classroom management and school climate. |
| Administrators should also be alert to
opportunities for staff development at workshops conducted in public schools and regional
consortia. If district officials know of the interest on the part of nonpublic schools,
they can let the administrator know of appropriate workshops and meetings. Another avenue
for staff development is through the many professional organizations whose local, regional
and national meetings can provide valuable insights and breadth to both teachers and
administrators. |
| Staff development specifically for the
administrator is found at the Conference for Administrators of Nonpublic Schools, held
annually by the Office for Nonpublic School Services. Information about arranging for
workshops and about the Conference is available from: |
|
Office for Nonpublic School Services
State Education Department
Room 481 EBA
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 474-3897 |
| Length of School Day and Year |
| The law does not mandate specific time periods
for nonpublic schools but they should provide instruction for approximately the same time
required of public schools: |
|
Grades 1-6 - 5 hours daily |
|
Grades 9-12 - 5 1/2 hours daily |
| The nonpublic school's calendar should
approximate that of the public school, but it need not be in session for the 180 days
required for a public school district to receive its full State aid. |
| Charters of Incorporation |
| The Board of Regents has the authority to create
educational corporations. The document which reflects the corporate status of a school is
referred to as a "charter." Incorporation establishes the school as a legal
entity. It is recommended that any nonpublic school which is not affiliated with a
religious group and therefore under the Religious Corporations Law take steps to become
incorporated. Information about how to petition for a charter is contained in Law
Pamphlet 9, Education Corporations, which is available from: |
|
|
Office of Counsel
State Education Department
Room 116 EB
Albany, New York 12234 |
| Voluntary Registration |
| In New York State there is no law mandating the
registration of a nonpublic elementary or secondary school. However, the Board of Regents
conducts two types of voluntary registration programs: (1) nursery schools and
kindergartens and (2) secondary schools. There is no registration program for elementary
schools. |
| Information about the nursery school and
kindergarten registration program is available from: |
|
Room 379 EBA
State Education Department
Albany, NY 12234
(518) 486-1729 |
| Only a registered secondary school may administer
Regents examinations and award diplomas. The high school registration program involves the
submission of information by a nonpublic school and an on-site visit to the school by a
staff member in the Department's Bureau of School Registration. The basic standard for
registration is that 85% of the seniors enrolled in October of their senior year meet
competency requirements by the following June and, further, that the school demonstrate a
retention rate at least 90% in the year prior to registration. In addition, every school
must comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Registered nonpublic secondary
schools are reviewed on a ten-year cycle. Every secondary school is encouraged to become
registered. Application for registration may be made by writing to: |
| Statement on Nondiscrimination |
| Religious schools may select students on the
basis of their religious affiliation. Also, the law allows for single-sex schools.
However, in order to retain its 501 (c) (3) status with the Internal Revenue Service, a
nonpublic school must comply with the Federal government's requirement of regular
publication of the school's nondiscriminatory policy. The following portion of Revenue
Ruling 75-50 may be helpful: |
| "The school may publish a notice of its
racially nondiscriminatory policy in a newspaper of general circulation that serves all
racial segments of the community. This publication must be repeated at least once annually
during the period of the school's solicitation for students or, in the absence of a
solicitation program, during the school's registration period. Where more than one
community is served by a school, the school may publish its notice in those newspapers
that are reasonably likely to be read by all racial segments of the communities it serves.
