Comparability Option Form..........................................................................................................................................................................2
Exemptions from Comparability Requirements.......................................................................................................................................4
Provisions Applicable to the Determination of Comparability ................................................................................................................4
Determining Comparability......................................................................................................................................................................4
Form A-1 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................5
Form A-2 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................7
Form A-3 ..................................................................................................................................................................................................9
Form C.....................................................................................................................................................................................................11
The ______________________________ County School District has elected to utilize the option marked below to demonstrate Title I Comparability
compliance for the 2006-07 school year.
supplies.
__________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 DOE Page 3 of 12 Florida Department of Education
GENERAL INFORMATION
A.
Comparability Requirements—
Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-110) requires comparability of state and local services between
project and non-project schools. The requirements outlined in Section 1120A(c) include the following:
1.
A school district may receive Title I funds only if state and locally provided services in project schools are at least comparable to such services in non-
project schools.
2.
Where all schools are designated as project schools, the district must calculate ratios for the group of schools serving program areas with the lowest
percentage of children from low-income families. The ratio for each of the other schools (high poverty) will be compared with the average of the
comparison group of low poverty program schools.
3.
A school district has three options for demonstrating comparability.
a.
Assurances
—School districts selecting this option must submit written assurances of compliance with the comparability requirement with each year's
application using the Comparability Option Form in this document. Data, documents, and policies supporting the assurances must accompany the
Comparability Report submitted to the Office of Title I Programs and Academic Intervention Services. Districts should update records at least
biennially documenting compliance. These records should include, at a minimum,
(i)
a district-wide salary schedule applicable to all staff, whether assigned to project or non-project schools
(ii)
a policy to ensure equivalence among schools in teachers, administrators, and other staff
(iii)
a policy to ensure equivalence among schools in the provision of curriculum materials and instructional supplies.
b.
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
—This option allows the district to compare the average number of students per instructional staff in each project school to the
average in non-project schools in the district. A 10% variance is allowed. Districts selecting this option must complete and submit:
(i)
The Comparability Option Form included in this document, with the original signature of the superintendent or his/her designee
(ii)
Form A-1, which classifies all project and non-project schools in the district by grade span and size and includes a date certain for certification
purposes
(iii)
Form A-2, which is used to calculate the actual student/teacher ratio at both project and non-project schools based on full-time equivalent students
and staff members, to determine whether the comparability requirement is met
(iv)
Form C, which identifies schools that are not comparable as of the date certain given on Form A-1 and provides the reason for non-comparability.
c.
Instructional Materials Expenditures
—This option allows the district to compare the average instructional material expenditure per student in each
project school with the average instructional material expenditure per student in non-project schools in the district. A 10% variance is allowed.
Districts selecting these options must complete and submit:
(i)
The Comparability Option Form included in this document, with the original signature of the superintendent or his/her designee
(ii)
Form A-1, which classifies all project and non-project schools in the district by grade span and size and includes a date certain for certification
purposes
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 DOE Page 4 of 12 Florida Department of Education
(iii)
Form A-3, which is used to calculate the variance between the grade span allocation (based on the district allocation per FTE student) and the
amount of funding provided in the school budget (note: a district-developed form may be substituted for Form A-3)
(iv)
Form C, which identifies schools that are not comparable as of the date certain given on Form A-1 and provides the reason for non-comparability.
B.
Exemptions from Comparability—
Pursuant to section 1120A(c)(4) of Public Law 107-110,
school districts that have a single school attendance area for a
grade span within which Title I services are being provided are exempt from comparability requirements for that grade span. For general information, a listing
of such schools should be prepared on Form A-1 and maintained at the district level. In addition, Form C and the Comparability Option Form should be
completed and sent to the Office of Title I Programs and Academic Intervention Services.
C.
Provisions Applicable to the Determination of Comparability
1.
Comparability may be demonstrated on the basis of the number of students per staff person, with a ten percent allowable variance for project schools.
2.
Comparability may be demonstrated on the basis of the average instructional material expenditure per student in each project school, with a ten percent
allowable variance.
3.
Comparability must be demonstrated only among schools in the same grade span. Four grade span divisions are allowed. Size groupings are allowable
within each grade span when the largest school is at least twice the size of the smallest.
4.
Staff counted for comparability are school-level staff, paid from state and local funds, who
provide direct instruction
,
instructional support
, or
administrative support
(i.e., principals/assistant principals). In determining allowable staff for each school, districts must exclude custodial staff, food
service staff, health aides, and
federally paid employees
.
5.
In grade spans where there are project and non-project schools, data for individual project schools are compared to the data averages of the non-project
schools. Where there are only project schools, data for each project school are compared to the data average of all project schools.
6.
Where a school district has
skipped
an eligible school with a high concentration of low-income children in order to serve an eligible school with a lesser
concentration of such children, the skipped school is treated as a project school for comparability purposes.
7.
Where a school district has allocated Title I funds to a charter school, the charter school is treated as a project school for comparability purposes.
