Finding Text
2024-002 U.S. Department of Education
Program Title: Special Education Cluster
Federal Assistance Listing Number(s): 84.027
Federal Award Number: 230450-2223
Federal Award Period: July 1, 2022 to September 30, 2024
Pass-Through Entity: Michigan Department of Education
Type of Compliance: Immaterial Noncompliance
Criteria: The District is required to provide, to the extent consistent with the number and location of children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private, including religious, elementary schools, and secondary schools, located in the school district served by the District, for the participation of those children with special education and related services. To meet this requirement, the District must spend funds received under sections 611 and 619 consistent with the formula in 34 CFR 300.133.
Condition: As of June 30, 2024, the District had not expended the amount required under Section 611.
Cause: This condition was caused by the District’s proportionate share calculation being impacted by a virtual school the District receives funding for and then passes on to the virtual school. Because the total dollars received increases, the total proportionate share has increased dramatically over the past several years.
Effect: As a result of this condition, the District has not complied with the U.S. Department of Education’s requirement related to proportionate share.
Perspective Information: The District was approximately $17,940 short of meeting the spending requirement for the 2022-2023 grant. The District has received funds for the 2023-2024 grant that have been allocated towards proportionate share, but have not been spent.
Recommendations: We recommend that the District continue to devote time and resources towards addressing this issue. We also recommend that the District continue working the appropriate agencies to develop a plan to correct the issue.
Views of Responsible Officials: The District has been working with the appropriate agencies to work towards a resolution. The District has been monitoring the calculations and status of this issue very closely and will continue to do so until it has been resolved to the best of the District’s ability.