The notice must appear in a section of the newspaper likely to be read by prospective
students and their families and it must occupy at least three column inches. It must be
captioned in at least 12 point bold face type as a notice of nondiscriminatory policy as
to students, and its text must be printed in at least 8 point type. The following notice
will be acceptable: |
NOTICE OF
NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS |
|
The M school admits students of any race, color, national and
ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or
made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, nationaland ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions
policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered
programs." |
| Basic Educational Data System Report (BEDS) |
| Each year the State Education Department collects
information from both public and nonpublic schools, information that is helpful in
planning State and Federal programs. With this data, the Department can allocate its
resources in a manner responsive to the needs of the schools and their students. |
| The Department gives a BEDS code number to each
school containing any or all grades from kindergarten through 12. This number, which
serves as a means of identification, is based on the location of the school and reflects
its affiliation, if any, with a State agency or a religious group. The BEDS report form is
sent annually from the State Education Department to every school in September and must be
submitted to the Department in October. Information in these reports is useful in
determining the status and educational needs of students in the schools of New York
State. It is the basis for allocation of aid under Chapter 2 and is invaluable for
planning purposes. All schools are urged to return these forms promptly. |
| Questions about the BEDS forms should be
addressed to: |
|
|
Information Reporting and Technology Services
State Education Department
Room 863 EBA
Albany, NY 12234
518-474-7965 |
| Testing |
| The Regents competency testing program is
designed to ensure that all students develop adequate skills in reading comprehension,
writing, mathematics, science and social studies before graduation from high school. |
| The Pupil Evaluation Program (PEP) and
Preliminary Competency Tests (PCT) must be administered to all students in the appropriate
grade levels. Students who fall below the reference points established by the State
for these tests must be provided with remedial instruction. |
| Pupil Evaluation Program (PEP) tests: |
|
Grade 3 and 6 - reading and math |
|
Grade 5 - writing |
|
Preliminary Competency Tests (PCT): |
|
Reading and writing tests are administered to pupils in grade
8 or 9 who have not scored at a satisfactory level on State or nationally-standardized
reading or writing tests. |
|
Program Evaluation Tests (PET) |
|
Assessments of a school's instructional program are made
through evaluation of student achievement in: |
|
Grade 6 - Social Studies |
|
Grade 6 - Science (beginning in May 1989) |
|
Grade 8 - Social Studies (beginning in May 1989) |
| Before graduating from high school students must
demonstrate competency by scoring at acceptable levels on Regents Competency Tests (RCT),
Regents Examinations, College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) or American College
Testing Program (ACT). Competency must be demonstrated by passing: |
|
a. |
RCT in reading and in writing or the Regents
Comprehensive Exam in English |
|
b. |
RCT in math or a Regents examination in math or
business math |
|
c. |
For students graduating in 1989 and on - |
|
RCT in American History and government or the
Regents exam in American History and government |
|
d. |
For students graduating in 1990 and on - |
|
|
RCT in Science or a Regents exam in science |
|
|
RCT in global studies or a Regents exam in
global studies |
| College Board Achievement tests can also replace
these competency tests. Details on dates, administration, scoring and reporting results of
State tests may be obtained from: |
|
|
Division of Educational Testing
Room 771, Education Building Annex
New York State Education Department
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 474-5902 |
| Fire Inspections, Drills and Reports |
| Pursuant to the 1984 New York State Uniform Fire
Prevention and Building Code, all facilities owned, leased or operated by public school
districts, nonpublic schools, colleges and universities must have an annual fire
inspection. The exception to this code is schools within New York City, which are subject
to the regulations of the New York City Fire Department rather than to the State Code. |
| The annual nonpublic school fire inspection
should take place before December 1 and the annual nonpublic school fire inspection report
filed with the State Education Department by December 16. The administration can arrange
for a fire inspection by contacting the local fire department. |
| It is also important to know that 12 fire drills
must be conducted annually. Eight drills must be held between September 1 and December 1
of each school year. If a summer school is conducted, at least two additional drills
should be held during summer school sessions and one drill should be held during the first
week of summer school. |
| Immunization |
| Public Health Law section 2164 deals with
immunization against poliomyelitis, mumps, measles, diphtheria and rubella. Subdivision
7(a) of this section states: |
|
"No principal, teacher, owner or person in charge of a
school shall permit any child to be admitted to such school, or to attend such school in
excess of fourteen days, without...some acceptable evidence of the child's
immunization..." |
| The statute exempts a child for whom a licensed
physician certifies that the immunization may be detrimental and a child whose parents
sincerely hold religious beliefs which would prohibit the inoculation of their child. |
| Additional information on immunization is
contained in the Revised 1982 edition of Immunization: A Handbook for Schools.
