April 2018 • Number 434
Council for American Private Education
outlookVoice of America’s private schools ★ President Signs Omnibus Spending Bill Affecting Private Schools onths after the due date, Congress now calculated based on a school district’s equitable services to private school stu- Mfinally passed, and the president total Title I allocation. dents and their families. signed, a sweeping spending bill in March Congress also approved a huge $700 Programs that serve English language to fund the government through Septem- million increase in spending for Title IV- learners and migrant children, regardless of ber 30, 2018. A, which provides Student Support and the school they attend, would be funded at By rights, the agreement should have Academic Enrichment Grants (SSAEG). the same levels as 2017. been reached prior to October 1, 2017, the Those grants may be used to ensure safe Since all of these education programs start of the current fiscal year, but congres- and healthy students, well-rounded edu- are “forward funded,” the money approved sional friction forced a series of stopgap cational opportunities, and the effective in the omnibus spending package would measures, called continuing resolutions, to use of technology—all through a variety be used for programs in the coming 2018- keep the government running up 19 school year. to March 23, the date the new law Federal Education Spending Levels for was signed. Some Programs Affecting Private School Students CCDBG The omnibus spending mea- (in millions of dollars) In a remarkable expansion in sure, known as the Consolidated FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 early education, the spending bill Appropriations Act, 2018, includes would increase funding for the funds for several programs that Title I-A (Grants to LEAs) $14,910 $15,460 $15,760 Child Care and Development provide services to students and Title I-C (Migrant Education) $375 $375 $375 Block Grant (CCDBG) program teachers in religious and indepen- by $2.4 billion, essentially dou- $2,256 $2,056 $2,056 dent schools (see table). Two of Title II-A (Teacher Quality) bling funding to $5.2 billion. The those programs involve relatively Title III-A (English Language) $737 $737 $737 program allows parents to use new funding formulas for calcu- Title IV-A (Support Grants) $0 $400 $1,100 federal certificates to choose the lating benefits to private school child care program that best meets students and teachers—formulas Title IV-B (Learning Centers) $1,167 $1,192 $1,212 their child’s needs—faith-based, revised when the Elementary and Special Ed (IDEA Part B) $11,913 $12,003 $12,278 Montessori, Waldorf, or any other Secondary Education Act (ESEA) public or private program. Career Ed (Perkins Act) $1,118 $1,118 $1,193 was reauthorized in 2015. CCDBG focuses on the care of means best suited to local needs. States of children under the age of 13 while their Title II-A Retained and districts receiving funds under Title parents work or participate in training ESEA’s Title II-A, for example, which IV-A must provide equitable services to or education programs. Allowable care funds professional development for teach- students and teachers in private schools. includes that provided in centers or pro- ers and administrators, now requires school grams, or by relatives or neighbors. The districts to set aside for services to private IDEA Increased program does not cover the cost of com- school personnel a proportionate share The Individuals with Disabilities Educa- pulsory schooling. of their total allocation. The new budget tion Act (IDEA), which serves children agreement calls for $2 billion for Title with special needs in public and private STOP School Violence II-A, a relief because the president had ear- schools, would see spending levels in- In the aftermath of recent school shoot- marked the program for elimination. Back creased by $275 million. ings, Congress had a heightened concern in December, CAPE launched a campaign Career and technical education funds, about school safety. In addition to bolster- to urge members of Congress to retain and which school districts, upon the request of ing funds for Title IV-A, the omnibus bill fund the program at its current level. private school officials, may use to provide also included a new measure called the Title I, which covers supplemental services to secondary school students in Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing services to low-performing children in private schools, would also see a marginal (STOP) School Violence Act of 2018. The high-poverty areas, will be funded at $15.8 increase, as would 21st Century Com- STOP Act authorizes grants to states and billion, an increase of $300 million from munity Learning Centers. Private schools units of local government (e.g., coun- FY 2017. Funds for Title I services to are eligible to apply for the learning-center ties, municipalities, towns, etc.) to bolster children attending private schools are also grants, and grant recipients must provide continued on page 2
© 2018 Council for American Private Education Becket Director Talks to CAPE Group About Religious Liberty The Wall Street Journal recently described cial assistance for religious schools. “Across the Montse Alvarado as “an amiable 30-year-old country, Blaine amendments have been used by Mexican-American woman…on the front lines anti-religious activists to keep religious organiza- CAPE member organizations: of America’s culture wars.” Ms. Alvarado firmly tions from participating in neutral and generally Agudath Israel of America established why she deserves that description applicable government programs on equal terms American Montessori Society during a friendly yet thought-provoking address with everyone else,” she said. to leaders of CAPE’s member organizations and Association Montessori Battle in New Mexico International–USA state affiliates on March 12 in Washington, D.C. Association of Christian Schools Alvarado is executive director of the Becket In New Mexico, Becket is involved in a International Fund for Religious Liberty, described on its Web Blaine amendment battle over whether the state’s Association of Christian site as a “non-profit, public-interest legal and ed- supreme court ruled correctly when in 2015 it Teachers and