Finding Text
2025-005 Private/Home School Communications CFDA Title: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies CFDA Number: 84.010 Federal Award Number/Year: 2025 Federal Agency: U.S. Department of Education Pass-through Entity: Montana Office of Public Instruction Condition: The District did not communicate with the private/home school students. Context: The District did not send communications to the private/home schools in the Spring of 2024 for the FY24-25 school year to determine if any of those wanted to participate in the federal programs. Criteria: In the 2025 Compliance Supplement, Part 4 - Department of Education, page 22, it states “for programs funded under Title I, Part A (Assistance Listing 84.010), Local Education Agencies (LEA), after timely and meaningful consultation with private school officials, must provide equitable services to eligible private school children, their teachers, and their families. Eligible private school children are those who reside in a participating public school attendance area and have educational needs under Section 1115(c) of the ESEA (20 USC 6315(c)). The amount of funds an LEA makes available for equitable services under Title I, Part A must be equal to the proportion of funds generated by private school children from low-income families who reside in participating public school attendance areas.” Effect: The District is not in compliance with special tests and provisions of the Title I Grant. In addition, there could have been private/home school children that would have participated but were not made aware of the program. Cause: There was a change in staff during the time period that the communication would have occurred and this was an oversight by the new staff member. Recommendation: We recommend that the District, and all responsible employees, review compliance requirements for federal grants to ensure that they understand what they need to do. Also, policies and procedures should be in place to ensure that all requirements of federal grants are met.