Copies may be obtained from: |
|
Comprehensive Health
Room 318M Education Building
New York State Education Department
Albany, N.Y. 12234 |
COMMISSIONER'S REGULATIONS -
PART 100 |
| The New York State Board of Regents approved new
regulations, effective November 1984, which were designed to improve elementary and
secondary education in New York State. These regulations, Part 100 of the
Commissioner's Regulations, phase in new elementary and secondary requirements over the
period 1985-94. In general, most of these requirements apply to nonpublic
schools. Some characteristics and differences are noted below: |
|
When the terms "for all students" and
"in all schools" are used, the regulation applies to nonpublic schools. |
|
Requirements for second language instruction to be
available do not apply to nonpublic schools, except for high schools offering
Regents diplomas. |
|
Nonpublic schools are not required to develop
discipline plans nor are they required to evaluate professional staff people annually. |
|
For grades 7-8, nonpublic schools are allowed to
meet unit of study requirements for technology education, home and career skills and
library and information skills by incorporating the learning outcomes of these
subjects into other courses or by demonstrating student mastery of these subjects through
testing. The administrator must document how this requirement is met and make this
information available should the Commissioner request it. |
|
Nonpublic schools are not
required to provide for the acceleration of students in grade 8. |
|
In grades 9-12, it is not incumbent on a nonpublic
high school to offer a sequence in a second language, unless the school offers Regents
diplomas. |
|
Nonpublic schools are not required to offer
courses in occupational education. |
|
Nonpublic high schools are not required to make
available to students three-unit sequences in all the areas required of public schools,
but they must offer enough courses so that students can meet local or Regents diploma
requirements. A number of nonpublic high schools do not offer Regents diplomas nor
are they required to do so. |
| Program Requirements |
| General instruction is mandated for all
elementary and secondary schools in: |
|
patriotism and citizenship |
|
history of the United States and New York State |
|
health education regarding abuse of alcohol, drugs
and tobacco |
|
highway safety and traffic regulations |
|
fire drills and fire prevention |
| If a pre-K program is registered, its curriculum
must include: |
|
communication skills |
|
literature |
|
dramatic play |
|
creative art |
|
music activities |
|
group projects |
|
discussions |
|
games |
|
science and mathematical experience |
|
physical education |
| In grades 1-6, instruction must be given in: |
|
Reading |
|
Spelling |
|
Writing |
|
English |
|
Arithmetic |
|
Geography |
|
U.S. History |
|
Science |
|
Health education |
|
Music |
|
Visual arts |
|
Physical education (at least 120 minutes a week) |
| In grades 7 and 8, requirements are given in
terms of units of study. A unit of study is 180 minutes of instruction per week throughout
the school year, or the equivalent. Instruction must be given in grades 7 and 8 in: |
|
English (2 units) |
|
Social Studies (2 units) |
|
Science (2 units) |
|
Math (2 units) |
|
Health (1/2 unit) |
|
Art (1/2 unit) |
|
Music (1/2 unit) |
|
Physical Education (1/2 unit) |
|
Technology education*(1 unit) |
|
Home and Career Skills* (3/4 unit) |
|
Library and Information Skills*
(one period a week in grades 7 and 8.) |
| *In nonpublic schools the learning outcomes of
these courses may be incorporated into subjects in other courses. Such integration must be
documented in writing and kept on file at the school. |
| In grades 9-12, diploma requirements, both local
and Regents, are increasing. By 1989, the following units of credit will be
required: |
| Diploma Regents Diploma Local |
| Diploma |
Regents Diploma |
Local |
| English |
4 |
4 |
| Social Studies |
4 |
4 |
| Mathematics |
2 |
2 |
| Science |
2 |
2 |
| Health |
1/2 |
1/2 |
| Art/Music |
1 |
1 |
| Second Language |
3 |
0 |
| Sequences and Electives |
2 |
5 |
| Totals |
18 1/2 |
18 1/2 |
|
| In addition, Physical Education must be taken
each year a student is enrolled in high school at the rate of 1/2 credit per year or the
equivalent. |
| Curriculum Materials |
| Although no school is required to use a State
syllabus or curriculum, the Department produces a constant flow of curricular materials.
