FINDING 2023-002
Information on the federal program:
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) –Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers...
FINDING 2023-002
Information on the federal program:
Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) –Earmarking
Federal Agency: Department of Education
Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants
Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.027, 84.173
Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 20611-047-PN01, 21611-047-PN01,
20619-047-PN01, 21619-047-PN01
Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education
Compliance Requirement: Matching, Level of Effort, and Earmarking
Audit Finding: Material Weakness, Other Matters
Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation in order to
ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the earmarking portion of the
Matching, Level of Effort, Earmarking compliance requirement.
Context: The School Corporation did not meet the earmarking requirements for the grants, which
concluded during the audit period. Both the Special Education Grants to States and Special Education
Preschool Grants required a proportionate share of their funding to be spent on non-public school
students with disabilities. The 20611-047-PN01, 20619-047-PN01, 21611-047-PN01, 21619-047-PN01
grant awards were fully expended during the audit period with minimum Non-Public Proportionate Share
earmarking requirements of $24,977, $1,171, $22,088, and $866, respectively. There was no supporting
documentation provided to support any non-public school expenditures were incurred towards the
meeting the non-public proportionate share requirement.
Views of Responsible Officials and Planned Corrective Actions: Management agrees with the
finding. The Cooperative has developed a written procedure for documenting expenditures related to the
proportionate share earmarking requirement at the School Corporation level to address this issue going
forward. The School Corporation will maintain the proper documentation to support the Non-Public
Proportional Share earmarking requirement and validate the earmarking requirement is met at the end of
the grant’s period of performance or once fully expended.
Responsible party and timeline for completion: The correction action plan has been put into place for
the 2023-24 school year. Tracy Albertson, Director of Finance and Sarah Claton, Director of Cooperative
School Services, will oversee the corrective action plan.