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Local education agency
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A local education agency, or LEA, is a public authority that is designed to oversee the implementation of education policies as set forth by the federal government. An LEA typically refers to a district's local school board. Private schools do not fall under the jurisdiction of any nearby local education agencies, though they can collaborate on any given program. Some of the specific responsibilities of the LEA include the following:
- Enforcing adherence to federal standards
- Ensuring high-quality special education measures for students with disabilities
- Addressing criticisms of the district
- Reaching out to local communities to ensure all students within its jurisdiction receive a quality education[1][2]
The United States Department of Education defines a local education agency as the following:
| “ | A public board of education or other public authority legally constituted within a State for either administrative control or direction of, or to perform a service function for, public elementary schools or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision of a State, or for a combination of school districts or counties that is recognized in a State as an administrative agency for its public elementary schools or secondary schools.[2][3] | ” |
Assistance programs
Local education agencies are responsible for making provisions for students with additional needs. The following details some of those groups and what is expected of LEAs when addressing related situations.
Homeless youth
Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001, it was determined that homelessness is not an excuse to deprive children of an education. This law defines homeless individuals as "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence."[4]
It is the LEA's responsibility to identify homeless youths in the community and ensure that they are given an education. Often, a liaison is selected as an agent of the LEA to work with other bodies such as church groups or law enforcement agencies to identify minors in homeless situations. When identified, the LEA is required to extend to that student all of the services offered to students with adequate housing, including after-school programs, free or reduced price lunch programs and referrals to medical, dental or other care facilities.[4][5]
Students with disabilities
LEAs are required to provide, or oversee the provision of, special education programs for students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA). IDEA requires LEAs to monitor and assist students with disabilities throughout their education. It compels schools to hire "highly qualified teachers" who are capable of delivering quality education to students under a variety of different circumstances. The act even requires LEAs to follow up with students who are hospitalized, moved to an alternate home, or detained for legal reasons. IDEA also outlines a large variety of different provisions to ensure that students with disabilities receive any and all care necessary, in addition to the same standard education given to all students.[6][7][8]
See also
External links
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001
- U.S. Department of Education IDEA website
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisegeek.com, "What is a local education agency," accessed October 28, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 U.S. Department of Education, "Definitions," accessed October 28, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 U.S. Department of Education, "McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001," accessed October 28, 2014
- ↑ University of Texas at Austin, "McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act of 2001," accessed October 28, 2014
- ↑ Special education in plain language, "LEA representatives," accessed October 28, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education: IDEA, "Monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement," accessed October 28, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, "Local education agency responsibilities for children with disabilities in jail, detention, hospital, or other children's homes," accessed October 28, 2014
