This blog was updated on July 25th, 2023. 

The beginning of the school year is a very busy time for school district staff, especially those working in the front office of schools. Enrolling new students can be a time-consuming process.

The multitude of forms to be completed and information to be loaded into student information systems can consume enormous amounts of time. This can take the focus off of other important student-related issues. One such issue is identifying students newly experiencing homelessness who became homeless over the summer. These students may be eligible for services but may not receive them if they are not identified.

The National Council of State Title III Directors (NCSTIIID) has opened registration for a special meeting. This National Special Meeting will be held November 14, 2018 in Santa Fe, New Mexico in collaboration with La Cosecha. The NCSTIIID typically only meets face-to-face with members once annually.

Back in February I wrote about the U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos’, proposed reorganization of the U.S. Department of Education (USED) that would eliminate the USED’s Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA). Since then, a group of 18 EL advocacy organizations and members of the U.S. Congress have written letters in opposition to the elimination of OELA.

Charter schools continue to be a hotly debated topic in the world of education, with educators and administrators tending to be either strongly for, or strongly against, the charter school movement. No matter if you are pro-charter school or anti-charter school, there are many facts and figures that seem to support both sides of this movement.

School choice is a hot topic in the education world, especially lately. With the change in presidential administration, there have been many promises regarding how charters schools may be a mechanism for education reform. This conversation really began back in the late 1980s, when Albert Shanker rocked the educational world with his speech on school choice, and a subsequent New York Times article that became widely circulated.

Charter schools are known throughout the U.S. for endeavoring to provide students with resources to better channel their energies into their studies by experimenting with new or modified methodologies. Depending on the charter network you visit, you might see strategies focused on increased parental involvement, modified school days, smaller class sizes, and/or a greater level of attention for those who need more assistance, such as special education students and English Language Learners (ELLs).

There are several points throughout the school year where parent communication is required by law, but it can be difficult to keep track of the dates or specific circumstances which warrant required or recommended parent communication.

States, school districts and charter networks who subscribe to TransACT ParentNotices' ESSA  have a helpful resource to help them keep track of these timelines and requirements: "ACCT-A3 - ESEA Stakeholder Notifications Summary, Checklist & Timelines"

As of the most recent count, there were over 6,900 charter schools in 43 states across the U.S. Even though some states have not joined in on the charter school movement, the majority have, and each state has its own system of holding charter schools accountable in ways that differ from the criteria set forth by each district’s board of education.

If you have been following the situation with regard to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA program, you'll know:

The National Council of State Title III Directors (NCSTIIID) will host its Spring Webinar on May 10, 2018 from 11:30 am - 1:00pm Eastern Time. Those interested are invited to join to learn how State Title I and Title III Directors are collaborating at the national level to meet the needs of English Learners (ELs). The meeting will include information about the EL Newcomer Toolkit from USED, updates on NCSTIIID activities, and what is happening at the federal level.