3565-8307 - Title 1 - Program Comparability of Services
To improve the academic achievement of educationally and economically disadvantaged children, the Avery County Board of Educationwill participate in the federal Title I program.
A. Title I Maintenance Of Effort
The school system will maintain fiscal effort with state and local funds as required to be eligible for the receipt of funds through Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
B. Use And Allocation Of Title I Funds
Title I funds will be used to supplement, and not to supplant, non-federal funds that would otherwise be used for the education of students participating in the Title I program. Accordingly, state and local funds will be allocated to each school receiving Title I funds in a manner that ensures that each such school receives all of the state and local funds it would otherwise receive in the absence of Title I funding.
C. Comparability Of Services
State and local funds will be used in schools receiving Title I funds to provide services that, taken as a whole, are at least comparable to services in schools that are not receiving Title I funds, or, if all schools receive Title I funds, to provide services that are substantially comparable in each school. The board will ensure equivalence among schools in the allocation of state and local resources for (1) teachers, administrators, and other staff, and (2) curriculum materials and instructional supplies. In addition, the board will establish and implement system-wide salary scales that are applicable to all staff whether assigned to Title I or non-Title I schools.
D. Comparability Testing
The superintendent shall direct the Title I coordinator, in conjunction with the finance officer, to conduct comparability testing before November 1 of each school year to assess the equivalent distribution of state and local resources among schools, using forms, measures, methodologies, and other guidance as specified by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) for the calculation of comparability. Schools may be examined on either a grade-span or school-by-school basis. The superintendent or designee shall submit the comparability testing report annually to NCDPI by the deadline established by that agency.
E. Correction Of Noncompliance
If comparability testing identifies any instances of variance greater than 10%, the Title I
coordinator shall notify the superintendent or designee without delay. The superintendent or designee shall promptly make adjustments as needed to ensure comparability. These adjustments may include, but need not be limited to, reallocation of materials or supplies, or reassignment of personnel.
F. Documentation Of Compliance With Title I Fiscal Requirements
The superintendent or designee shall provide in a timely manner all assurances, additional documentation, or other information required by the State Board of Education/NCDPI to demonstrate the school system’s compliance with Title I fiscal requirements.
G. Records Maintenance
The superintendent or designee shall maintain reports and other documentation demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this policy, including documentation to demonstrate that any needed adjustments to staff assignments were made annually, for review by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction or auditors upon request.
The superintendent shall ensure that all other requirements for receiving Title I funds are fulfilled in an accurate and timely manner and shall develop, or cause to be developed, any additional procedures1 necessary to implement this policy.
Legal References: Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq., 34 C.F.R. pt. 200
Cross References:
Other Resources: Non-Regulatory Guidance, Title I Fiscal Issues, U.S. Department of Education (February 2008), available at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/fiscalguid.pdf
Adopted: December 19, 2017