Finding Text
FINDING 2022-004 Subject: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies - Special Tests and Provisions - Annual Report Card, High School Graduation Rate Federal Agency: Department of Education Federal Program: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Assistance Listings Number: 84.010 Federal Award Numbers and Years (or Other Identifying Numbers): S010A190014, S010A200014, S010A210014 Pass-Through Entity: Indiana Department of Education Compliance Requirement: Special Tests and Provisions - Annual Report Card, High School Graduation Rate Audit Findings: Material Weakness, Other Matters Condition and Context An effective internal control system was not in place at the School Corporation to ensure compliance with requirements related to the grant agreement and the Special Tests and Provisions - Annual Report Card, High School Graduation Rate compliance requirement. The School Corporation had not designed, nor implemented policies and procedures to ensure that documentation regarding the reason for a student's removal from the high school graduation cohort for mobility reasons was prepared and reviewed. The School Corporation was unable to provide supporting mobility documentation for two of five students selected for testing. The lack of internal controls and noncompliance were systemic issues throughout the audit period. Criteria 2 CFR 200.303 states in part: "The non-Federal entity must: (a) Establish and maintain effective internal control over the Federal award that provides reasonable assurance that the non-Federal entity is managing the Federal award in compliance with Federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the Federal award. These internal controls should be in compliance with guidance in 'Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government' issued by the Comptroller General of the United States or the 'Internal Control Integrated Framework', issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). . . ." 20 USC 7801(23)(B) states: "To remove a student from a cohort, a school or local educational agency shall require documentation, or obtain documentation from the State educational agency, to confirm that the student has transferred out, emigrated to another country, or transferred to a prison or juvenile facility, or is deceased." Cause Management had not developed nor implemented a system of internal control that would have ensured compliance with the grant agreement and the Special Tests and Provisions - Annual Report Card, High School Graduation Rate compliance requirement. Effect The failure to establish an effective internal control system enabled material noncompliance to go undetected. Noncompliance with the grant agreement and the Special Tests and Provisions - Annual Report Card, High School Graduation Rate compliance requirement could result in the loss of future federal funds to the School Corporation. Questioned Costs There were no questioned costs identified. Recommendation We recommended that the School Corporation's management establish a system of internal control to ensure compliance and comply with the grant agreement and the Special Tests and Provisions - Annual Report Card, High School Graduation Rate compliance requirement. Views of Responsible Officials For the views of responsible officials, refer to the Corrective Action Plan that is part of this report.