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Federal Update

Stay informed about the current status of federal grants in Florida, including education funding cuts and monitoring protocols. Learn about upcoming auditing and monitoring audits and the role of the ombudsman in ensuring equitable services.

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Federal Update

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  1. Federal Update Florida Grants Developers’ Network December 1, 2017

  2. Forecast

  3. Current Status • House passed an omnibus spending bill in September. • Senate appropriations passed a bill but full Senate has not yet acted. • The Senate and the House versions will need to be reconciled and then acted on again by both House and Senate.

  4. Current Status • The current continuing resolution (CR) expires on December 8. • Either the House and the Senate will need to agree on a budget, or they will need to pass another CR, or there will be a government shutdown. • Given the emphasis on tax reform/cuts, it is unlikely a new budget will be adopted by Dec. 8.

  5. President’s Budget • Included substantial cuts to education. • Eliminated Title II, 21st Century, and Title IV.

  6. House • Eliminate Title II. • Reduce funding for 21st Century. • Increase (slightly) funding for Title IV.

  7. Senate • Preserves Title II at current level. • Level-funds 21st Century. • Small increase for Title IV.

  8. Overall • In both houses, education. programs are funded overall at roughly current level. • The exception is Title II. It is the most vulnerable.

  9. Having Said All This…… • It appears that all programs except Title II will be funded at fairly stable levels. • But everything can change quickly. • Timing is everything and we will certainly have more information by next week. December 8 looms….

  10. Auditing and Monitoring

  11. Audits • The two issues we are seeing in district single audits are: • IDEA Maintenance of Effort • Title I Rank and Serve. • Findings in both of these areas can have fiscal consequences.

  12. Remember • All audit findings come to the Department of Education for resolution and we take a close look at findings and supporting documentation before issuing a program determination letter.

  13. Also • The threshold for determining what programs should be monitored increase for $500,000 in expenditures to $750,000 in expenditures. • Result is that smaller programs are not being audited.

  14. USED Monitoring Protocols • Recently USED published the protocols that they will be using in their monitoring of SEAs and LEAs. • Several years ago FDOE participated in a pilot of the SEA monitoring protocols and provided feedback to USED.

  15. USED Monitoring • These protocols have been published for public comment and they are available at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/11/28/2017-25649/agency-information-collection-activities-comment-request-sea-and-lea-self-assessment-and-monitoring

  16. Financial Management & Cross-Cutting Requirements (LEA) • Accounting Systems and Fiscal Controls • Cash Management and Payment Systems • Period of Availability and Carryover • Internal Controls • Audit Requirements • Records and Information Management • Equipment and Supplies Management

  17. Financial Management & Cross-Cutting Requirements (LEA) • Personnel • Procurement • Indirect Costs • Charter School Authorization and Oversight

  18. Program Fiscal Requirements Domain - LEA • Budgeting and Activities • Allocations • Subrecipient Monitoring • LEA Support and Guidance • Supplement, Not Supplant • Maintenance of Effort • Comparability • Equitable Services

  19. Suggestion! • Although we do not expect USED to monitor any of our districts in the near future, this document could serve as an excellent tool for self-assessment. • I do expect that in the future, FDOE will use elements of this document in our fiscal monitoring of districts.

  20. Equitable Services/Ombudsman

  21. ESSA Requirements for Ombudsman • ESEA sections 1117(a)(3)(B) and 8501(a)(3)(B) “To help ensure equitable services and other benefits for eligible private school children, teachers, and other educational personnel, and families, an SEA must designate an ombudsman to monitor and enforce ESEA equitable services requirements…”

  22. ESSA Requirements for Ombudsman • The ombudsman will have responsibility for equitable services in all of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) programs. • We may also use the ombudsman to work with IDEA in the provision of equitable services to students with disabilities.

  23. Role and Responsibilities • SEA’s primary point of contact for addressing questions and concerns from private school officials and LEAs regarding equitable services. • Also responsible for monitoring equitable services provisions.

  24. Examples of duties • Serve as a general resource regarding equitable services requirements. • Develop monitoring protocols and participate in selected monitoring activities. • Provide TA for SEA staff, LEA staff and private school officials.

  25. Examples of duties • Establish a process for receiving documentation of agreements from ELAs consistent with the consultation requirement that the results of such agreements shall be transmitted to the ombudsman. • Participate in the state’s Title I Committee of Practitioners and other forums for participation of private schools.

  26. Other duties • Propose appropriate policies and procedures for adoption by FDOE. • Resolve complaints using a timely and well-defined process. • Monitor subrecipient consultation paperwork and proportionate share budgets. • Prepare and distribute reports.

  27. Status of FDOE Ombudsman Position • Position created for a full-time ombudsman. • Resides in the Office of Audit Resolution and Monitoring. • Reports to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations.

  28. Status of FDOE Ombudsman Position • Position advertised in September. • 87 applications received. • 5 highly qualified candidates are being interviewed and we hope to make an appointment in December. • You will hear more about this new position soon after the beginning of the year.

  29. One More Thing….

  30. Martha/Miki • Mari (“Miki”) Presley is the new Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Operations • She is gradually taking on Martha’s duties, and has started with the Bureau of Contracts, Grants, and Procurement.

  31. Miki/Martha • Martha will continue as Assistant Deputy Commissioner for the foreseeable future but duties will change as Miki transitions into her role. • Miki and Martha’s offices are next to each other and they work closely together on all aspects of the job.

  32. Today • Both Miki and Martha had hoped to be here today, but that turned out to be impossible. • Martha and Miki both hope to be with you at your next meeting (in Tallahassee?)

  33. Contact Information Mari (“Miki”) Presley 850/245-9426 Mari.Presley@fldoe.org Martha K. Asbury 850/245-0420 martha.asbury2@fldoe.org Janice Brown 850-245-0735 Janice.Brown@fldoe.org

  34. Thank You!

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