§7801 Definitions

Summary

Defines many key education words used in the chapter and explains how to count attendance, spending, and graduation rates. It tells how to treat students who attend other districts or private schools when a local agency pays tuition, and it explains which programs and services the chapter covers. Average daily attendance — total student days attended in a year divided by the number of days school is in session. Conversion allowance — States that use average daily membership can convert that to average daily attendance. Tuition-paid attendance — a child paid for by one agency counts for the paying agency, not the receiving one; the same applies for paid special education. Average per-pupil expenditure — total current education spending (plus state direct operating spending) from the third fiscal year before the year in question (or the most recent available), divided by average daily attendance that year. Child — anyone in the age range for which the State provides free public education. Child with a disability — same meaning as in section 1401. Community-based organization — a nonprofit that serves a community and provides educational services. Consolidated local/state application and plan — the combined applications and plans local or State agencies submit under the law. County — the State division used by the Commerce Department for reporting. Covered program — the specific parts of the listed subchapters that the law authorizes. Current expenditures — school operating costs (like administration, instruction, transport, food service deficits) but not community services, capital outlay, debt service, or money from subchapter I. Department — Department of Education. Distance learning — sending lessons to distant students by telecommunications. Dual or concurrent enrollment — a partnership letting high school students take college courses for transferable college credit that counts toward a degree. Early childhood education program and universal design for learning — as defined in the Higher Education Act section 103. Early college high school — partnership where students can earn a regular diploma and at least 12 transferable college credits at no cost to the student or family. Educational service agency — regional public agency that supports local school districts. Elementary school — a nonprofit day or residential school providing elementary education under State law, including public elementary charter schools. English learner — a student aged 3 through 21 who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in school, whose native language is not English or who comes from a non-English environment, and whose English difficulties may block meeting State standards, classroom success, or full participation in society. Evidence-based — activities shown to improve outcomes by strong, moderate, or promising research, or that have a research-based rationale and ongoing evaluation; certain funds require the study-based definitions. Expanded learning time — a longer school day, week, or year to add enrichment and time for staff collaboration and training. Extended-year adjusted cohort graduation rate — a calculated graduation fraction starting with the grade 9 cohort, adjusted for students who join or leave, counting students who earn a regular or approved alternate diploma in extra years, excluding GEDs and similar credentials; schools must document transfers and follow special rules for late-starting or very small schools. Family literacy services — voluntary, sustained services that combine parent–child literacy activities, parent training to support their children’s learning, parent literacy that leads to economic self-sufficiency, and child education that prepares young children for school. Four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate — like the extended-year rate but counting diplomas earned within four years, with the same transfer documentation rules and small-school options. Free public education — tuition-free schooling paid and supervised by public authorities for elementary and secondary grades as defined by the State, not beyond grade 12. Gifted and talented — students who show high ability and need services beyond the usual school offerings. High school — a secondary school that grants the State’s diploma and includes grade 12. Institution of higher education — as defined in section 1001(a). Local educational agency — a public board or other public authority that runs or directs public elementary and secondary schools in a city, county, district, or similar area; this includes some Bureau of Indian Education schools, educational service agencies, consortia, and, where applicable, a State agency that is the sole agency for all public schools. Mentoring — a responsible adult or older student providing a supportive role model, academic help, and new experiences to a child. Middle grades — grades 5 through 8. Multi-tier system of supports — a set of research-based practices at multiple levels to respond quickly to student needs using regular data. Native American and Native American language — as defined in title 25 section 2902. Other staff — specialized instructional support personnel, librarians, career guidance counselors, education aides, and other instructional and administrative staff. Outlying area — American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; for some grants, this also can include the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau if those grants remain available. Paraprofessional — paraeducator, including education and instructional assistants. Parent — includes legal guardians or persons acting in place of a parent. Parental involvement — parents’ regular, two-way, meaningful participation in their child’s learning and school activities, including being partners in decisions and advisory roles. Pay for success initiative — a public contract or grant that pays only when agreed outcomes are met and that requires a feasibility study, a rigorous outside evaluation, yearly public progress reports, and outcome-based payments (evaluation fees may be paid earlier). Poverty line — the OMB poverty threshold, updated yearly under section 9902(2) of title 42, for the family size involved. Professional development — sustained, intensive, collaborative, job-embedded training for educators designed to improve teaching and student learning, with many required features such as alignment to school goals, use of data, follow-up, and partnerships with higher education. Regular high school diploma — the standard diploma awarded to most students in the State, aligned with State standards and not based on alternate academic achievement standards; it does not include GEDs or similar credentials. School leader — a principal, assistant principal, or other employee responsible for daily instructional leadership and school management. Secondary school — a nonprofit day or residential school providing secondary education under State law, up to grade 12, including public secondary charter schools. Secretary — the Secretary of Education. Specialized instructional support personnel and services — school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other qualified professionals (like nurses and speech pathologists) who provide assessment and support services. State — the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas. State educational agency — the agency mainly responsible for supervising public elementary and secondary schools in the State. Technology — modern information, computer, and communication tools, including the Internet, devices, software, data systems, electronic content, and storage. Well-rounded education — courses and activities across many subjects (for example, reading, math, science, arts, civics, history, languages, computer science, health, physical education, and career and technical education) to give all students a broad and enriched curriculum.