http://www.ode.state.or.us/opportunities/grants/nclb/title_iii/recent-arrivers-q–a-february-2012.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions
Recent Arrivers Data Collection
February, 2012
Q: What is the Recent Arrivers Data Collection?
A: Under Title III, Part A, Section 3114(d)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) is required to set aside funds to provide subgrant awards to local educational agencies (LEAs) that meet eligibility requirements for participation in the Immigrant Education Student Subgrant Program. Oregon is referring to this collection as the “Recent Arrivers” which more specifically describes the actual count included in the collection.
Q: What is the purpose of this subgrant?
A: The purpose of this subpart is to assist eligible local education agencies that experience unexpectedly large increases in their student population due to immigration.
- To provide high-quality instruction to immigrant children and youth; and
- To help such children and youth-
- Their transition into American society; and meet the same challenging State academic standards as all children are expected to meet.
Q: How does the United States Department of Education (USDOE) define a “Recent Arriver”?
A: Title III is a federal grant which encompasses Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students. Oregon is using the term “Recent Arriver” to more closely describe the eligible population. The following are the characteristics of a “Recent Arriver”:
- Are aged 3-21
- Were NOT born in any state; (or Puerto Rico)
- Have NOT been attending one or more schools in any one or more state for more than three full academic years.
Q: Is the collection mandatory?
A: Yes, the collection has been mandated by the USED.
Q: Do we have to gather this information from all students?
A: To comply with civil rights concerns, it is necessary to treat all students equally, and to carefully restrict the use of the data collected.
Q: What if our district fails to submit the required data?
A: LEAs receive funds based on the counts of eligible immigrant students enrolled in the public and private schools located within their jurisdictions. If no data is received from the eligible entity, no grant awards can be made.
Q: What are the data specifications?
A: The link for additional information regarding this data collection can be found on the district website: https://district.ode.state.or.us/apps/info/DataCllctnDetail.aspx?id=272
Q: What data elements are required for the collection?
A: The Recent Arrivers collection is a student level collection. Required data elements include:
- a. SSID
- b. Language of Origin
- c. Limited English Proficient (LEP) flag cannot be blank (yes/no option)
Q: What is the primary use of this data?
A: The only use of this data collection is to calculate the sub grant award and issue the subgrant to the qualified entity, as required.
Q: What other purposes will this data are used for?
A: There is no other identified purpose for this data collection beyond USED reporting requirements. Use of this collection is specifically restricted to fulfilling federal reporting requirements.
Q: Why is this collection being instituted now?
A: Due to a variety of circumstance, ODE has not implemented this collection in the past. In response to a Title III federal program finding in August of 2010, Oregon is currently instituting this required data collection
Q: How do I submit the data elements?
A: The data will be submitted via the ODE consolidated Collections application.
Q: What if I have questions about the data submission?
A: The following website is available to consult regarding the technical standards of the Recent Arrivers Collection.
http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/edfacts/eden/non-xml/n045-7-0.doc
Q: When is the data submission window?
A: September 27, 2012- October 19, 2012 for the 2011-12 school year data and May 19, -June 24, 2013 for the 2012-13 school year data.
Q: Do foreign exchange count as “recent arrivers”?
A: Yes, as long as they meet the definition (see above).
Q: If a student was born abroad to military parents, is the student included in the “recent arrivers” data collection?
A: If the student meets the definition criteria, then the student is included in the “recent arrivers” data collection.
Q: What if a student leaves the United States and re-enters during the school year?
A: For purposes of the data collection, the eligibility is cumulative, totaling 540 days. A student attending school in the United States for more than 540 cumulative days no longer qualifies as a “recent arriver”, despite when in the calendar or school year the days are accumulated.
Q: What if I don’t have any Recent Arrivers to report?
A: Districts confirm their collection is complete by clicking the verification button on the status tracking window.
Q: What are allowable activities for school districts to use the Recent Arrivers subgrant for?
A: In general, an eligible entity receiving funds under section 3114(d)(1) shall use the funds to pay for activities that provide enhanced instructional opportunities for immigrant children and youth, which may include-
- Family literacy, parent outreach, and training activities designed to assist parents to become active participants in the education of their children;
- Support for personnel, including teacher aides who have been specifically trained, or are being trained, to provide services to immigrant children and youth;
- Provision of tutorials, mentoring, and academic or career counseling for immigrant children and youth;
- Identification and acquisition of curricular materials, educational software, and technologies to be used in the program carried out with funds;
- Basic instruction services that are directly attributable to the presence in the school district involved with immigrant children and youth, including the payment of costs of providing additional classroom supplies, costs of transportation, or such other cots as are directly attributable to such additional basic instruction services;
- Other instruction services that are designed to assist immigrant children and youth to achieve in elementary schools and secondary schools in the United States, such as programs of instruction to the educational system and civics education; and
- Activities, coordinated with community-based organizations, institutions of higher education, private sector entities, or other entities with expertise in working with immigrants, to assist parents of immigrant children and youth by offering comprehensive community services.