8. Unpredictable changes in student enrollment or personnel assignments after the beginning of the school year are not factors in determining compliance
with the comparability requirements.
D.
Determining Comparability
1.
Each district must complete the forms identified for its selected option on the Comparability Option Form to determine if its policies on comparability
have been implemented.
2.
The form(s) used, plus the relevant evidence, must be retained on file and bear the signature of the superintendent or designee certifying the status of
comparability in the district.
The certifying official must be a district administrator whose salary is NOT paid by Title I
.
3.
If the certifying official is other than the district superintendent, documentation must be provided to demonstrate that the official’s salary is not paid
wholly or in part through Title I funds.
4.
For any schools determined to be not comparable in the district’s original calculations, such schools must be identified in an attachment to the
Comparability Options Form. This attachment must also identify adjustments made to ensure that all project schools are comparable.
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 DOE Page 5 of 12 Florida Department of Education
FORM A-1 INSTRUCTIONS
A.
Provide the school district name and information regarding the official responsible for completion of the form. In addition, provide the date on which the form
was completed, along with the date certain (i.e., the date prior to the final day of the October student membership survey specified by the district to collect the
student and staff data used in determining comparability).
B.
Record the number of schools in the school district by grade span and size in accordance with the following instructions:
♦
Under “grade spans,” enter the grade level groups as defined by the district (e.g., K-5, 6-8, 9-12). The number of grade spans should be consistent with the
district’s staffing allocation plan. Grade spans will be classified in one of four categories:
o
A
—Elementary schools
o
B
—Middle schools
o
C
—High schools
o
X
—Other schools, including those that overlap grades in schools coded A, B, or C
♦
Within a grade span, the district may divide schools into groups of smaller and larger schools, provided the largest school in the large school grouping is at
least twice the size of the largest school in the small school grouping. Indicate the actual range of student FTE in both smaller and larger groups.
Example: A district has six elementary schools with FTE counts of 125, 240, 275, 450, 500, and 600. The range for the smaller school group would be
125-275, and the range for the larger school group would be 450-600. If the district elects not to divide schools, the information should be recorded on the
line provided for the smaller schools (e.g., 125-600).
♦
Indicate whether the report is the original report or a revised report.
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 DOE Page 6 of 12 Florida Department of Education
FORM A-1
District Name:
Certifying Official:
Signature of Superintendent or
non
-Title I funded Designee
Date of Completion:
Certifying Official:
Date Certain:
Typed Name
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS
GRADE SPANS
ENROLLMENT SIZE RANGE
TITLE I
NON-TITLE I
Smaller
A—Elementary Schools
Larger
Smaller
B—Middle Schools
Larger
Smaller
C—High Schools
Larger
Smaller
X—Other Schools
Larger
TOTAL
Please check the appropriate box below.
This is the
original
report as of the date certain identified above.
This is a
revised
report following reallocation of resources.
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 D
Florida Department of Education
OE Page 7 of 12
FORM A-2 INSTRUCTIONS
A.
A separate Form A-2 is to be completed for each grouping of schools by grade span and size (or alternate) as shown on Form A-1. Sheets should be numbered
separately for each grade span, as well as project/non-project status.
B.
Provide the district name, the date certain on which comparability is determined, and the date the form is completed. Indicate by letter the grade span reflected
on the form, and if appropriate, the group size.
C.
Check the appropriate box to indicate whether the form is the original submission or a revised submission.
D.
Check the appropriate box in Column 1 to indicate whether the listed grouping reflects Title I or non-Title I schools.
E.
List the school(s) in the grade span and size grouping in Column 1, using separate forms for Title I and non-Title I schools. Use additional forms as necessary
to list all schools in the classification.
F.
Enter the grade span served by the school in Column 2.
G.
Record the actual number of student FTE in the school on the date certain in Column 3. Prorate as needed for exclusion of students in full-time exceptional
education programs or language instruction education programs. Enter data to the nearest tenth. Mark the appropriate box to indicate weighted or unweighted
FTE.
H.
Record the number of full-time equivalent staff members paid with state and local funds who are regularly assigned to the school in Column 4. Prorate time as
necessary and enter data to the nearest tenth. Do not include FTE for staff time devoted to
language instruction educational programs and additional staff
funded to meet the specific needs of students with disabilities
.
I.
Divide the student FTE recorded in Column 3 by the staff FTE recorded in Column 4. Record the result in Column 5. Enter data to the nearest tenth.
J.
Calculate
non-project school averages
in accordance with the following instructions:
♦
Total the entries in Columns 3 and 4. Divide the total of Column 3 by the total of Column 4. Enter data to the
nearest hundredth
in box 5A.
♦
Multiply the figure in box 5A by 1.10 and enter the result to the
nearest tenth
in box 5B. Transfer this figure to box 5B on Form A-2 for Title I schools in
the same grade span and size.
K.
Calculate
project school averages
in accordance with the following instructions (see item A(2) on page 3 of this document):
♦
Total the entries in Columns 3 and 4. Divide the total of Column 3 by the total of Column 4. Enter data to the
nearest hundredth
in box 5A.
