CAPSO believes that private schools are partners in the education of the public. The nature of that partnership was recently strengthened by the issuance of a landmark guidance document relating to private school participation in the Federal "No Child Left Behind Act."

The document, in the form of a letter from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, was distributed to all public school district superintendents, categorical program directors, and private school administrative units. It identifies the specific, federally funded programs that provide for the "equitable participation" of private school students, teachers and other educational staff and clarifies districts' obligations concerning "timely and meaningful consultation" with appropriate private school representatives.

While no private school is required to participate in programs associated with "No Child Left Behind," your school's leadership should become familiar with the nature of the law and the opportunities it offers. CAPSO has prepared a Primer on NCLB (formerly known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA) which you are encouraged to access.

As the voice of California's private schools, CAPSO is pleased to have played a major role in the achievement of this milestone. Special thanks are due to Robert A. Teegarden of the California Catholic Conference, Mimi Baer of the California Association of Independent Schools, Robert Federwitz of the Lutheran Schools of Southern California—ELCA, Rachel Klitzing of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod—Pacific Southwest District, and Sr. Patricia Supple of the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Department of Catholic Schools.

CAPSO is also most appreciative of the leadership, guidance and spirit of collegiality demonstrated by leadership and staff in the California Department of Education. Those to whom we owe thanks include Superintendent Delaine Eastin, Camille Maben, Richard Whitmore, Leslie Fawcett, Wendy Harris, Debby Rury, Marleen Allin, Jeff Zettel, Don Kairott, Jim McIlwrath, Andy Andreoli, Mike Brugh, Jerry Cummings, Terry Emmett, Terry Janicki, Larry Jaurequi, Tom Lugo, Jan Mayer, Pat Rainey, Jodhi Singh, Nancy Sullivan, Bill White and Barbara Macko.

Thanks also extend to Jack Klenk and Maureen Dowling of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Non-Public Schools, and to Joe McTighe of the Council for American Private Education.