Archived FedPro Message

For more information about the programs discussed below,

please contact the Federal Grants Management Section (573) 751-3468.

Financial Management Updates - April 20, 2007

TOPICS:

Estimated Allocations for 2007-2008 School Year
2007-2008 Census Data Available
Amendments - Compare budget to actual expenditures Indirect Cost Rates Final Expenditure Reports Due May 15, 2007
2007 Federal Programs Proposed Summer School Plan Consultation with Nonpublic Schools Complaint Procedures for Nonpublic Schools Comparability
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ESTIMATED ALLOCATIONS FOR 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR --

As school districts prepare their budgets for the 2007-2008 school year, we know that funding is a major concern. The preliminary SY 2007-08 allocations by State are now up on ED's web site at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/index.html

Once there, go to the bottom of the page and click on to the section marked State tables by program. The column labeled 2007 Estimate provides you with the preliminary SY 2007-08 State allocations. These preliminary estimates are based on the FY 2007 appropriation and incorporate income year 2004 census data and SY 2004-05 State per-pupil expenditure data.

We are in the process of calculating the estimated allocations for the 2007-2008 school year. Keep in mind that these are estimated allocations because certain updated formula data is not yet available.

However, the United States Department of Education (USDE) did use the updated census numbers to project allocations to the States. We will post the estimated allocations by school district, as they become available, on the Federal Program website under Financial Management, Allocations, 2007-2008 Preliminary Allocations at http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/

Please keep in mind that these are estimates until they are clearly marked as final.

Also, the estimated allocations and estimated carryover amounts will be shown on the allocation page when the 2007-2008 school year application becomes available at the end of this month. Keep in mind that these amounts are only estimates. The carryover amounts will change when your final expenditure report is approved by DESE. The allocation amounts will change when actual grant awards are received from the USDE.

2007-2008 CENSUS DATA AVAILABLE --

The United States Department of Education has distributed the census poverty information that will be used to determine the school year 2007-2008 allocations. We have been asked to check this data for accuracy of school district boundary. Our office feels that the census bureau has the correct school district boundary information. We are providing this data to keep you informed about the allocation process.

However, we are not allowed to challenge the validity of the numbers.

These counts are for your entire school district area and include both public and nonpublic children. Keep in mind that census poverty is much more restrictive than the free & reduced lunch count. The United States Department of Education used the income year 2004 data provided by the Census Bureau's Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Branch to determine the school year 2007-2008 Title I allocations. The data is available on the Census Bureau's web site at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/district.html

This plan can be accessed under Grants Management, Publications and Forms at http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/grantmgmnt/

CONSULTATION WITH NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS -

As the public school district prepares for the 2007-2008 school year, keep in mind that timely and meaningful consultation with nonpublic schools is a requirement for receiving federal dollars. The district can review final enrollment and economic deprivation data for nonpublic schools by using the two nonpublic reports at the website below under Financial Management, Nonpublic. The LEA must consult with appropriate private school officials prior to the LEA making any decisions that affect the opportunities of eligible private school children or teachers to participate in programs. For most NCLB programs, public schools are required to obtain and submit to DESE written affirmation forms signed by private school officials as part of the application process. These forms can be accessed under Grants Application Forms at http://www.dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/grantmgmnt/

The Federal Programs Section has developed a complaint procedure process for nonpublic schools. The public school should distribute this to the nonpublic schools during consultation. This complaint procedure may be accessed under Federal Programs, Financial Management, Nonpublic at http://www.dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/

COMPARABILITY --

As you plan your teaching assignments for the 2007-2008 school year, keep in mind that districts with multiple attendance centers must demonstrate comparability in order to receive Title I funding. The comparability requirement states "An LEA may receive funds under Title I only if State and local funds will be used in schools served under Title I to provide services that, taken as a whole, are at least comparable to services in schools that are not receiving Title I funds. If the LEA is serving all schools under Title I, the LEA may receive Title I funds if the LEA will use State and local funds to provide services that, taken as a whole, are substantially comparable in each school. The LEA may meet the requirements on a grade-span-by-grade-span basis or a school-by-school basis."

The comparability study conducted by our staff using the October Core Data information will include only K-12 teachers in computing pupil/teacher ratios. The study includes teachers that are paid in full or part with local or state funds.

Comparability forms to assist you in checking your attendance centers are located on the Federal Program website under Financial Management, Fiscal Requirements, Comparability of Services at http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/

Bette Morff
Director, Federal Financial Management
Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education
573/751-8280 (phone) 573/526-6698 (fax)
Bette.Morff@dese.mo.gov