♦
If there are no non-project schools in the indicated grade span, multiply the figure in box 5A by 1.10 and enter the result to the
nearest tenth
in box 5B. If
there are non-project schools, the figure from box 5B of the non-project school listing should be used here.
♦
Compare the entries in Column 5 for each project school to the figure in box 5B. If an entry in Column 5 is greater than the entry in box 5B, mark an “X”
on the corresponding line in Column 6.
FORM A-2
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 DOE Page 8 of 12 Florida Department of Education
District Name:
Check the appropriate boxes below:
Date of Completion: Grade Span
A
B
C
X Group Size
Smaller
Larger
Date Certain:
Sheet _____ of _____ total sheets
Original
Revised Submission
1
2
3
4
5
6
Project
Non-project
School Name
Actual
Grade
Span
Student FTE
Weighted
Unweighted
Staff FTE
Column 3/Column 4
Mark “X”
If Not Comparable
TOTAL TOTAL
5A
Note: If all schools are project schools, compute and use the
average of project schools (see item K on page 7).
For non-project
schools, enter 110%
of box 5A in box 5B
5B
Duplicate this page as necessary and record the total number of sheets for the category above.
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 DOE Page 9 of 12 Florida Department of Education
FORM A-3 INSTRUCTIONS
A.
This form is to be completed to report the allocations for curriculum materials and instructional supplies for each school.
B.
Enter the name of each school in the district in Column 1.
C.
Enter each grade span within each school for which a different allocation is made in Column 2.
D.
Enter the weighted or unweighted FTE count (multiplied by two) for the date certain of the current year in Column 3.
E.
By grade span, record the current district allocation per FTE according to district school board policy or administrative directive for the current year in Column
4.
F.
Enter the product of Columns 3 and 4 in Column 5.
G.
Record the total allocation for curriculum materials and instructional supplies (Function 5100, Objects 510 and 620) displayed in the budget as of the date
certain in Column 6.
H.
Record the difference between Column 6 and Column 5 in Column 7.
I.
Mark an “X” to indicate compliance or non-compliance in Column 8.
Note: The district school board policy or administrative directive may be general in nature; i.e., “equivalence” among the same grade spans is required. The actual
amount can be determined administratively on an annual basis, thus avoiding the need to change the policy every year. In districts where school allocations are
made subject to discretionary use, an administrative directive that specifies a minimum amount to be budgeted in
Function 5100, Objects 510 and 620
may be used
as the test for equivalence. Funds budgeted in compliance with a specified minimum must be expended from this account. Such funds may not be re-budgeted into
other accounts.
SAMPLE FORM A-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Compliance
School Name
Grade Span
FTE
Weighted
Unweighted
District
Allocation
per FTE
Grade
Span
Allocation
Amount
Provided in
School Budget
Difference
Yes
No
Sunshine Elementary School
K-3
130
$15.00
$1,950.00
$1,794.00
-$156.00
X
Sunshine Elementary School
4-6
120
$12.00
$1,440.00
$1,281.00
-$159.00
X
Cloudy Elementary School
K-3
129
$15.00
$1,935.00
$2,246.00
$311.00
X
Rainy Elementary School
4-6
123
$12.00
$1,476.00
$1,488.00
$12.00
X
FORM A-3
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 DOE Page 10 of 12 Florida Department of Education
District Name:
Date of Completion: Sheet _____ of _____ total sheets
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Compliance
School Name
Grade Span
FTE
Weighted
Unweighted
District
Allocation
per FTE
Grade
Span
Allocation
Amount
Provided in
School Budget
Difference
Yes
No
Duplicate this page as necessary and record the total number of sheets for the category above.
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404 DOE Page 11 of 12 Florida Department of Education
FORM C INSTRUCTIONS
A.
Provide the district name, the date certain on which comparability is determined, and the date the form is submitted (postmarked) to the Department of
Education.
B.
List in Column 1 only those schools that were not comparable as of the date certain.
C.
Identify in Column 2 the grade span for each school that is not comparable.
D.
Indicate in Column 3 the reason(s) why the school is not comparable; e.g., “personnel ratio too low” or “curriculum materials and supply dollar amounts in
Function 5100, Objects 510 and 620, were too low.”
E.
The signature, printed/typed name, and title of the certifying official should be provided at the bottom of the form. Note that the individual that collects the
data and prepares this form must be a district administrator whose salary is not paid by Title I funds.
2006-2007 COMPARABILITY REPORT
ESE 404
Education
DOE Page 12 of 12
Florida Department of
FORM C
District Name:
Date of Submission: Sheet _____ of _____ total sheets
Date Certain:
This is to certify that it has been determined that project schools and non-project schools of similar grade spans were comparable as of the date certain indicated
above, with the following exceptions:
School Name
Grade Span
Reason(s)
Duplicate this page as necessary and record the total number of sheets for the category above.
Signature of Certifying Official Printed Name Title of Certifying Official
