Federal Programs
Director of Federal Programs/Homeless Liaison
Wesley Burnett
580-564-9033
KINGSTON PUBLIC SCHOOL ARP ESSER III – Safe Return Plan Update
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1makAzvmqkcIzEYS44qH42dCKFFDOG6xR/view?usp=sharing
Title I
Title I is the largest federal program supporting elementary and secondary education. Title I targets districts and schools where the needs are the greatest. It is intended to help ensure that all children have the opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach proficiency on challenging state academic assessments. Title I provides the flexible funding that may be used to provide additional instructional staff, professional development, extended programs, and other strategies for raising students’ achievement in disadvantage schools. Title I funds are most commonly used for instruction in reading and mathematics.
Parental Involvement is an integral part in assisting their child’s learning. Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school. Kingston Pubic School encourages parents to become partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child.
As a parent of a student at Kingston Public School, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for certain information about your child’s classroom teachers. The school district is required to provide this information in a timely manner, if asked. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers: Whether Kington Public School has a certified or qualified teacher for the grades and subjects he/she teaches.
Kingston Public School is a schoolwide Title 1 school/district.
TITLE II
Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers and Principals
The purpose of Title II, Part A is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts improve teacher and principal quality and ensure that all teachers are highly qualified. Through the program, State and local educational agencies (SEAs and LEAs) receive funds on a formula basis.
Title II, Part A can support teacher professional development across all core academic subjects. The term “core academic subjects means English, Reading or Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Civics and Government, Economics, Arts, History, and Geography. The importance of professional development in Reading, Mathematics and Science remains a high priority, but many other activities are now allowed as well.
In exchange for these funds, agencies are held accountable to the public for improvements in academic achievement. Title II, Part A provides these agencies with the flexibility to use funds creatively in order to address challenges in teacher quality, whether they concern teacher preparation and qualifications of new teachers, recruitment and hiring, induction, professional development, teacher retention, or the need for more capable principals and assistant principals to serve as effective school leaders.
Use of Funding
Title II funds are used district-wide to promote teacher and principal effectiveness. Training events primarily depend upon the results of the annual Staff Development Survey completed by certified staff throughout the district. The results of this survey, coupled with other data sources (i.e. test results, national and state trends in education and curricular needs) are examined by the district Professional Development Committee, whose members are chosen by the site principal.
TITLE IV PART A
The purpose of Title IV, Part A is to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of States, local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, and local communities to—
In Oklahoma, Title IV, Part A funds are part of a comprehensive strategy known as the Oklahoma Champions of Excellence Initiative. Through this initiative, rubrics for Programs of Excellence will augment the existing accountability system by providing schools the option to celebrate aspects of their school programs. Title IV, Part A funds serve the role of investing into schools who are seeking to improve or advance student achievement by addressing well-rounded education, safe and healthy schools, and effective use of technology.
Use of Funding
Rural and Low-Income Schools (RLIS)
RLIS Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to participate in the RLIS grant program, an LEA must meet the following criteria:
1. 20 percent or more of the children ages 5 to 17 served by the LEA are from families with incomes below the poverty line; and
2. all schools that comprise the LEA have been assigned a school locale code of 32, 33, 41, 42, or 43 by NCES, or are located in an area of the State defined as rural by a governmental agency of the State.
RLIS Allowable Program Activities
1. Activities authorized under Part A of Title I.
2. Activities authorized under Part A of Title II.
3. Activities authorized under Part A of Title III.
4. Activities authorized under Part A of Title IV.
5. Family and parent engagement activities.
Office of Inspector General (OIG)
FEDERAL PROGRAMS COMPLAINTS
The district receives federal funds and has established a complaint process to help ensure compliance with federal grant requirements. Any student, parent, community member or employee who believes the district has violated any regulation connected with the expenditure of federal funds should notify the district.
Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. To report fraud, waste, abuse, misuse or mismanagement of U.S. Department of Education (ED) program funds (this could include complaints concerning employees, fund recipients, educational institutions, contractors, collection agencies, or lending institutions), please use the online Hotline Complaint Form. To down load a hard copy of the Hotline Complaint Form
OIG HOTLINE
You may also call toll-free or write to the OIG
1-800-MISUSED
1-800-647-8733
Inspector General Hotline
US Department of Education
Office of Inspector General
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202
Your report may be made anonymously or in confidence. No classified information should be submitted to the Hotline. If your complaint involves classified information, please submit your contact information to the Hotline (via phone or complaint form) and request that you be contacted to make separate arrangements so we can receive your complaint.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
Definition
The federal definition of homelessness used by all public schools in the United States includes children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This definition specifically includes children and youth living in shelters, transitional housing, cars, campgrounds, motels, and sharing the housing of others temporarily due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons. This is the same definition of homelessness used by Head Start, special education, child nutrition, and other federal family and youth programs.
The Rights of Homeless Students
Students who meet the definition of "Homeless" and are identified or identify themselves as such have the right to:
Identification
At Kingston Public School, students are primarily identified at enrollment or through the school Counselor or Administration Office. Families or students’ who believe that they are homeless, should identify themselves as such to the school Counselor/Principal.
Dispute Process
Parents/Guardians/Students who feel that their request to enroll has been incorrectly denied or wish to contest their child's placement should be encouraged to contact the Director of Federal Programs for consultation.
Should the final result of the district dispute process be unsatisfactory to the parent/guardian/student, they may appeal the district’s final decision by contacting the State Homeless Liaison at the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Homeless Liaison
Kingston Public School is required to identify a person to act as a Homeless Liaison. This person's duties involve training school staff in identification procedures, serving as an advocate for homeless students, arranging for services and arbitrating disputes that may arise.
Kingston Public School – Homeless Liaison:
Wesley Burnett, Director of Federal Programs
580-564-9033 or wburnett@kingstonisd.org
Foster Care Plan
The Kingston Public School District is committed to provide all students with sound educational experiences, we recognize that foster children are at an increased risk of grade retention, gaps in academic achievement, low high school graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment. The provisions promote greater stability for children in foster care so that they can continue their education without disruption, maintain important relationships with peers and adults, and have the opportunity to achieve college and career readiness.
The educational stability includes assurance that:
Enrollment of Foster Care Students
Foster care parents, social workers or other legal guardians will be allowed to immediately enroll children in Kington Public School. We understand that all necessary paperwork (birth certificates, shot records, academic records, special education records, etc.) may not be immediately available and want to provide a smooth transition for the student into our district. Kingston Public School will contact the home school district for the records and make adaptations as needed. After enrollment the following guardianship or legal custody documents shall be provided for verification by the foster family or Child Welfare Agency (CWA).
Power of attorney, affidavit, court orders, etc.
IDEA
The IDEA, Part B directs school districts to make a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) available to all eligible children with disabilities in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). FAPE under IDEA includes the provision of special education and related services at no cost to the parents in accordance with a properly developed Individualized Education Program (IEP). Each child’s placement decision must be made by a group of knowledgeable persons.
The Kingston Public School District will operate in accordance with all state and federal laws regarding special education students. Special education services will be provided to foster care students as they are to all students following the guidelines below:
EL Students
Kingston Public School District will ensure that EL students in foster care will participate meaningfully and equally in educational programs by doing the following:
Transportation
The Kingston Public School District will collaborate with the Child Welfare Agency (CWA) to develop and implement clear written procedures governing how transportation is provided to maintain children in foster care in their schools of origin. Kingston Public School District will also work with Child Welfare Agency to reach an agreement in regards to covering the transportation costs. The agreement will cover how the transportation will be provided, arranged, and funded for the duration of the child’s time in foster care. Each agreement can/will vary greatly because the needs of each child should be considered in making the decision on transportation.
Student Records
Kingston Public Schools will share educational records with CWA that are allowed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This allows educational agencies to disclose without parental consent educational records, include IDEA, of students in foster care to State and Tribal agencies.
Foster Care Liaison – Teresa Golden
Kingston Public School
580-565-1605
TITLE IX AND SCHOOL SPONSORED SPORTS
TITLE IX
Title IX Coordinator
Brian Brister
Superintendent
Kingston Public School
580-564-9033