Finding 1173999 (2025-001)

Single Audit – Federal Funds Finding Organization: Pathways In Education – Illinois (PIE-IL) Audit Period: FY25 (or applicable fiscal year) Prepared By: [Brittany Barsevick/Manager of Instructional Compliance] Date: [1/21/2026] Federal Program: ALN 84.010 Title I, Part A, Basic grants Low-Income and Neglected Audit Finding Reference: 2025-001 ________________________________________ 1. Finding Summary The Single Audit identified a deficiency in the documentation and communication of federally funded position percentages and the alignment of Time & Effort attestations with the actual period of work performed. Specifically, the current CPS Federal Funds platform (Oracle) generates Time & Effort Attestation reports based on the month reimbursement claims are submitted, rather than the period during which the work was performed, creating a compliance gap. ________________________________________ 2. Root Cause ● Staff were not consistently informed of the exact percentage of their position funded by federal sources at the start of each semester. ● Time & Effort attestations were generated from the CPS Oracle system based on claim submission timing, not the actual work period. ● There was no formal internal SOP layer to supplement Oracle-generated reports with staff attestation aligned to Semester 1 and Semester 2 work periods. ________________________________________ 3. Corrective Actions Action 1: Internal Funding Percentage Notification System Description: PIE-IL will implement an internal tracking and notification system to ensure all staff funded in whole or in part with federal funds are formally notified of the exact percentage of their position supported by federal funding. Implementation Steps: ● Develop a standardized Federal Funding Allocation Notice template. ● Distribute notices to all applicable staff at the start of Semester 1 and Semester 2. ● Require staff acknowledgment (electronic or signed) confirming receipt and understanding. ● Maintain records centrally in the federal compliance folder. Responsible Party: Manager of Instructional Compliance Timeline: Implemented by the first day of each semester Monitoring: Semester-based review of acknowledgment logs ________________________________________ Action 2: Semester-Based Time & Effort Attestation Description: All federally funded staff will complete and sign a Time & Effort Attestation for both Semester 1 and Semester 2, certifying that time worked aligns with the funding source and percentage assigned. Implementation Steps: ● Issue Time & Effort forms at the end of each semester. ● Require staff to certify actual work performed during the semester. ● Collect supervisor verification signatures. ● Store completed attestations in the federal compliance repository. Responsible Party: Site Administrators / Federal Compliance Officer Timeline: Within 10 business days of semester end Monitoring: Quarterly internal compliance audits ________________________________________ Action 3: Internal SOP as Supplemental Documentation Layer Description: PIE-IL will implement a formal Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Time & Effort as a self-managed, internal documentation layer that supplements CPS Oracle-generated attestation reports. This SOP will ensure that Time & Effort documentation reflects the actual period of work performed, rather than the month in which reimbursement claims are submitted. Implementation Steps: ● Draft and approve a written SOP outlining: ○ Semester-based attestation requirements ○ Alignment between funding percentages and staff assignments ○ Reconciliation process between internal records and Oracle reports ● Train administrators and federally funded staff on SOP procedures. ● Maintain SOP as a controlled document with annual review and updates. Responsible Party: Federal Programs Director / Compliance Manager Timeline: SOP finalized within 30 days of audit response submission Monitoring: Annual SOP review and internal compliance testing ________________________________________ 4. Reconciliation Process with CPS Oracle System PIE-IL will perform a monthly reconciliation between: ● Oracle-generated Time & Effort Attestation reports (claim-based), and ● Internal Semester-Based Time & Effort attestations (work-period-based). Any discrepancies will be documented, corrected, and reviewed by the Federal Compliance Officer prior to reimbursement submission. ________________________________________ 5. Evidence of Implementation The following documentation will be maintained for audit and monitoring purposes: ● Federal Funding Allocation Notices with staff acknowledgments ● Signed Semester 1 and Semester 2 Time & Effort Attestation forms ● Approved Time & Effort SOP document ● Training sign-in sheets and materials ● Monthly reconciliation logs between Oracle and internal records ________________________________________ 6. Completion Dates Corrective Action Target Completion Date Funding Percentage Notification System [9/30/2026] Semester-Based Time & Effort Attestation Process [02/06/2026] SOP Finalization and Staff Training [02/28/2026] Monthly Reconciliation Process Ongoing ________________________________________