State tests are based on these materials. New syllabi and curriculum supplements are
automatically sent to every nonpublic school so that over time a collection is assembled.
Not every item published is available on demand but those in supply are listed in the
"Publications Catalog" which may be obtained by writing to: |
|
Bureau of Curriculum Development
Room 314B, Education Building
State Education Department
Albany, New York 12234 |
| Once the administrator knows which materials are
needed, an order should be sent on school stationery to: |
|
|
Publications Sales Desk
Room 164, Education Building Annex
State Education Department
Albany, New York 12234 |
| Comprehensive Assessment Report (CAR) |
| By October 31 of each year the State Education
Department submits to every school in the State test results for its CAR. The CAR
includes the following information for the three years immediately preceding the school
year in which it is issued: |
|
all State testing data |
|
enrollment |
|
diplomas and certificates awarded |
|
any information the administrator believes will
reflect the assessment of the school |
| The administrator should then initiate measures
to improve results related to the report. Nonpublic schools may choose to make CAR results
public but they are not required to do so. |
| Reimbursement for Mandated Services |
| Nonpublic schools may be reimbursed for the
actual costs related to complying with certain State mandates if eligibility requirements
are met. To be eligible for reimbursement, the school must: |
|
Provide instruction in all required subjects
according to Section 3204 of the Education Law |
|
Require pupils to attend upon
full time instruction according to Section 3205 of the Education Law |
|
Not be the recipients of other state or local aid,
directly or indirectly (e.g., tuition payments for the handicapped). |
|
Be a not-for-profit institution |
| The administrator should keep track of and be
able to document the amount of time spent by faculty and staff in complying with State
mandates. Expenses incurred in fulfilling the following mandates are reimbursable: |
| 1. |
BEDS forms |
| 2. |
Pupil attendance records |
| 3. |
Pupil Evaluation Program Tests |
| 4. |
Pupil Evaluation Tests |
| 5. |
Preliminary Competency Tests |
| 6. |
Regents Exams |
| 7. |
Regents Competency Tests |
| 8. |
Regents Scholarship Applications |
| 9. |
Registration of high schools |
| 10. |
Graduation Reports |
| 11. |
Documentation of incorporation of home and career
skills, technology education and library and information skills into other courses. |
| 12. |
Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (for schools
identified by the Commissioner as having to develop a Plan) |
| Any questions on this reimbursement program may
be addressed to: |
|
State Education Department
Room 876 EBA
Albany, New York 12234
Phone (518) 486-2201
|
| Services Available to Students |
| The Office of Nonpublic School Services of the
State Education Department is a liaison between nonpublic and public schools and between
nonpublic schools and other offices in the Department. In addition to compiling this
publication, staff members of this Office have produced a Handbook on Services to
Pupils Attending Nonpublic Schools. The Handbook has proven extremely helpful to all
administrators and is a basic reference for the new administrator. The Handbook,
additional information on topics covered in this Manual, and technical assistance is
available from: |
|
Nonpublic School Services Team
Room 481, Education Building Annex
State Education Department
Albany, NY 12234 |
| A brief description of the services public school
districts are required to make available follows: |
| Health Services |
| Upon request by the administrator of a nonpublic
school, the public school district must provide resident pupils who attend that nonpublic
school with the health and welfare services available to pupils in the public schools. By
contract, public school districts must provide these services to resident pupils attending
nonpublic schools located in other school districts when nonpublic school administrators
request such services. |
| The health services which a board of education
may provide include but are not limited to: |
|
(a) |
a physical examination upon entrance to school, and upon
entrance to grades 1, 3, 7 and 10 and at other times deemed necessary by school
authorities in the educational interests of the child. |
|
(b) |
an annual vision screening test for all pupils in grades K-12 |
|
(c) |
an annual hearing test for all pupils in grades K-7, at grade
10 and any other time deemed necessary in the educational interests of the child |
|
(d) |
an annual scoliosis screening test for all children ages 8-16
years |
|
(e) |
the maintenance of cumulative health records |
|
(f) |
written notification to parents of any health problems found |
|
(g) |
emergency care of ill or injured pupils |
|
(h) |
compliance with an enforcement of mandatory immunization
