How will enrollment work for a school classified as a private school but offering pep kids instruction? So example, if they offer full time private school and hybrid options. Would they not enroll the pep children? Wouldn’t that make the student out of compliance and ineligible for pep funds? Or is there now a drop down box in the EMA or something for the participating private school to select so the child can be enrolled but remain in PEP compliance?
What does “participating private school” mean? I assume it means full time private schools already accepting other SUFS scholarship funds that take the extra steps to let them know they want to offer hybrid services as well?
Hi! We've been told that the DOE will have a way of differentiating PEP students who are enrolled as hybrid (2-3 days a week) students from regular, full-time private school students, to ensure that the PEP students don't run into issues with enrollment cross checks, etc. They will likely have the private schools record those students a certain way. However, Step Up and the DOE were still working out the logistics last we checked.
From the parent end, the student would be PEP but just using their funds at a private school for a hybrid program. I'm sure Step Up will also have some way on differentiating on their end which of their providers in EMA are these type of programs. But the attendance track/enrollment status for those students would still legally be PEP.
"Participating" schools are going to be the ones who meet all the requirements for scholarship criteria and have gone through the process to be on the approved list with both the DOE and Step Up/AAA.
I hope that helps!
SUFS hasn't revealed the exact process on either side, but it sounds like students would still be enrolled in PEP, as indicated by their reference to the Student Learning Plan which the parent must complete within the portal. From an educational perspective, it makes sense to allow participating private schools (those that already meet the requirements for accepting scholarship funds – full-time brick and mortar with annual testing) to continue serving students in this agreeable capacity and, in my opinion, the easiest way to deal with the attendance issue is for private schools to forego being the school of record for their hybrid student population. These students would not be included in the school's annual report and, thus, attendance compliance would still be maintained by the SFO – by both being registered with the SFO for PEP and also by submitting the annual assessment. Essentially, the state is allowing participating schools to offer a type of HEIP alongside their full-time program. There are already plenty of HEIPs that operate as "hybrid schools" and this new legislation is just a provision for allowing already established private schools the same option. However, if private schools offering a hybrid option do report attendance for those students, then the official school of record will be entirely unclear and we will soon be asking new questions such as, can the private school issue transcripts and diplomas to their hybrid students? Or do these Hybrid-PEP students still graduate by parent affidavit? SUFS needs to be very consistent about the attendance component for PEP students to avoid opening a can of worms regarding the school of record and graduation/diplomas. Grab your popcorn! 😄