Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), provides financial assistance to local educational agencies and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. Federal funds are currently allocated through four statutory formulas that are based primarily on census poverty estimates and the cost of education in each state.
Local educational agencies target the Title I (ESSA) funds they receive to schools with the highest percentages of children from low-income families. The school must focus Title I (ESSA) services on children who are failing, or most at risk of failing, to meet state academic standards. Local educational agencies also must use Title I (ESSA) funds to provide academic enrichment services to eligible children enrolled in private schools. For example, funds support extra instruction in reading and mathematics, as well as after-school and summer programs to extend and reinforce the regular school curriculum.
Under Title I (ESSA), local educational agencies are required to provide services for eligible private school students, as well as eligible public school students. In particular, section 1120 of Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, requires a participating local educational agency to provide eligible children attending private elementary and secondary schools, their teachers, and their families with Title I (ESSA) services or other benefits that are equitable to those provided to eligible public school children, their teachers, and their families. These services must be developed in consultation with officials of private schools. The Title I (ESSA) services provided by the local educational agency for private school participants are designed to meet their educational needs and supplement the educational services provided by the private school.
We value your input, suggestions, and concerns related to how we use Title I (ESSA) funds. Please use the following form to provide feedback: LCSD Title I (ESSA) Parent Input Form.
Title Complaint, Disputes, and Appeals Procedures
- LCSD Title I Complaint - Private Schools
- LCSD Title I Disputes - Homeless Children and Youth
- Written Complaint and Appeal Procedures
- New York State Title Program Complaint Procedure
LCSD Title I Complaint - Private Schools
Under Title I, a local education agency is required to provide to eligible private school children, their teachers and their families, Title I services or other benefits that are equitable to those provided to eligible public school children, their teachers and their families. Private school officials have recourse through the complaint process if they do not believe their eligible children, teachers, or families are receiving equitable services.
Aspects of the complaint process that private school officials should know:
- A private school official has the right to complain to the state educational agency that the local education agency did not engage in a timely and meaningful consultation process or did not give due considerations to the views of the private school officials.
- Any dispute regarding the accuracy of low-income data for private school students also can be the subject of a complaint.
Filing Complaints or Appeals with the District:
Complaints or appeals regarding the District's administration or implementation of its Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I Grant or Academic Intervention Services should be sent first to the Superintendent.
Complaints:
All complaints must:
- Be written;
- Be signed by the person or agency representative filing it;
- Specify the requirement of law or regulation claimed to be violated and the related issue, problem, or the concern;
- Contain information or evidence supporting it; and
- State the nature of the corrective action desired.
The District has 30 business days to resolve a complaint.
Appeals:
An appeal must contain:
- A copy of the original signed complaint;
- A copy of the District's response to the original complaint or a statement that the District failed to respond in 30 business days;
- A copy of the State Education Department's response to the original complaint or a statement that it failed to respond within 30 business days; and
- A statement identifying those parts of the District's response which the party is appealing.
Filing Complaints or Appeals with the State Education Department:
The State Education Department will review complaints regarding:
- The State’s administration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I Basic Grant, Migrant Education, or Neglected or Delinquent Program; or
- An appeal from a District decision regarding a District action.
Note: Complaints that do not meet these criteria, including complaints concerning the District’s Title I program administration, will be referred to the District for possible resolution.
A party must postmark and request an appeal within 20 business days of receiving the District's response to the original complaint.
Complaints or appeals should be sent to:
New York State Education Department
Title I School and Community Services
Office Room 368 EBA
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
The State Education Department's Title I representative who is the District's assigned program manager and other appropriate department staff will review the complaints or appeals.
The Department's response will contain:
- The names of persons interviewed;
- The records or other evidence examined;
- Relevant dates, times, locations, and events;
- Summary of findings; and
- Nature of corrective action to be taken including applicable timelines.
If the District fails to take corrective action within the time period stipulated in the State Education Department complaint resolution, its Title I allocation may be withheld. The State Education Department will maintain copies of correspondence, related documents, investigative reports, and summary reports involved in the complaint or appeal resolution for five years. The State Education Department will comply with record requests made under the New York State Freedom of Information Law.
Extension of 60-Day Limit: State Education Department staff will complete an on-site review, if necessary, or records examination, and will notify all parties of its findings within 60 business days of receiving the complaint or appeal. In exceptional circumstances, the 60-day review or examination period may be extended.
Exceptional circumstances may include:
- Illness of involved parties;
- Cancellation of scheduled on-site reviews due to unscheduled school closings;
- The need for extended review activities beyond those specified in the written notification; or
- Any other mutual agreement to changes in review scope or activity.