Schools ucational institute with a mission to protect the determined that providing state-purchased text- Association of Waldorf free expression of all faiths.” books and other instructional Schools of N.A. Her speech to the CAPE materials to students in private Christian Schools International community covered an array schools was unconstitutional. Council of Islamic Schools of contemporary religious lib- The state’s Blaine amendment in North America erty challenges and included says that no state funds “shall Council on Educational Standards a call to build a coalition to be used for the support of any and Accountability address those challenges and sectarian, denominational or Evangelical Lutheran Church defend that liberty. private school, college or uni- in America versity.” Friends Council on Education No Religion Is an Island However, the U.S. Supreme Islamic Schools League of America Reminding the CAPE Court last June vacated the Jesuit Schools Network group that “no religion is an New Mexico ruling and told Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod island,” Alvarado definitively the state court to reconsider declared, “If I don’t have re- Montse Alvarado, executive director of the matter in light of the land- National Association of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. ligious liberty, you don’t have mark Trinity Lutheran deci- Episcopal Schools (Becket Photo) National Association of religious liberty.” She spoke sion, which prevented the state Independent Schools of the need to work together of Missouri from excluding a National Catholic and team up, even with people with whom we private school from a neutral and secular grant Educational Association disagree, in order to “uphold the pure principles program for playground resurfacing materials. National Christian School Association of our constitution.” The Trinity decision was only one example Oral Roberts University The fight for religious liberty, she said goes to that Alvarado recounted of a legal victory in Educational Fellowship the core of who we are. “I believe we are people support of religious liberty. Others involved Seventh-day Adventist who believe in truth, even if we disagree over the successful resolution of a challenge against Board of Education what truth is,” she said. Religion, which involves religiously-based prison ministries in Florida and United States Conference of the pursuit of “truth, beauty, and goodness,” is a reversal by FEMA of a ban on disaster aid for Catholic Bishops not some “terrible thing” from which “govern- houses of worship. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran ment has to protect us.” “We’re winning,” she declared, and “the only Synod Schools Connecting the work of Becket with that of way to keep winning is to share the stories” of Affiliated State Organizations CAPE, Alvarado turned to efforts to combat people and organizations that are being harmed state Blaine amendments, which bar state finan- by religious bias. a coalition of national associations serving private schools K-12 continued from page 1 Executive Director: Joe McTighe school safety. Grant recipients may then award administered through various agencies, including subgrants or contracts to school districts or non- the Department of Justice, the Department of Outlook is published monthly profit agencies (excluding schools) or other units Education, and the Department of Health and (September to June) by CAPE. of local government. Grants may be used for a Human Services. An annual subscription is $35. variety of purposes, including, but not limited One noteworthy development is the doubling ISSN 0271-1451 to, training school personnel, developing re- of appropriations from $25 million to $50 mil- porting systems, conducting threat assessments, 13017 Wisteria Drive #457 lion for grants to bolster security for nonprofit responding to mental health crises, coordinating Germantown, MD 20874 organizations, including schools, that are at high with local law enforcement, and installing metal (tel) 301-916-8460 risk of terrorist attack in designated urban areas. detectors and other deterrent measures. The law (fax) 301-916-8485 An additional $10 million in grants will be made (email) [email protected] allows all schools, including private schools, to available to similar nonprofits located in other benefit from the safety measures. locations. Agudath Israel of America, a member www.capenet.org The omnibus bill includes numerous other of CAPE, worked in concert with other groups measures aimed at improving school safety, to be to secure the increase in funding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Secretary DeVos Meets with CAPE’s Executive Committee SCN at USDE
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos met ing so that every school has access to solutions CAPE’s Executive Committee with CAPE’s executive committee March 12 for that will keep students and teachers safe.” was not the only CAPE group what turned out to be a wide-ranging conversa- that met with high-ranking of- tion about school safety, school choice, and sev- School Choice ficials from the U.S. Department eral other topics of mutual interest. With respect to school choice, CAPE’s execu- of Education March 12 (see story The shooting of students at Marjory Stone- tive committee members urged Secretary DeVos left). Representatives from the man Douglas High School sparked a discussion to stay strong in her support. One specific mea- State CAPE Network (SCN) had of various appropriate measures to make schools sure that came up was a proposal to provide mili- an enormously productive session safer and to protect all students, no matter what tary families with education savings accounts. with a host of department officials school they attend. The secretary was open to the idea. Back in that same day, covering numerous Hours before the CAPE meeting, the White February, at the annual Conservative Political important issues. House announced the establishment of the Action Conference, the secretary said ESAs could Arranged by Maureen Dowl- Federal Commission provide children with ing and her staff in the Office of on School Safety, “continuity in their Non-Public Education (ONPE), the chaired by Secre- education” as they session included discussions