requirements |
| The district may, at its discretion, make
additional services available to all students. The nonpublic school administrator may
specify which services are to be used, if all services are not desired. |
| Textbook Loans |
| All school boards are required to purchase and to
loan textbooks on an equitable basis to all pupils residing in the school district who are
attending grades kindergarten through twelve in any public or nonpublic school. Each
school district receives funds from the State for the textbook loan program based on the
number of pupils resident in the district. There is no limit on the amount a
district may spend for a given pupil. No pupil may be denied textbooks for
financial reasons if the district has not expended an amount equal to the State
apportionment for textbooks |
| Parents of nonpublic school pupils must submit
written requests for textbooks to the public school district in which they reside.
Public and nonpublic officials often agree on a format in which the nonpublic school
submits requests collectively to the school district. In some cases, parents obtain
textbook lists from the nonpublic school and submit them individually to the school
districts. A board of education may specify a date by which requests for textbooks
must be received by the district. Notice of the date, which may not be earlier than
June 1, must be given to all nonpublic schools. |
| Computer Software Loans |
| A computer software loan program has been
established by the State in which public school districts purchase and loan computer
software programs to both public and nonpublic school students to be used as learning
aids. Each district receives an apportionment from the State per child enrolled in grades
K-12 in any public or nonpublic school in the district. |
| Written requests for the loan of computer
software programs to nonpublic school students must be submitted to the district in which
the nonpublic school is located. This is usually done by the administrator. It is
suggested that in the spring the administrator review software needs and compile the list
of desired software programs. |
| To secure software programs the administrator
should submit to the district the total number of pupils enrolled in grades K-12 and a
list of computer software programs requested for their use. The district will then
purchase and loan these programs to the nonpublic school. Districts establish their
own procedures in dealing with this program, and, therefore, it is advisable to check with
district officials on the following points: |
|
the date for submission of requests |
|
the manner of distribution and
storage |
|
the responsibilities of the
individual student and of the school |
| It is important to develop a spirit of
cooperation between public and nonpublic school administrators to ensure the smooth
operation of this program. |
School Library Materials
Loans |
| Pupils enrolled in grades K-12 in schools in New
York State may borrow library materials required for use as a learning aid in a particular
class or program. School library materials which are religious in nature or content cannot
be purchased or loaned by a school district. |
| This program is similar to the one for computer
software loans and operates in the same manner. Here again, a good cooperative working
relationship between public and nonpublic school administrators is beneficial. |
| Transportation |
| As districts may provide transportation in a
variety of modes and may have different procedures for arranging transportation schedules,
the administrator is urged to talk with officials of each district involved about
arrangements. The following paragraphs cover provisions of the Law in a general way. |
| Education Law requires that all non-city
districts provide transportation for pupils enrolled in grades K-8, who live more than two
miles from their school of attendance, and for pupils enrolled in grades 9-12 who live
more than three miles from their school of attendance up to a distance of fifteen miles. |
| City School districts and the city portion of
enlarged city school districts are not required to provide any transportation, except for
suitable transportation for children with handicapping conditions. These districts may,
however, by a majority vote of the board of education, elect to provide transportation. If
transportation is provided, it must be provided equally to all pupils in like
circumstances, those attending both public and nonpublic schools. |
| In enlarged city school districts, the board of
education is required to provide transportation in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3635 for those pupils residing within the enlarged portion of the city. |
| Parents of nonpublic school students must request
transportation services. This can be done directly to public school authorities or,
in some cases, channeled through the nonpublic school to public school authorities.
