Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) – Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listing Numbers...
Information on the federal program: Subject: Special Education Cluster (IDEA) – Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Programs: Special Education Grants to States, Special Education Preschool Grants Assistance Listing Numbers: 84.027, 84.027X, 84.173, 84.173X Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): 22611-047-PN01, 22611-047-ARP, 22619-047-ARP, 24611-047-PN01 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Activities Allowed or Unallowed, Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Audit Finding: Material Weakness Condition: An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the Special Education Cluster program and Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs compliance requirements. Context: During fiscal year 2023-2024, the School Corporation was a member of Cooperative School Services (Cooperative). The Cooperative operated the special education programs and spent the federal money on behalf of its member schools. As the grant agreement was between the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and each member school, the School Corporation was responsible for ensuring and providing oversight of the Cooperative. For costs related to non-public schools, the practice of the Cooperative was to separate out the required amount for each member school from the Cooperative budget, and the member schools would work with the non-public schools to determine how to spend their proportionate share amount. Each member school would then request reimbursement from the Cooperative for non-public school expenditures incurred. This allowed both the Cooperative and member schools to maintain control of all Special Education funds, property, equipment and supplies. In the initial sample of 25 expenditures, there was no noncompliance identified. However, while performing a review of separate transactions for the Period of Performance compliance requirement, it was noted that non-public schools received direct reimbursements from the Cooperative for their proportionate share expenditures, which is not allowable under the grant award. The audit team reviewed the expenditure population in entirety and identified a total of 5 expenditures, totaling $17,857, that were made from Special Education funds directly to non-public schools by the cooperative during the audit period. The lack of controls and noncompliance was an isolated to the 22611-047-PN01, 22611-047-ARP, 22619-047-ARP and 24611-047-PN01 grant awards. This issue was isolated to fiscal year 2024. No direct payments to non-public schools were identified during fiscal year 2025. Views of Responsible Officials and Corrective Action Plan: Management concurs with the finding. During the required consultation meeting involving the Local Educational Agency (LEA), representatives from private schools, and the parents or legal guardians of nonpublic students with disabilities, the agenda will cover both allowable and un-allowed costs. The meeting agenda will clearly outline that all purchased items are the responsibility of the LEA, that gift cards are prohibited, and that all acquisitions must provide direct benefit to students with disabilities. Responsible Party and Timeline for Completion: Corrective action plan has been implemented as this finding impacted fiscal year 2024 but did not recur in fiscal year 2025. Sarah Claton, Cooperative School Services Director, and Tracy Albertson, Director of Finance, will oversee the corrective action plan to monitor the cooperative on an ongoing basis.