with tary DeVos, that move from “base to Ebony Lee, deputy chief of staff for will “recommend base or city to city.” policy in the Office of the Secre- policy and funding Congressman Jim tary; Jason Botel, acting assistant proposals for school Banks (R-IN), a secretary in the Office of Elemen- violence preven- military man who tary and Secondary Education; tion.” According to served in Afghanistan Kimberly Richey, deputy assistant a White House fact and is a member of secretary in the Office of Special sheet, the commis- the House Armed Education and Related Services; sion will study and Services Committee, David Esquith, director of the Of- make recommenda- has introduced the fice of Safe and Healthy Students; tions on matters Education Savings McKenzie Snow, a special assis- such as age restric- Accounts for Military tant in the Office of the Secretary, tions for certain Education Secretary Betsy DeVos meets with Families Act. In intro- and Andrea Reyes Ramirez, acting firearm purchases, CAPE’s executive committee March 12. ducing the measure, executive director of the Center character development, building security, mental Banks said, “The men and women who serve our for Faith-Based and Neighborhood health treatment, and a host of other topics. country in uniform make sacrifices daily, but the Partnerships. The CAPE community impressed on the sec- education of their children should not be one of A recurring theme during these retary the need for appropriate safety measures them.” sessions was equitable services to extend to all types of schools, both public for private school students under and private. Other Issues federal education programs. That Several other topics came up during the dis- theme took a special prominence Much Work to Be Done cussion with Secretary DeVos. The CAPE group in discussions about federal di- The day after the CAPE meeting, Secretary urged the secretary to ensure that the Depart- saster relief to help schools that DeVos addressed the National Parent Teacher ment is moving full steam ahead on a project were damaged, and students who Association Legislative Conference, where she to update guidance for equitable services under were displaced, by hurricanes and said, “The tragedy in Parkland, Florida, was a Title I and Title VIII of the Elementary and Sec- wildfires in 2017. sad reminder that there is still much work to ondary Education Act. Turning from equitable services be done to ensure no parent, no teacher, no Executive committee members also made a to community service, Andrea student has to again endure what many did at pitch for timely release of guidance to help af- Ramirez invited the private school Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.” She fected schools and students access hurricane and community to promote the Martin said the new commission would “tap into the wildfire disaster relief that was included in the Luther King, Jr., Drum Major In- knowledge of educators, parents, mental health Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. novative Service Awards. The professionals and law enforcement to hear their The relief program provides services, equip- program is open to all students ideas and learn from their experiences.” ment, and supplies to get damaged schools up (not just drum majors) who per- On March 23, the secretary announced fur- and running. It also offers schools across the form “extraordinary every-day ther details about the commission, whose other country assistance to help cover the costs of edu- acts of service.” It takes its name members include Attorney General Jeff Ses- cating students displaced by the disasters. from a line in a sermon that Dr. sions, Secretary of Health and Human Services CAPE representatives also commented on the King delivered in 1968 at Ebenezer Alex Azar, and Secretary of Homeland Security excellent work being done at the department’s Baptist Church in Atlanta: ““If Kirstjen Nielsen. She said the commission plans Office of Non-Public Education, and expressed you want to say that I was a drum to hear “the ideas of anyone who is focused on hope that the ONPE director would have top- major, say that I was a drum major finding solutions to bolster school safety across level involvement at the earliest stages of policy for justice....” the country. We want to highlight what’s work- discussions within the department. ★ ★ ★ Council for American NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE Private Education PAID Suburban, MD 13017 Wisteria Drive #457 Permit No. 1 Germantown, MD 20874
notes ★ ★ CAPE has a new state affiliate. At its improve their child’s reading. Eligible ex- ★ Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo Ros- meeting in March, the CAPE board wel- penses may include those for instructional selló has signed education reform legisla- comed the Colorado Association of Private materials, tutoring services, after-school tion that includes school vouchers and an Schools (CAPS) as the latest member of programs, summer school, and the like. expansion of charter schools. The voucher the State CAPE Network. program will serve up to three percent of CAPS “seeks to be the voice of K–12 ★ States and territories impacted by students in its first year. private education in Colorado.” Its primary the 2017 hurricanes and wildfires (i.e., mission is “to preserve the independence of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, ★ Do results from standardized Colorado’s private schools and to uphold Louisiana, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, achievement tests predict a school choice parental choice in education,“ according to Texas and the U.S. Virgin Islands) were program’s impact on longer term out- the organization’s Web site. supposed to apply to the U.S. Department comes, such as high school graduation, Membership is open to all K-12 private of Education by March 30 for initial fund- college attainment, and earnings? A new schools in Colorado as well as to any pri- ing to repair and rebuild schools damaged white paper from the American Enterprise vate school association that serves schools by the disasters. Institute answers that question with a re- in the state. For more information, visit Private schools are eligible for the assis- sounding no. the CAPS Web site at