Private/Parochial

Child Find Screenings

Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires states to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth to 21, who are in need of early intervention or special education services. Child Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and refer as early as possible all young children with disabilities and their families who are in need of an Early Intervention Program (Part C) or Early Childhood Special Education (Part B) services of the IDEA.

Please click here to read about Child Find

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Grant Program

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Affirmation of Representatives of Private Schools

This Affirmation is signed by the private school representative each year to document that the Madison Metropolitan School District engaged in timely and meaningful consultation during the design and development of special education and related services.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Affirmation

Enrollment Link for Private & Parochial Students when a Special Education Referral is to be made. webapp1.madison.k12.wi.us/webapp1/enroll-short/

Special Education Eligibility Guides can be found on DPI's website https://dpi.wi.gov/sped/laws-procedures-bulletins/laws/eligibility

Students with disabilities attending private or parochial schools

With the enactment of IDEA 2004 the MMSD has the responsibility for implementing the IDEA requirements for parentally placed private school students with disabilities who attend state recognized private or parochial (P/P) (elementary & secondary) schools within the MMSD boundary, regardless of their district of residency.

IDEA requirements for parentally placed PP students with disabilities in WI apply to students in grades K4 through grade 12.

Students transferring from MMSD public school to MMSD private/parochial schools

Students who transfer to a private or parochial school served by MMSD are still considered MMSD students. For students who meet eligibility for one or more disability areas, MMSD is responsible for offering 3 year reevaluations, and determining if any services will be offered to the private school via a Service Plan. It is not necessary to obtain written parental consent to share information between MMSD public and MMSD private/parochial schools.

If the services the student received at MMSD are within the array of services offered at private schools, the parent is notified and a service plan can be developed to outline the services
If the services the student received at MMSD are not within the array of services, MMSD will discuss with the parent that no services are available in the private school, but that the student remains entitled to services should they enroll in the public schools.

Note* DPI now recognizes/accepts private diagnoses of Dyslexia. However, the DPI disability eligibility criteria does not assess for Dyslexia. Eligibility criteria exists for Specific Learning Disabilities in Reading, Writing, and Math. So, just like a student with ADHD may/may not meet the DPI eligibility criteria of OHI, a student with Dyslexia may/may not meet the DPI eligibility criteria of SLD.

Students transferring from private/parochial schools to MMSD public schools

Students who transfer into an MMSD public school from a private schools would be considered an in-district transfer (as opposed to students who come in from another district). If the student is a prior MMSD public school student who returns to the MMSD public schools, their IEP would be reinstated, or if expired, would be developed.

Array of Services

Speech/Language Therapy

4K – 8th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service for Speech and Language with documented impact on educational achievement.
4K - 12th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service for Fluency with documented impact on educational achievement.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Instruction

4K – 12th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service (does not include ASL Interpretation) Audiology
4K – 12th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service Vision Instruction
4K – 12th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service (does not include materials production)

Orientation & Mobility

4K – 12th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service

Professional Development related to the needs of students identified with disabilities

MSCR

Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR), a department of Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), currently manages and operates fifteen 21st Century Community Learning Center (CLC) Grants awarded from the U.S. Department of Education through Wisconsin DPI.

These grant programs target low-income, low achieving students. Our programs strive to improve academic achievement, especially in literacy and math, through tutoring/ homework assistance and hands-on academic enrichment during after school hours.

CLC Grant Schools

Elementary School

Allis Elementary
Anana Elementary
Hawthorne Elementary
Henderson Elementary
Lindbergh Elementary
Mendota Elementary
Midvale Elementary
Nuestro Mundo Community School
Sandburg Elementary
Schenk Elementary

Middle & High School

Black Hawk Middle School
La Follette High School
Sennett Middle School
Sherman Middle School
Wright Middle School

Must Offer

Academic enrichment opportunities for students
Additional student activities that complement academic programming
Opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in each child’s education for families

Programs should

Target students with greatest need
Employ multiple methods for recruiting students
Develop plan for retention of students

Private School Allocations

Student Support and Intervention Team Process

The purpose of Student Support and Intervention Team (SSIT) is to collaboratively problem solve to address the needs of individual students who are not making expected progress. During the collaboration, we all increase knowledge of student's strengths and challenges, determine strategies and supports, and determine appropriate referrals to special education and/or outside agencies. The outcome of the SSIT will be to document a plan that seeks to promote student success.

