LEA Preparation for 2017–2018 Preliminary IDEA-B LEA MOE Compliance Reviews
DATE: | March 7, 2019 |
SUBJECT: | LEA Preparation for 2017–2018 Preliminary IDEA-B LEA MOE Compliance Reviews |
CATEGORY: | Funding Implications and Upcoming Deadline |
NEXT STEPS: | LEAs should begin collecting/preparing exceptions data/documentation for submission to ݮƵ, if applicable |
The purpose of this letter is to alert local educational agencies (LEAs) to the anticipated release date of 2017–2018 preliminary Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA-B) LEA maintenance of effort (MOE) compliance reviews and to provide a timeline for LEA response to preliminary reviews.
Anticipated Release of 2017–2018 Preliminary IDEA-B LEA MOE Compliance Reviews
ݮƵ plans to release 2017–2018 preliminary IDEA-B LEA MOE compliance reviews in early April 2019. LEAs will access the reports through the secure GFFC Reports and Data Collections application.
Timeline for LEA Responses to Preliminary Compliance Reviews
When preliminary reviews are released, the 2017–2018 Exceptions/Adjustment Workbook will also be available in GFFC Reports and Data Collections and on the page of the ݮƵ website.
LEAs will have five business days from the date the 2017–2018 preliminary IDEA-B LEA MOE compliance reviews are published in GFFC Reports and Data Collections to submit any of the following:
- Applicable federal statutory exceptions
- Adjustment to fiscal effort
- Local methodology with supporting documentation for validation and approval in the final calculation
To help LEAs ensure they are prepared to respond within the required five business days, ݮƵ encourages LEAs to begin reviewing and compiling any documentation planned to be submitted to ݮƵ when the Exceptions/Adjustments Workbook becomes available.
Allowable Federal Statutory Exceptions
The following federal statutory exceptions and/or adjustment to fiscal effort considerations are allowable:
- The voluntary departure, by retirement or otherwise, or departure for just cause, of special education or related services personnel
- A decrease in the enrollment of children with disabilities
- The termination of the obligation of the agency, consistent with IDEA-B, to provide a program of special education to a particular child with a disability that is an exceptionally costly program, as determined by ݮƵ, because the child has left the jurisdiction of the agency; has reached the age at which the obligation of the agency to provide FAPE to the child has terminated; or no longer needs the program of special education.
- An exceptionally costly program to a particular child with a disability is a program with a cost greater than $9,759.
- The termination of costly expenditures for long-term purchases, such as the acquisition of equipment or the construction of school facilities
- The assumption of cost by the high cost fund operated by ݮƵ under Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 300.704(c)
- The adjustment to fiscal effort provision under 34 CFR 300.205
For more detailed information on allowable exceptions and considerations, please refer to the IDEA-B LEA MOE Guidance Handbook, posted on the page of the ݮƵ website.
Anticipated Release of 2017–2018 Final IDEA-B LEA MOE Compliance Reviews
ݮƵ anticipates releasing final IDEA-B LEA MOE compliance reviews in May 2019.
Revised IDEA-B LEA MOE Calculation Tool Now Available
Also on the page of the ݮƵ website, ݮƵ has posted the updated IDEA-B LEA MOE Calculation Tools and Data Sources document for the 2017–2018 cycle. LEAs should use this revised/updated calculation tool to perform their own internal calculations to compare with ݮƵ’s preliminary reviews and to make sure that results match.
IDEA-B LEA MOE Timeline for Spring 2019
The following table lists milestones for the IDEA-B LEA MOE process:
Date | Action |
April 2019 | ݮƵ posts preliminary IDEA-B LEA MOE Compliance Review reports in GFFC Reports and Data Collections, accessible through . |
Within 5 business days after preliminary reports are posted | Due date for LEAs to submit Exceptions Workbook to GFFC Reports and Data Collections (accessible through ) for ݮƵ consideration in the final compliance calculation. |
May 2019 | ݮƵ posts final IDEA-B LEA MOE Compliance Review reports in GFFC Reports and Data Collections, accessible through . |
Resources
Please refer to the page of the ݮƵ website for further information and additional resources regarding IDEA-B LEA MOE.
For Further Information
With any questions regarding the IDEA-B LEA MOE compliance review process, please email the Federal Fiscal Compliance and Reporting Division at compliance@tea.texas.gov.