§7801 Definitions

Summary

Lists plain meanings for many words used later in the law about schools. It sets how to count students and money, who is covered, and what short phrases like “English learner,” “evidence-based,” or “well‑rounded education” mean. Average daily attendance means total student days attended divided by the number of school days. Average per-pupil expenditure is total current school spending (including state direct operating costs) divided by the number of students in average daily attendance, using data from the third fiscal year before the year being measured (or the most recent year with good data). “Child” means anyone in the ages for which the State offers free public schooling. “Child with a disability” uses the definition in section 1401. A community-based organization is a nonprofit that serves its community and provides educational or related services. Consolidated local and State applications and plans are the combined applications and plans required under the named sections. “County” uses the divisions the Commerce Department uses for reporting. “Covered program” refers to eight specific program parts listed in the law. Current expenditures are normal school operating costs and exclude community services, capital outlay, debt service, and funds from subchapter I. The Department means the U.S. Department of Education. Distance learning is sending instruction to people in different places by telecommunications. Dual or concurrent enrollment is a partnership letting high school students take college courses for credit that transfer within the partnership. Early childhood education program and universal design for learning use the meanings given in the Higher Education Act. Early college high school is a partnership that lets students earn a regular high school diploma plus at least 12 transferable college credits at no cost to the student. An educational service agency is a regional public agency that helps local school districts. Elementary and secondary schools are nonprofit day or residential schools as defined by the State; high school grants a State diploma and includes grade 12. English learner describes ages 3–21 who are enrolled or preparing to enroll in K–12, whose native language is not English or who come from a non‑English environment (including some Native American or migratory students), and who have limited English that may keep them from meeting standards or fully participating. Evidence‑based means an activity shown to improve outcomes by strong, moderate, or promising research, or supported by high‑quality research with ongoing study; certain funded activities must meet the specific research options. Expanded learning time is a longer school day, week, or year to add enrichment and staff planning. Four‑year and extended‑year adjusted cohort graduation rates measure the share of an entering 9th‑grade cohort that earn a regular diploma within four years or within extra years, with rules for adding or removing students and special rules for schools that start after grade 9 or are very small. Family literacy services combine parent‑child literacy activities, parent training to teach and support learning, parent literacy that leads to work, and child education to prepare for school. Free public education is publicly paid, supervised K–12 schooling without tuition and does not include education beyond grade 12. Gifted and talented names students with high capability who need extra services. A local educational agency (LEA) is the public authority that runs or manages public K–12 schools in a local area and can include special cases like Bureau of Indian Education schools, educational service agencies, or a State agency when it is the sole agency. Mentoring is a responsible older person or student helping a child as a role model and academic supporter. Middle grades are grades 5–8. A multi‑tier system of supports is a layered set of proven practices to meet students’ needs quickly and guide decisions with data. Native American and Native American language use the definitions in title 25. “Other staff” names specialized instructional support personnel and similar school employees. Outlying area names certain territories and, for some grants, three freely associated states. Paraprofessional (paraeducator) includes education and instructional assistants. Parent includes legal guardians and others acting in place of a parent. Parental involvement means regular, two-way, meaningful parent participation in learning and school activities. A pay‑for‑success initiative is a performance‑based contract or grant with a feasibility study, a rigorous third‑party evaluation, annual public reports, and payment only when agreed outcomes are met (except evaluator payment). Poverty line means the official poverty threshold updated each year. Professional development is sustained, job‑embedded, collaborative training for educators designed to improve teaching and student learning and may include many listed components (such as subject knowledge, using data, classroom management, work with higher education, and supports for English learners and students with disabilities). Regular high school diploma means the State’s standard diploma (not GEDs or similar equivalents). School leader means the principal, assistant principal, or other staff responsible for daily instructional leadership and management. Secretary means the U.S. Secretary of Education. Specialized instructional support personnel are counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, speech‑language pathologists, librarians, and others who provide needed services; their services are called specialized instructional support services. State includes the 50 States, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas. State educational agency is the agency mainly responsible for State supervision of public K–12 schools. Technology means modern computers, communication systems, the Internet, software, electronic content, and data storage. Well‑rounded education means a broad set of subjects and activities (like reading, science, arts, civics, math, languages, career and technical education, health, and more) that give students an enriched curriculum.