A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Part I - Local Institutions

1. Identify eligible institutions. In order to be eligible to be counted, a child age 5 through 17 must live in a locally operated facility that meets the definition of an institution for neglected children, an institution for delinquent children, or an adult correctional institution as provided in Section 1432(1), (4), or (5) of Title I. It is not necessary to designate a child as neglected or delinquent because if he or she is between ages 5 and 17 and is in an institution that meets the definitions, that child would be eligible to be counted.

2. Report the October 1998 caseload data for children in eligible institutions. The State educational agency (SEA) must report only the number of children who resided in an eligible institution--and were not counted in the enrollment data for the State agency N or D pro-gram--for at least 30 consecutive days, at least one day of which was in the month of October.

3. Submit a separate count of children for each LEA and county in the following categories of institutions: (A list of LEAs for your State showing identification codes and a county listing showing the counts submitted last year are attached.)
   • Local institutions for neglected children (see the definition in Section 1432(5)).

   • Local institutions for delinquent children (Section 1432(4)). In this category also include children in local adult correctional institutions (Section 1432(1)).

   Although detailed information for each institution is not required, it may be helpful to provide this guidance to the individual institutions.

   Please note that the category of an institution should not change from year to year unless there has been an official change in the purpose for which the institution is operated. For example, if an institution is operated for the care of neglected children, but the majority of the children residing in the institution during October are children adjudicated to be delinquent, the institution should still be reported as an institution for neglected children until its charter or purpose is officially changed to show that it is an institution operated for the care of delinquent children. Consistency in reporting from year to year is necessary because changing the category of an institution from year to year based on the category of the majority of children served affects the hold-harmless allocations and eligibility for Concentration Grants.

4. Count only children ages 5 through 17.

5. Verify the accuracy of the data to be submitted. Compare the October 1998 data to the data that were submitted last year. If there is a large increase or decrease in a county count, the SEA should identify the reason. For example, did a new institution begin operation? Did an institution close? Do new institutions meet eligibility requirements? Were October caseload data reported correctly? Were only children ages 5 through 17 reported in the count? While it is not necessary to submit documentation to support the accuracy of the data, the SEA should be prepared to respond if questions arise when ED verifies the counts.

Part II - State-Operated or Supported Institutions

1. Identify eligible institutions or community day programs for N or D children to whom a State agency is responsible for providing free public education and is actually providing a regular program of instruction as defined in '200.50(b) of the Title I regulations. Institutions for neglected children and institutions for delinquent children are defined in '200.50(b) of the Title I regulations. The average length of stay in an institution for neglected or delinquent children must be at least 30 days. Adult correctional institutions are defined in Section 1432(1) of Title I and community day programs are defined in Section 1432(3). A child must be in an eligible institution or community day program in order to be counted.

2. Submit data on the number of children enrolled in a regular program of instruction for each eligible institution and community day program for the date specified by the State agency in accordance with '200.51(a)(2). To be counted, a child or youth must be enrolled in a regular program of instruction provided by the State agency for at least--
   • 20 hours per week if in an institution for N or D children or a community day program for N or D children; or

   • 15 hours per week if in an adult correctional institution.

   The SEA must adjust the enrollment data for each institution to account for the relative length of a State agency's annual educational program in such institution in accordance with '200.51(b) of the Title I regulations before submitting the data to ED.

3. Count only children up to age 21 years (through age 20).

4. Verify the accuracy of the data to be submitted. Compare each State agency's enrollment data to the data that were submitted last year. If there is a large increase or decrease in a State agency's count, the SEA should identify the reason. For example, did a new institution begin operation or did an institution close? Were the enrollment data reported correctly and were data reported only for children and youth? Were the enrollment data adjusted correctly? While it is not necessary to submit documentation to support the accuracy of the data, the SEA should be prepared to respond if questions arise when ED verifies the counts.