When the State Education Department identifies exceptional circumstances, it will provide the revised date for completing the complaint review to all involved parties. All parties have the right to request an extension beyond the 60-business day complaint resolution period based on exceptional circumstances.
Appealing the State Education Department's Decision: Parties dissatisfied with the State Education Department's resolution may file an appeal directly with the United States Department of Education at:
United State Department of Education
Compensatory Education Programs
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Room 3W230, FOB #6
Washington, D.C. 20202-6132
LCSD Title I Disputes - Homeless Children and Youth
The District has established procedures for the prompt resolution of disputes regarding school selection or enrollment of a homeless child or youth. These disputes include, but are not limited to, disputes regarding transportation and/or a child’s or youth’s status as a homeless or unaccompanied youth.
Filing Complaints or Appeals with the District:
Complaints or appeals regarding the District’s administration or implementation of its Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I Grant or Academic Intervention Services should be sent first to the Superintendent. The District will provide a written explanation, including a statement regarding the right to appeal, to the parent or guardian if the District sends the student to a school other than the school of origin or the school requested by the parent/guardian.
Complaints:
All complaints must:
- Be written;
- Be signed by the person or agency representative filing it;
- Specify the requirement of law or regulation claimed to be violated and the related issue, problem, or the concern;
- Contain information or evidence supporting it; and
- State the nature of the corrective action desired.
The District has 30 business days to resolve a dispute.
Appeals:
An appeal must contain:
- A copy of the original signed complaint;
- A copy of the District’s response to the original complaint or a statement that the District failed to respond in 30 business days;
- A copy of the State Education Department’s response to the original complaint or a statement that it failed to respond within 30 business days; and
- A statement identifying those parts of the District’s response which the party is appealing.
Filing Complaints or Appeals with the State Education Department:
The State Education Department will review complaints regarding:
- The State’s administration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I Basic Grant, Migrant Education, or Neglected or Delinquent Program; or
- An appeal from a District decision regarding a District action.
Note: Complaints that do not meet these criteria, including complaints concerning the District’s Title I program administration, will be referred to the District for possible resolution.
A party must postmark and request an appeal within 20 business days of receiving the District’s response to the original complaint.
Complaints or appeals should be sent to:
New York State Education Department
Title I School and Community Services Office
Room 368 EBA
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
The State Education Department’s Title I representative who is the District’s assigned program manager and other appropriate department staff will review the complaints or appeals.
The Department’s response will contain:
- The names of persons interviewed;
- The records or other evidence examined;
- Relevant dates, times, locations, and events;
- Summary of findings; and
- Nature of corrective action to be taken including applicable timelines.
If the District fails to take corrective action within the time period stipulated in the State Education Department complaint resolution, its Title I allocation may be withheld. The State Education Department will maintain copies of correspondence, related documents, investigative reports, and summary reports involved in the complaint or appeal resolution for five years. The State Education Department will comply with record requests made under the New York State Freedom of Information Law.
Extension of 60-Day Limit:
State Education Department staff will complete an on-site review, if necessary, or records examination, and will notify all parties of its findings within 60 business days of receiving the complaint or appeal. In exceptional circumstances, the 60-day review or examination period may be extended.
Exceptional circumstances may include:
- Illness of involved parties;
- Cancellation of scheduled on-site reviews due to unscheduled school closings;
- The need for extended review activities beyond those specified in the written notification; or
- Any other mutual agreement to changes in review, scope or activity.
When the State Education Department identifies exceptional circumstances, it will provide the revised date for completing the complaint review to all involved parties. All parties have the right to request an extension beyond the 60-business day complaint resolution period based on exceptional circumstances.
Appealing the State Education Department’s Decision:
Parties dissatisfied with the State Education Department’s resolution may file an appeal directly with the United States Department of Education at:
United States Department of Education
Compensatory Education Programs
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Room 3W230, FOB #6
Washington, D.C. 20202-6132
Written Complaint and Appeal Procedures
For Title I, Parts A, C, and D
Or Section 100.2(ee) of Commissioner’s Regulations
Regarding Academic Intervention Services
Procedures for Filing Complaints/Appeals with the Lancaster Central School District concerning violations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I, Parts A, or the General Education Provisions Act; or of Section 100.2 (ee) Academic Intervention Services of the Regulations of the Commissioner
Who may submit a complaint?
Any public or nonpublic school parent or teacher, other interested person, or agency may file a complaint.
What must the complaint contain?
All complaints must:
- be written;
- be signed by the person or agency representative filing the complaint;
- specify the requirement of law or regulation being violated and the related issue, problem, and/or the concern;
- contain information/evidence supporting the complaint; and
- state the nature of the corrective action desired.