During the SSIT Meeting we will:

Review of Information
Define the specific problem
Discuss what we want the child to know or be able to do
Develop a plan that may include:
- Instructional Strategies
- Accommodations
- Modifications
- Interventions
Based on results, consider a referral for special education

Parents can request an evaluation by completing this form and completing the online enrollment form

webapp1.madison.k12.wi.us/webapp1/enroll-short/

Summer School

Title I

Title I, Part A funds are targeted to high-poverty school districts and provide supplementary education to students who are educationally disadvantaged or at risk of failing to meet the state standards. Private and Parochial schools receive an equitable share of Title I funding which is in the form of instructional services to eligible students. The instruction students will receive supplements the primary classroom core curriculum. To be eligible, students must reside in Madison within a Title I school attendance area (see list below) and be demonstrating academic need in order to receive these services. Use the Find your School link and the list of schools below to help determine if students reside in the boundaries of a Title I receiving school.

Please contact Stephanie Dankert, Private and Parochial Coordinator at sadankert@madison.k12.wi.us for more information.

If you have students who do not live in the MMSD attendance area, please contact the home school district to help determine if these students are eligible to receive Title I services.

Title I Schools 2022-23

Allis Elementary
Anana Elementary
Badger Rock Middle
Black Hawk Middle
Emerson Elementary
Gompers Elementary
Hawthorne Elementary
Henderson Elementary
Huegel Elementary
Jefferson Middle
Kennedy Elementary
Lake View Elementary
Leopold Elementary
Lincoln Elementary
Lindbergh Elementary
Mendota Elementary
Muir Elementary
Nuestro Mundo Elementary
O'Keeffe Middle
Orchard Ridge Elementary
Sandburg Elementary
Schenk Elementary
Sennett Middle
Sherman Middle
Toki Middle
Whitehorse Middle
Wright Middle

Title II

The purpose of Title II, Part A grant funds is to increase student academic achievement through strategies such as improving teacher and principal quality, increasing the number of highly qualified teachers in the classroom and highly qualified principals and assistant principals in schools, and holding local educational agencies and schools accountable for improvements in student academic achievement.

Each private or parochial school participating in TII services must complete and return a needs assessment document describing student need in the core academic areas based on multiple measures of data. In alignment with these needs, teachers and administrators have the opportunity to attend MMSD courses, request specific professional development from MMSD, attand high quality professional development activities, or enroll in coursework. Participating staff or contracted consultants are reimbursed for expenses they incur through the MMSD Title II approval and reimbursement process. MMSD cannot reimburse the private or parochial school directly. Title II private or parochial school level allocations are calculated through the Department of Public Instruction's ESSA online grant application and is based on total school enrollment in January of the previous year.

Professional Development Request and Reimbursement

A Private and Parochial Professional Development Request Form should be completed at least two weeks prior to the event. Requests will be approved pending their alignment with the school's approved Needs Assessment and the award amount available for the current grant year (July 1 - June 30.) All requests must be received by April 1st.
Upon approval of the Private and Parochial Professional Development Request Form, MMSD will email the staff / administrator additional information and forms required to receive a Title II reimbursement. These forms will be due back to MMSD within 10 days of activity completion. Please review the Professional Development Reimbursement Checklist which outlines all of the requirements to assure that you receive the maximum allowable reimbursement. Items not completed according to these instructions may delay and/or reduce the amount of your final reimbursement.
All reimbursement information is due back to MMSD by June 30th (end of the current grant year.)

Requesting a Professional Development Consultant

The Private and Parochial School completes the Service Agreement Request form and forwards it to Stephanie Dankert, allowing two months for processing. MMSD requires service agreements to be approved before service starts. Service Agreement contracts are between MMSD, the Consultant and the Private Parochial School. MMSD drafts the consultant agreement and works directly with consultant for approval. Therefore, the consultant will invoice MMSD within 7-10 days after work has been completed - and not the Private and Parochial School. All invoices must be received by June 30. Service agreements indicate that if there is not enough Title II allocation remaining at the time of invoicing, Private and Parochial school will be responsible for the balance.

Service Agreement Process

Complete and return the signed Service Agreement Request form to Stephanie Dankert

Upon approval MMSD drafts the Service Agreement document and emails to consultant and Private and Parochial for approval. If consultant is a new MMSD vendor, they must complete a W-9 form.