The deadline for submitting written requests for transportation is the first day of April
which precedes the next school year. Administrators are urged to remind parents in
February or March of the necessity of meeting this deadline and to alert parents of
prospective new students of this as well. |
| The complexity of arranging routes and
coordinating transportation for nonpublic school pupils from several districts attending a
variety of nonpublic schools requires cooperative efforts in planning and
communication. Nonpublic school and public school officials should discuss
calendars, schedules and special pupil needs early in the planning stages. |
| Dual Enrollment |
| Under Section 3602-c of Education Law, pupils in
nonpublic schools may also enroll in public school programs in three categories:
occupational, handicapped, and gifted education. Dual enrollment is not permitted in any
other areas. Dual enrollment does not in any way jeopardize the pupil's enrollment in the
nonpublic school nor does it involve the pupil's registration in a public school. Through
a request for participation in a dual enrollment program, a pupil is enrolled, but no
formal registration in the public school is required. The law provides that nonpublic
school pupils may not be segregated from public school pupils in any dual enrollment
programs. |
| A board of education may provide occupational
education programs in local public schools or through contract with another school
district or with a Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Pupils in nonpublic schools
are entitled to participate in occupational education programs on the same basis as pupils
in public schools. |
| The board of education must provide
transportation between a nonpublic school and the site where the program is offered if the
distance is more than one-fourth of a mile. The board may claim State aid for this
transportation. |
| Homebound Instruction |
| A student confined to home or hospital for a
period of time with a temporary impairment, such as a broken bone, is eligible to receive
instructional services from the public school district in which the student resides. The
administrator should inform parents of this opportunity and should work with them and
public school officials to arrange appropriate instruction. During the period of
home-bound instruction the district may include the student in its claim for State aid,
but this has no effect on the student's enrollment in the nonpublic school. Commissioner's
Regulation 175.21 specifies that at the elementary school level each student must receive
at least five hours of instruction a week; if possible, one hour each day. At the
secondary school level, ten hours a week, and, if possible, two hours a day, must be
provided to an eligible student. Additional information is available from: |
|
Student Support Services
Room 318 Education Building
State Education Department
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 486-6090
|
| Special Education |
| An administrator may occasionally become aware
that a student may have a handicapping condition and be in need of special education
services. At any time a student may be referred to the Committee on Special Education of
the school district in which the student resides. If it is determined that a student has a
handicapping condition, that district is also responsible for providing services. The
specific nature of the special educational services depends on the individual needs of the
child. |
| If it is determined that a student has a
handicapping condition and needs special education services, the student in some cases may
receive services at the nonpublic school. If only Federal funds are involved or if the
school is non-sectarian, services may be provided at the school. State and local funds may
not be used to provide instructional services on the site of a sectarian school. If the
student must travel to receive services, transportation must be provided by the public
school district if the distance between the nonpublic school and the public school exceeds
one-fourth of a mile or for a lesser distance if required by a student's special needs.