What must an appeal from the District’s response contain?
An appeal must contain:
- a copy of the original signed complaint;
- a copy of the District’s response to the original complaint or a statement that the District failed to respond in 30 business days.
Where should a complaint/appeal regarding the Lancaster Central School District be sent?
- Complaints/appeals regarding the District’s administration and implementation of its Education and Secondary Education Act Title I Grant or Academic Intervention Services for students identified under Commissioner’s Regulations Part 100 should be sent first to the Lancaster Central School District Superintendent, Dr. Michael Vallely.
- The district has a 30-business day period in which to resolve a complaint. If the District fails to resolve the complaint within 30 business days, or fails to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the complainant, the complaint should be sent to the Title I School and Community Services Office, Room 365 EBA, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12234.
Procedures for Filing Complaints/Appeals with the New York State Education Department
The State Education Department will review complaints when the complaint pertains to:
- The State’s administration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title I Basic Grant, Migrant Education, or Neglected or Delinquent Program;
- An appeal from the decision of a District (local Education agency) regarding action by the local education agency.
Complaints that do not meet any of the above criteria, including complaints concerning the District’s administration of its Title I Program, will be referred for possible resolution to the District against who the complaint is made.
What timelines pertain to the State Education Department’s review of complaints/appeals from a District (local education agency) action?
Within 60 business days of the receipt of the complaint/appeal, Department staff will complete an onsite review (if necessary) and/or records examination and will notify all parties of its findings. An extension of the 60-day complaint resolution period is permitted under CFR part 299.11 (b), for exceptional circumstances.
Where shall complaints or appeals to the State Education Department be sent?
Complaints /appeals regarding Title I for the Lancaster Central School District should be sent to:
New York State Education Department
Title I School & Community Services Office
Room 365 EBA
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234
How long does a public or nonpublic teacher, parent, or agency have to file an appeal from a decision of a District (local education agency)?
An appeal must be requested and postmarked within 20 business days of receipt of the District’s response to the original complaint.
Who shall conduct the review of complaints or appeals?
The Title I representative in the State Education Office who is assigned as the program manager for the District against which the complaint is made and other Department staff as may be appropriate shall conduct the review of complaints or appeals.
What shall the State Education Department's response to the complaint contain?
The Department's response shall contain:
- the names of persons interviewed;
- the records or other evidence examined;
- relevant dates/times/locations/events;
- summary of findings; and
- nature of corrective action to be taken including applicable timelines.
How will State Education Department staff monitor the timely and appropriate implementation of the corrective actions called for in the complaint/appeal resolution? Failure of the District to take corrective action within the time period stipulated in the complaint resolution shall be cause to withhold all, or a portion of, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act Title 1 allocation to the District.
Does the State Education Department maintain a record of all complaints/appeals?
Yes. Copies of correspondence, related documents, investigative reports, and summary reports involved in the complaint/appeal resolution will be maintained by the State Education Department for five years. Records will be made available to interested parties in accordance with the provisions of the New York State Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law Sections 84-89).
What shall constitute exceptional circumstances for extending the 60-day limit for State Education Department review of complaints and appeals for relief from a District (local education agency) action? The State Education Department has determined that exceptional circumstances may include, but need not be limited to, such occurrences as:
- illness of involved parties;
- cancellation of scheduled on-site reviews due to unscheduled school closings;
- the need for extended review activities beyond those specified in the written notification; and/or
- any other mutual agreement to changes in review scope or activity.
When exceptional circumstances are identified, the revised date for the completion of the complaint review will be provided in writing to all parties involved in the complaint or appeal. All parties to the complaint have the right to initiate a request for an extension beyond the 60-business day complaint resolution period based on exceptional circumstances. All such requests must be presented to the State Education Department.
Procedures for Adjudicating Appeals from the Decision of the State Education Department
May a person/agency dissatisfied with the State Education Department’s complaint resolution may file an appeal?
Yes, parties dissatisfied with the State Education Department's complaint resolution may file an appeal directly with the United States Department of Education at:
United States Department of Education
Compensatory Education Programs
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Room 3W230, FOB #6
Washington, D.C., 20202-6132
New York State Title Program Complaint Procedure
For additional information regarding New York State Education Department (NYSED) complaint procedures, please go to the following link:
Complaints may be emailed to NYSED Complaint (CONAPPTAC@nysed.gov) with “COMPLAINT” in the subject line of the email. Alternatively, a complaint may be mailed to NYSED at the following address:
Title I Complaints
NYS Education Department
Office of ESSA-Funded Programs, Room 320 EB
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234