The Service Agreement and the W-9 are completed and returned to Paula Starr at MMSD

Within 10 days of the work being completed, the vendor submits the invoice to Paula Starr.

Professional Development provided by MMSD

Private/parochial schools located within Madison attendance areas may request professional development to be presented at their school for their staff. Ideas for this type of professional development include (this is not an exhaustive list) Special Ed 101, ESL 101, Differentiation, Sensory Integration and Gifted and Talented.

Teachers teaching in private and parochial schools located within the MMSD attendance areas are invited to participate in professional development courses located on the MMSD Professional Development Course Portal.

Professional Learning Portal

Professional Development registration/course sign-up instructions

Beginning February 15, requests must be made using the Google Forms.

Title II and IV Professional Development Google Form

Title II, Part A – Improving Teacher Quality- Madison Metropolitan School District- Private School Needs Assessment and Professional Development Plan 2020-21

Title III

The purpose of Title III, Part A is to increase the English proficiency of Limited English Proficient (LEP) children. English Learners that attend a private or parochial school within the Madison Metropolitan School District are first identified by taking the WIDA Screener Online or WIDA Remote Screener. Students that qualify for Title III, Part A services through this assessment then participate in the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 assessment which annually measures English Proficiency Levels. MMSD provides a highly qualified instructor to administer the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 at each qualifying private or parochial school. Teachers and schools that participate in Title III can also participate in professional learning and student consultation throughout the year to learn best practices for instructing English Learners.

Title IIIA ensures that children attain English language proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in English and meet the same challenging academic standards that all children are expected to meet. (Taken from https://dpi.wi.gov/english-learners/title-iii)

The Madison Metropolitan School District provides Title IIIA services to private schools in the form of: 1) professional development and coaching for private school staff regarding instructional best practices for teaching ELs and 2) monitoring/assessing of student English language development and proficiency.

The first step is for the potential English Learner to be screened using the WIDA Screener Online or WIDA Remote Screener. The screener results will indicate if the student is an English learner and qualifies for services. Parents/guardians then accept or refuse permission for the student to receive services. The student will continue to be assessed annually to monitor English Language Development. The annual assessment (ACCESS for ELLs 2.0) is administered in the winter with results being shared in late spring. Teachers will use the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 results to plan instruction to meet the individual academic needs of ELs. Please contact your student's school if you have any questions.

WIDA's Can Do Descriptors

The WIDA Can Do Descriptors are commonly used by ESL teachers in coaching general education teachers about differentiated instruction for English language learners (ELLs). They can also be used to plan lessons or observe students' progress. (Taken from the WIDA website)

The Can Do Descriptors can also be distributed with ACCESS for ELLs or WIDA MODEL score reports to help give teachers a basic overview of what the Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing proficiency level results indicate about their students' abilities. (Taken from the WIDA website)

Title IV

Title IV-A funds may be used to provide supplemental services or supports in the private/parochial setting that address one or more the of the following priorities: Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities, Safe and Healthy Students, and Effective Use of Technology.

Requesting Professional Development

A Private and Parochial Professional Development Request Form should be completed at least two weeks prior to the event. Requests will be approved pending their alignment with the school's approved Needs Assessment and the award amount available for the current grant year (July 1 - June 30.) All requests must be received by April 1st.
Upon approval of the Private and Parochial Professional Development Request Form, MMSD will email the staff / administrator additional information and forms required to receive a Title II reimbursement. These forms will be due back to MMSD within 10 days of activity completion. Please review the Professional Development Reimbursement Checklist which outlines all of the requirements to assure that you receive the maximum allowable reimbursement. Items not completed according to these instructions may delay and/or reduce the amount of your final reimbursement.
All reimbursement information is due back to MMSD by June 30th (end of the current grant year.)

Requesting a Professional Ddevelopment Consultant

The Private and Parochial School completes the Service Agreement Request form and forwards it to Stephanie Dankert, allowing two months for processing. Service Agreement contracts are between MMSD, the Consultant and the Private Parochial School. MMSD drafts the consultant agreement and works directly with consultant for approval. Therefore, the consultant will invoice MMSD within 7-10 days after work has been completed - and not the Private and Parochial School. All invoices must be received by June 30. Service agreements indicate that if there is not enough Title II allocation remaining at the time of invoicing, Private and Parochial school will be responsible for the balance.

Contact Us