Nonpublic and public school officials are encouraged to work together to arrange schedules
that will accommodate schools and students. |
| Additional information on obtaining services for
students with handicapping conditions is available from: |
|
Office of Nonpublic School Services
State Education Department
Room 475 EBA
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 474-3879 |
|
Office for the Education of Children with
Handicapping Conditions
State Education Department
Room 1073 EBA
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 474-5548 |
| School Lunch, Breakfast and Milk Program |
| Administrators must be sure that lunchroom or
cafeteria facilities meet standards set by local health authorities. Many schools take
advantage of publicly-funded school food and nutrition programs to provide or supplement
meals and milk for their pupils. The State Education Department administers these
programs, giving technical assistance and administrative guidance to participating
schools. |
| A nonpublic school may apply for participation at
any time during the school year. Schools may receive reimbursement to cover a portion of
the cost of breakfasts, lunches and/or milk served to students. Information on the program
is available from: |
|
Bureau of School Food Management and
Nutrition
Room 761 EBA
State Education Department
Albany, New York 12234
(518) 474-1566 |
UP |
| IV. FEDERAL
PROGRAMS |
| Nonpublic schools may participate in certain
federally funded programs. Those listed below are currently authorized but changes may
occur during the 1989-90 school year and thereafter. Two characteristics of nonpublic
school participation in these programs are important: |
|
Planning: Nonpublic school
personnel should participate in the planning phase of these programs. |
|
Equitable participation: Students in
nonpublic schools should receive services on an equal basis to those given public school
pupils. |
| Chapter 1 |
| The purpose of Chapter 1 of the Education
Consolidation and Improvement Act of 1981 (ECIA) is to provide financial assistance to
State and local educational agencies to meet the special educational needs of
educationally deprived children. |
| The focus of Chapter 1 funds in the State
continues to be reading, writing and math programs, as well as programs with a bilingual
approach. Important provisions concerning Chapter 1 programs follow: |
|
Chapter 1 provides that educationally
deprived children in private elementary and secondary schools are entitled to receive
educational services which are equivalent to services provided such children in the
district's public schools. |
|
Chapter 1 services may not generally
be provided on the premises of a religiously-affiliated nonpublic school. The exception is
when the services are provided through an arrangement in which nondivertible computers can
be installed. |
|
Even if the needs of the students in
the nonpublic schools are different than the needs of students in the public schools, the
local education agency (LEA) must provide services to these students. |
|
Administrators of nonpublic schools
must participate in the planning and implementation of Chapter 1 programs. |
|
If a nonpublic
school has eligible students coming from different districts, it is the responsibility of
the nonpublic school administrator to contact the various superintendents to discuss
students' eligibility and see if a program is available in the district. |
|
If the nonpublic
school declines in writing to participate in the program, the LEA is not obligated to give
the service. The appropriated funds may then be used for Chapter 1 programs in other
public and nonpublic schools. It is the obligation of the nonpublic school
administrator to inform parents of eligible children of the decision not to participate. |
|
The LEA has the responsibility to
provide remedial services for eligible children who reside in the district, even if they
attend a nonpublic school outside the district. |
|
The district conducts an annual
educational needs assessment to identify educationally deprived children coming from an
attendance area where there is a high concentration of low-income families. The
district determines from this assessment the grade levels to be served and the general
instructional objectives for the program. Low income is determined in several ways: |
|
families on aid to dependent children |
|
national school lunch programs |
|
district poverty survey |
|
census data |
|
Standardized tests given yearly can
be used to screen students for educational deficiencies. Since requests are made in
the spring for the following fall, the results of the spring testing are more reliable in
determining the level of students to be served in the fall. |
| Questions regarding Chapter 1 programs should be
addressed to the Chapter 1 District Coordinator in the local public school
district. Additional assistance may be obtained by calling the Chapter 1 representative
listed in Section VI. |
| Chapter 2 |
| Chapter 2 programs are designed to foster
improvement in school curriculum, instructional programs, and in staff growth and
effectiveness. Under the Education Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA) Chapter
2, thirty federal categorical programs have been combined into a single State grant,
reducing administrative requirements. |
| The major categories of the consolidation are: |
|
Basic Skills Development |
|
Educational Improvement and Support Services |
|
Special Projects |
|
Discretionary Grants |
| The allocation of funds is based on the number of
pupils attending school in the district. Areas economically depressed or with a high
percentage of low-income families receive a greater allocation. Information on the
annual BEDS form is used to determine each school's allocation. No funds are given
directly to nonpublic schools but each school decides on the services and/or materials it
wishes to obtain through the public school district in the amount of its allocation. Each
administrator must keep accurate records, as annual and final reports are required. |
| The public school district should inform the
nonpublic school regarding the need to submit grant applications. Usually a letter
is sent from the local school district in October outlining the dollar amount allocated.
