Finding Text
Finding 2025-001. Federal Agency: US Department of Education State Department/Agency: Kansas Department of Education Federal Program Title: Special Education Cluster Assistance Listing Number: 84.027 – Special Education – Grants to States (IDEA, Part B) 84.173 – Special Education – Preschool Grants (IDEA Preschool) Award Period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 Award Number: Various Compliance Requirement: Documentation of Employee Time and Effort under 2 CFR 200.430(g) Type of Finding: Questioned Costs Criteria or Specific Requirement: Schools are required to record time and effort of employees in accordance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and 2 CFR 200.430(g). Specifically, 2 CFR 200.430(g)(1)(vi) states that charges to federal awards for salaries and wages records must support the distribution of the employee’s salary or wages among specific activities must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. These or cost objectives if the employee works on more than one federal award; a federal award and non-federal award; an indirect cost activity and a direct cost activity; two or more indirect activities allocated using different allocation bases; or an unallowable activity and a direct or indirect cost activity. Condition: We noted that seven of the employees tested did not have proper time and effort documentation. Upon further examination, it was determined that the salary and wages for these employees were charged to a federal program when they should not have been. Questioned Costs: The charges for these seven employees include $343,766 for wages and $26,544 for the related payroll taxes for a total of $370,310. Cause: Per discussion with management, there was poor communication between the special education director and the director of business services. Context: We selected a sample of employees in other federal programs with no issues identified. This appears to be an isolated instance for this program and not a systemic problem. Effect: The School District is not in compliance with ESEA and 2 CFR 200.430(g). Repeat Finding: No Recommendation: We recommend that the School District implement procedures to improve communication between the special education director and the director of business services. Furthermore, we recommend that the School District implement procedures that better monitor which employees are being paid out of which fund. Views of Responsible Officials: There is no disagreement with the audit finding.