Finding 1226267 (2025-004)

Material Weakness Repeat Finding
Requirement
AB
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2025
Accepted
2026-08-12

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: Unallowable costs of $19,750 were identified in Special Education expenditures due to insufficient internal controls.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with OMB 2 CFR part 200, subpart E – Cost Principles, which mandates that costs must be necessary and reasonable.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Charter School should continue working with DESE for guidance and ensure robust controls are in place for future expenditures.

Finding Text

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PASSED THROUGH ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SPECIAL EDUCATION CLUSTER - AL NUMBERS 84.027A AND 84.173A PASS-THROUGH NUMBER 5440 AUDIT PERIOD - YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2025 2025-004. Activities Allowed or Unallowed and Allowable Costs/Cost Principles Criteria or specific requirement: Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2 CFR part 200, subpart E – Cost Principles, establishes principles for determining the allowable costs incurred by the School under federal awards. Such costs are to be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the federal award. Condition: During our test of Special Education non-payroll expenditures, we identified unallowable costs totaling $19,750. Cause: Lack of internal controls and management oversight over program expenditures. Effect or potential effect: Unallowable costs of $19,750 were paid from Special Education funds. Questioned costs: $19,750. Context: Tested all non-payroll checks (2) totaling $25,240. Identification as a repeat finding: No Recommendation: The Charter School should contact the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for guidance regarding this matter and implement proper controls over program expenditures. Views of responsible officials: The School has made personnel and policy changes and has also been in contact with DESE for guidance. The School has since made coding corrections and implemented proper controls over program expenditures.

Corrective Action Plan

The School has made personnel and policy changes and has also been in contact with DESE for guidance. The School has since made coding corrections and implemented proper controls over program expenditures.

Categories

Allowable Costs / Cost Principles Questioned Costs Internal Control / Segregation of Duties

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 1226266 2025-004
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1226268 2025-001
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1226269 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1226270 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1226271 2025-002
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1226272 2025-003
    Material Weakness Repeat
  • 1226273 2025-005
    Material Weakness Repeat

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
84.425 COVID-19 - EDUCATION STABILIZATION FUND $2.57M
84.010 TITLE I GRANTS TO LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES $1.45M
84.027 SPECIAL EDUCATION_GRANTS TO STATES $421,518
10.553 SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM $382,675
10.582 FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM $50,816
10.555 NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM $33,641
84.173 SPECIAL EDUCATION_PRESCHOOL GRANTS $12,821