Additional information on Chapter 2 programs may be obtained from the Coordinator in your
local school district. Questions may also be addressed to the State representative
for Chapter 2 listed in Section VI. |
| EESA Title II |
| Title II of the Education for Economic Security
Act (PL98-377) provides funds, on a formula basis, to local school districts for the
training and retraining of teachers of mathematics, science, foreign languages, and
computer learning, including provision of services to teachers and students in eligible
nonpublic schools. While nonpublic school teachers and students are to receive equitable
services under this Act, the dollar amount available for services to any one nonpublic
school is so small that implementation is difficult unless nonpublic and public school
administrators make cooperative efforts to develop districtwide or regional programs. |
| This program is administered by the same office
which handles Chapter 2. Questions may be addressed to the office listed in section VI. |
UP |
| V. CALENDAR
REMINDERS |
This monthly checklist
contains a minimal outline for the administrator: |
| |
| SEPTEMBER |
|
SED Sends to School: |
|
School Sends to SED: |
|
|
Basic Educational Data System (BEDS) form |
|
|
|
|
|
Fire Inspection Report Form |
|
|
|
|
|
SA-185 (sent only to a new school and filed only once, this
form establishes eligibility to receive payment for mandated services. |
|
|
|
|
|
SA-186 and AT-6N (forms for claiming reimbursement for
mandated services) |
|
|
|
|
|
Preliminary Compeency Tests and materials; and a second
mailing containing test report forms and administration information. |
|
|
|
|
| OCTOBER |
|
Public school districts notifies school of Chapter 2
allocation |
|
SED Sends to School: |
|
School Sends to SED: |
|
|
Comprehesnive Assessment Report (CAR) |
|
|
BEDS Form |
|
|
Regents examination and Regents Competency Test (RCT) ordering procedures
for January administration |
|
|
SA-185 (if applicable) |
|
|
|
|
|
SA-186 and AT 6N |
| |
| DECEMBER |
|
SED Sends to School: |
|
School Sends to SED: |
|
|
|
|
|
Fire Inspection Report (Due by December 16) |
| |
| JANUARY |
|
SED Administers: |
|
School Sends to SED: |
|
|
Regents Examinations |
|
|
Appropriate test reports |
|
|
Regents Competency Tests |
|
|
|
|
| FEBRUARY |
|
SED Sends to School: |
|
School Sends to SED: |
|
|
Pupil Evaluation Program (PEP) and Program Evaluation Test (PET) order
form |
|
|
PEP and PET orders |
|
| MARCH |
|
School alerts parents and/or submits transportation requests
to school district before April 1 deadline. |
|
SED Sends to School: |
|
School Sends to SED: |
|
|
Regents Examiantion and Regents Competency Test (RCT) order forms |
|
|
|
|
|
PEP and PET material and report forms |
|
|
|
|
| APRIL |
|
Administrator prepares textbook requests for coming year and
submits them to parents or district. |
|
SED Sends to School: |
|
School Sends to SED: |
|
|
|
|
|
Regents Examination and RCT orders |
|
| MAY |
|
Administrator prepares and submits to district requests for
computer software a nd library materials. |
|
SED Sends to School: |
|
School Administers: |
|
|
Preliminary Competency Test (PCT) ordering, shipping, and administration
information |
|
|
PEP and PET Tests |
|
| JUNE |
|
SED Sends to School: |
|
School Sends to SED: |
|
|
High School Graduation Report form |
|
|
High School Graduation Report |
|
|
AT-6N Form |
|
School Administers: |
|
|
|
|
|
Regents Examinations |
|
|
|
|
|
Regents Cmopetency Tests |
|
|
|
|
|
Appropraite (PEP, PET, Regents and RCT) test reports |
|
|
|
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