Comparability

ComparabilityTell your story using numbers and wordsSusan Andre, Title I CoordinatorEast Baton Rouge Parish School SystemfairimpartialunprejudicedequitableobjectivereasonableunbiasedequaljustmoderateWordsDistrict-wide salary schedulePolicy for equivalent staffingPolicy for equivalent instructional materials and suppliesNumbersStudent/instructional staff ratiosStudent/instructional staff salary ratiosExpenditures per pupilResource allocation plan based on student characteristics#1: Is a written assurance filed with the SEA sufficient to demonstrate comparability?No

In addition to the written assurance, there must be

Documentation that policies were implemented and that they resulted in equivalence among schools.

Documentation that comparability was determined using a measure such as student/staff ratios, etc.

WordsRoles and ResponsibilitiesHuman ResourcesStudent Information SystemsInstructional TechnologyLEA Federal Programs OfficeFinance OfficeLEA Legal CounselWords#2: Must an LEA determine comparability every year?Yes

Demonstrating comparability is a prerequisite for receiving Title I funds

Because Title I allocations are made annually, comparability is an annual requirement

WordsRemain InformedPolicy changesProcedure changesKey Personnel changesWords#3: When should comparability be determined?As early as possible

The process must allow the LEA to identify and correct non-comparable schools during the current school year

The SEA may establish deadlines

WordsLEA TimelineImportance of NumbersNumbers both test and prove the policies

LEA is required to test annually

SEA is required to collect at least once every two years

NumbersOrganization ExampleNumbersSource Data: Student EnrollmentLocationTotal of Student_IDTotal EnrollmentStudents in Poverty% PovertySample School A85857992.9%Sample School B51851847591.7%Sample School C1129112985876.0%Sample School D1060106085280.4%Sample School E39039032783.8%NumbersTIP: Gather all of your data before you begin working with it!NumbersYesSchools with fewer than 100 students

An LEA with only one grade span per level

Charter schools that are their own LEAs

#4: Are there circumstances where comparability does not apply?Source Data: Instructional StaffENameCertPositionGLNOLocNameDegdefLast0, FirstXTeacher

01xxxSample School ABachelorLast1, FirstPara01xxx..Sample School AHigh SchoolLast2, FirstXAsst. Principal01xxxSample School AMaster+30Last3, FirstXTeacher

20xxxSample School AMasterLast4, FirstXPrincipal

01xxxSample School AMaster+30Last5, FirstXLibrarian

01xxxSample School AMasterLast6, FirstSchool Clerk01xxxSample School AAssoc #5: Which staff members should be included or excluded?Depends on the procedures established by the LEA (or SEA, as appropriate)

Instructional staff: teachers and others who provide direct instructional services or services that support instruction

Be consistent! Include the same categories of staff members in the ratios for both Title I and non-Title I schools

NumbersNumbers#6: What is the position of ED on the inclusion of paraprofessionals?Paraprofessionals may only provide instructional support under the direct supervision of a teacher

we urge SEAs and LEAs to consider carefully whether a paraprofessional supported with State and local funds should be considered equivalent to a teacher or other instructional staff

Do not include aides not involved in providing instructional support

NumbersNoOnly if the State considers preschool to be part of elementary and secondary education

#7: Should preschool staff and student enrollment be included?NumbersIf the LEA continues to track its funds separately, calculations are the same as for targeted assistance schools

Determine the percentage of Federal funds to the total funds available in a schoolwide program school

Use a method for determining comparability that is not dependent on identifying instructional staff paid with State and local funds.

#8: How can the LEA determine which staff are paid with State and local funds in a schoolwide program?Source Data: AAS InformationAttendance Area Selection (AAS)

Title I and non-Title I schools (if any)

Skipped schools?

