January 13, 2026
Dear Private School Administrators,
Invitation to Consultation Meeting: Provision of Equitable Services under ESEA
As we begin planning for the next school year, we are reaching out to initiate our
annual consultation with private school leaders regarding participation in equitable services. Equitable services ensure that eligible students and educators in nonprofit private schools receive federally funded support comparable to that provided in public schools. Please note, these services do not constitute direct funding to private schools; instead, the local educational agency (LEA) manages the funds and provides supplemental, secular, and neutral services based on identified needs.
Key Points about Equitable Services:
• Services are developed through timely and meaningful consultation between LEA and
private school officials.
• Funding is calculated on a per-pupil basis and may be used for allowable activities, such as instructional support, professional development, or family engagement.
• All services must comply with federal requirements under ESEA.
Consultation Meeting Details:
Consultation is a critical step in providing equitable services and occurs in the school year prior to the start of services. Federal laws and regulations specify topics that LEAs must review and explain during this process, and private school officials will be given the opportunity to provide their input. You are invited to meet with LEA officials to discuss equitable services for the upcoming school year on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 3:00pm at Virtual Meeting ID: meet.google.com/vji-qvng-pnn or Join by phone:+1 585-491-8966 PIN: 836 890 937#.
Our goal is to collaborate with you to meet the educational needs of your students and staff.
Invitation Requirements by Program:
• For Title I, Part A: LEAs must invite private schools (located within or outside the LEA
and the state) with students who reside within the LEA’s geographical boundaries.
• For Title VIII (Title I, Part C; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A; Title IV, Part A):
LEAs must invite private schools located within the LEA’s geographical boundaries.
• For Title VIII (Title IV, Part B): LEAs, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and
Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) must invite private schools located within the
geographical boundaries of the attendance area served by the grant program.
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): In accordance with
IDEA regulation § 300.131, each LEA must annually locate, identify, and evaluate all
children aged 3-21 with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private, including non-profit religious, elementary schools and secondary schools located in the school district served by the LEA.
If a private school student is identified through the child find process, a consultation MUST occur between private school representatives, representatives of parents of parentally- placed private school children with disabilities and LEAs.
Please respond to this invitation to indicate whether the private school official wishes to
participate in consultation for the 2026–2027 school year. Private school officials who do not engage in consultation with the local educational agency (LEA) will be considered to have declined participation in equitable services for 2026–2027.
If you have any questions or need program-specific information, please do not hesitate to contact the LEA. The primary point of contact for this meeting is Dr. Karen Stoutmire, who can be reached at 770-651-2106 or by email karen.stoutmire@dcssga.org.