Finding 1208476 (2025-005)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-04-22
Audit: 399474
Organization: Milwaukee Public Schools (WI)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The District failed to allocate one vendor payment of $29,850 to the correct grant period, violating federal compliance requirements.
  • Impacted Requirements: This finding breaches 2 CFR 200.303(a) on internal controls and 2 CFR 200.430(h) regarding costs incurred during the approved budget period.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Implement stronger controls to ensure accurate classification of vendor payments according to the applicable grant periods.

Finding Text

Federal Agency: United States Department of Education Federal Program Name: Special Education Cluster (IDEA programs) Assistance Listing Number: 84.027, 84.173 Federal Award Identification Number and Year: H027A240064-2024; H173A240070-2024 Pass-Through Agency: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Pass-Through Number(s): 2025 - 403619 - DPI - YIPPE – 342, 2025-403619-DPI-FLOW-341, 2025-403619-DPI-FLOW-341, 2025 - 403619 - DPI - FNC – 342, 2025-403619-DPI-ELIMG-348, 2025-403619-DPI-ELTAI-348, 2025-403619-DPI-PRESCH-347 Award Period: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 Type of Finding: • Significant Deficiency in Internal Control over Compliance • Other Matters Criteria or specific requirement: In accordance with 2 CFR 200.303(a), the District must establish and maintain effective internal control over the federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the District is managing the federal award in compliance with federal statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions of the federal award. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.430(h), costs charged to federal awards must be incurred during the approved budget period as defined in the grant agreement. Condition: For one (1) of the 40 payments to vendors selected for testing, the District did not correctly allocate the cost to the proper grant period. This sample was not statistically valid. Questioned costs: Cost in the amount of $29,850 were identified as being related to periods outside the grants award period. Context: One instance of a payment to a vendor related to services that will provide benefit during the subsequent fiscal year were accrued to the fiscal year and grant period under audit. Cause: From 2023 through 2025, the District experienced substantial turnover within the finance department, including management positions. Individuals in these roles lacked the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to oversee day-to-day operations, resulting in controls not operating effectively to ensure proper classification of vendor payments by applicable grant period and fiscal year. Effect: This resulted in amounts claimed for reimbursement that did not meet eligibility requirements for reimbursement from the grant award. Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend the District implement controls that allow for the identification and proper classification of vendor payments to applicable grant period. Views of responsible officials: There is no disagreement with this finding.

Corrective Action Plan

Special Education Cluster (IDEA programs) – Assistance Listing No. 84.027, 84.170 Recommendation: The District should implement controls that allow for the identification and proper classification of vendor payments to applicable grant period. Explanation of disagreement with audit finding: There is no disagreement with the audit finding. Action taken in response to finding: The District will strengthen internal controls to ensure that vendor payments are appropriately aligned with the correct grant reporting period. MPS will implement a standardized review process to validate that vendor invoices and related purchase orders are coded to the correct grant period, establish clear procedures for identifying the period of performance for goods and services, enhance coordination between program and finance staff to validate the timing and allowability of expenditures, conduct periodic monitoring of vendor payments to ensure compliance with grant period requirements, and provide training to relevant staff relating to grant period compliance and expenditure classification. Name(s) of the contact person(s) responsible for corrective action: Senior Director of Specialized Services, Accounting Director (Deputy CFO), Financial Reporting Manager Planned completion date for corrective action plan: 6/30/2026

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Cash Management Eligibility Significant Deficiency Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1208470 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208471 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208472 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208473 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208474 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208475 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208477 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208478 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208479 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208480 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208481 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208482 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208483 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208484 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208485 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208486 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208487 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208488 2025-006
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208489 2025-007
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1208490 2025-009
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $13.89M
93.778 GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAID $8.50M
84.424 STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM $5.40M
84.367 SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION STATE GRANTS (FORMERLY IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY STATE GRANTS) $5.16M
84.287 TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS $4.37M
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $3.69M
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $2.39M
84.048 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- BASIC GRANTS TO STATES $1.70M
10.582 FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM $1.66M
10.558 CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM $1.40M
84.215 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO LITERACY; PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS; FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS; AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMUNITY PROJECTS $1.36M
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL GRANTS $1.32M
93.243 SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROJECTS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE $1.32M
84.299 INDIAN EDUCATION -- SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR INDIAN CHILDREN $667,710
10.559 SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN $631,358
15.662 GREAT LAKES RESTORATION $549,085
84.336 TEACHER QUALITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS $400,635
84.374 TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADER INCENTIVE GRANTS (FORMERLY THE TEACHER INCENTIVE FUND) $384,921
93.327 DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR DOMESTIC VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING $248,663
66.509 SCIENCE TO ACHIEVE RESULTS (STAR) RESEARCH PROGRAM $203,342
84.051 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION -- NATIONAL PROGRAMS $193,950
20.205 HIGHWAY PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION $162,331
66.609 PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISKS $137,650
93.566 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE STATE/REPLACEMENT DESIGNEE ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS $132,713
84.411 EDUCATION INNOVATION AND RESEARCH (FORMERLY INVESTING IN INNOVATION (I3) FUND) $128,860
84.184 SCHOOL SAFELY NATIONAL ACTIVITIES $106,026
16.839 STOP SCHOOL VIOLENCE $101,162
84.206 JAVITS GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS EDUCATION $96,757
10.727 INFLATION REDUCTION ACT URBAN & COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $93,508
15.916 OUTDOOR RECREATION ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING $88,223
10.935 URBAN AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM (UAIP) $63,807
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS TO STATES $62,519
84.060 INDIAN EDUCATION FORMULA GRANTS $55,058
11.419 COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $50,000
84.041 IMPACT AID $49,930
10.675 URBAN AND COMMUNITY FORESTRY PROGRAM $40,000
84.365 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION STATE GRANTS $20,753
84.425 EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $7,438
10.902 SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION $4,503