NumbersAttendance Center

SW/TANot ServedPublic Low IncomeLow Income PercentPublic AllocationPer Pupil AmountGrade SpanES #1SW360100.00%132,120$367K-5ES #2SW30799.68%112,669$367K-5MS #3SW48998.19%173,595$3556-8MS #4SW87392.87%284,598$3266-8HS #5SW69591.09%219,620$3169-12Source Data: AAS InformationWhat information is needed from the Attendance Area Selection?

NumbersAttendance Area SelectionTitle I & non-title I schoolsTitle I schools onlyComparing Title I schools to non-Title I schools

Guidance methods:Example 1Example 2

Comparing higher-poverty schools to lower-poverty schools

Guidance methods:Example 3Example 4Example 5Example 6

Numbers#9: Should skipped schools be included in comparability calculations?Yes

In order to be skipped, a school must be comparable

Exclude any supplemental State and local funds in skipped schools that make it eligible to be skipped

Treat the skipped school as a Title I school

Numbers CalculationsApply the method chosen

Determine if the schools are comparable

If not, further refine the calculationsNumbersGuidance: Example 1NumbersTitle I and non-Title I elementary schools are compared

Annually compares student/instructional staff ratios for its non-Title I schools

110% of Student FTE ratio for non-Title I schools (12.8 x 1.1)NumbersYes, butThere should be a significant difference in the enrollments of schools within the grade span

Example, if the largest school has an enrollment that is two times that of the smallest school

#10: Does the LEA have the option to divide grade spans into large and small groups?Guidance: Example 2Large and small Title I and non-Title I elementary schools are compared

The LEA serves 12 of its 21 elementary schools

Divides its elementary schools between large and small

Then compares student/instructional staff ratiosNumbersNumbersYes

If all schools are served with Title I funds, the LEA must use State and local funds to provide services that are substantially comparable in each school

#11: If all schools in an LEA (or grade span grouping) are Title I, must the LEA demonstrate comparability?Guidance: Example 3All LEA schools are Title I schools

Different grade spans are compared

Method 1: LEA determines if all schools fall between 90 and 110 percent of the student/instructional staff average

NumbersGuidance: Example 3Further refinement is necessary

Divides schools into grade spans

Grade spansElementary SchoolsMiddle SchoolsHigh Schools*

*There is only one high school in the district, so a comparability calculation is not required

NumbersNumbersNo, butThe number of grade spans should match the basic organization of schools in the LEA

#12: Are there limitations on the number of grade spans an LEA may use?Guidance: Example 4All elementary schools are Title I

Large and small schools are compared

Method 1: LEA determines if all schools fall between 90 and 110 percent of the student/instructional staff average

NumbersGuidance: Example 4Further refinement is necessary

Divides schools into larger and smaller

Largest school = 641 students, yet the example uses a break point of 420 (as opposed to 50% or 320).NumbersThere are rules we have been taught that are not necessarily in place when the examples are closely examined!!!!33Guidance: Example 5All elementary schools are Title I

Method 1: LEA determines if all schools fall between 90 and 110 percent of the student/instructional staff average

NumbersGuidance: Example 5Further refinement is necessary

High-poverty schools are compared to high-poverty schools

Low-poverty schools are compared to low-poverty schoolsNumbersGuidance: Example 6All elementary schools in the LEA are Title I schools

Each high-poverty school is compared to a limited comparison group of low-poverty schools

Logical breakpoint: significant differences in poverty levelsNumbersGuidance: Examples 7 & 8Example 7: the LEA uses the per-pupil amount of State and local funds allocated to schools as the basis for comparison

Example 8: similar to example 7, but the LEA further refines by grade spansNumbersNumbersCharters Under the LEA UmbrellaGuidance provides one example (question B-8)

Gives the option of using two different methods

Traditional schools: compare Title I to non-Title I using student/instructional staff ratios

Charters Under the LEA UmbrellaCharter schools: Per-student amount of State and local funds in Title I charters to the traditional non-Title I schools

Note: charter schools under the LEA must be included in the comparisons with traditional schools. They may not be treated separately.

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