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UNDERSTANDING SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING. How to account for IDEIA funds. IDEIA-B Section 611. Federal funds – funded by two separate federal grants 48% available July 1 – September 30 52% available when the Department receives the October federal grant supplement
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UNDERSTANDING SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING How to account for IDEIA funds
IDEIA-B Section 611 • Federal funds – funded by two separate federal grants • 48% available July 1 – September 30 • 52% available when the Department receives the October federal grant supplement • Intermediate Units are considered the LEA and administer the federal grants
IDEIA Components • Component I – Early Intervention • Dollars generated by prior school year’s December 1 child count of all 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 5 year olds • Distributed to MAWA holders • School District • Intermediate Unit
Component II – Training and Consultation and Interagency Implementation (TaC) • Must be used to support a minimum of 5.0 FTE positions for training and consultation in all LEAs • Limited to 8% of each intermediate unit grant total
Component III – School AgeSupplementary Aides & Services • Remaining amount after Preschool, TaC, and Equitable Participation are deducted from the total IDEIA grant • School age federal child count (ages 5-21) • IU’s may provide services to school districts and charter schools in lieu of pass-through funds
Use of Funds • Supplement and Not Supplant • IDEIA funds to supplement and not supplant state and local funds • Maintain fiscal effort • IDEIA funds may not be used to reduce the expenditures made by local funds below prior year expenditures
Early Intervening Services • Up to 15% of the funding may be used to develop and implement early intervening services • Kindergarten through 12th grade, particular emphasis on kindergarten through 3rd grade
Allowable Activities • Professional development for teachers and other school staff • Providing educational and behavioral evaluations, services and support • Providing professional development and support to teachers and other staff in assessment of students with disabilities, inclusion of student with disability in regular education settings, and in early intervening activities
Reporting • LEA that develops and maintains early intervening services must report annually to the Department • Number of students served by early intervening services • Number of students served but who also subsequently receive special education and related IDEIA services during the preceding 2-year period
Equitable Participation • IU must conduct a child find process • Examples may include: survey private schools, input from local school districts, information from Act 89 services, etc. • IU must consult with private school representatives and parents of parentally placed children • Review the child find, federal dollar amount generated, and discuss service options
Accounting for Federal Pass-Through Funds • Accounting Bulletin 1998-01 • Revised July 1, 2006 • IU’s record Pass-Through Fund expenditures to 2990-899 • School districts and Charter schools should record to 6832 – Federal IDEA Revenue received as pass-through revenue (see examples in Accounting Bulletin)
2006-2007 IU’s IDEIA grant funding was decreased approximately 1% • 2007-2008 it’s estimated IU’s will again see a 1% - 2% decrease in IDEIA grant funding • Child count continues to increase for most school districts and charter schools • Costs to educate students continue to increase as well
Summary • Prominent Options as a result of more kids and less IDEIA funds per student • Consortiums to offer low-incident services or other mutually agreed upon services utilizing IU expertise • Leveraging ACCESS dollars to help offset expenses that IDEIA funds can’t cover