Finding 585850 (2023-001)

-
Requirement
G
Questioned Costs
$1
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-01-22
Audit: 12908

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The LEA improperly used IDEA-B funds, reducing local expenditures for special education below last year's levels.
  • Impacted Requirements: This violates 34 CFR 300.231, which prohibits using federal funds to lower local spending on education for children with disabilities.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The District should closely monitor its spending to ensure compliance with expenditure requirements for special education.

Finding Text

Project Numbers 236600010529016600 and 236610010529016610 CFDA Numbers 84.027A and 84.173A Criteria: Funds provided to a local education agency (LEA) under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA - B) as referenced in 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 300.231 may not be used to reduce the level of expenditures for the education of children with disabilities made by the LEA from local funds below the level of those expenditures for the preceding year. Condition: Funds provided to a local education agency (LEA) under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA - B) as referenced in 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 300.231 were used to reduce the level of expenditures for the education of children with disabilities made by the LEA from local funds below the level of those expenditures for the preceding year. Questioned Costs: Funds provided to the District under Part B of the Act (per above) reduced the level of expenditures for the education of children with disabilities made by the District from local funds below the level of those expenditures for the preceding year in the amount of $36,980. These reductions in expenditures are questioned costs. Cause: The LEA reduced personnel and related expenditures. These reductions were necessary to accommodate the needs of the District. Effect: These reductions in expenditures from local funds indicate that the District used funds provided under Part B of the Act (per above) to reduce such expenditures. Auditor's Recommendation: The District should monitor operations to ensure that it is maintaining the required level of expenditures of local funds for the education of children with disabilities. Management's Response: The District agrees with the findings and questioned costs (as stated above), but believes it may qualify under exceptions provided under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA - B) as referenced in 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 300.232.

Categories

Questioned Costs

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
10.555 National School Lunch Program - Cash Assistance $342,280
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund: Covid-19 Crrsa Esser II Grant $339,870
84.027 Idea - Part B, Formula $325,581
93.778 Medicaid Administrative Claiming Program - Mac $251,719
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund: Covid-19 Arp Esser III Grant $113,982
84.010 Esea, Title I, Part A - Improving Basic Programs $112,693
10.553 School Breakfast Program $75,496
10.555 National School Lunch Program - Non-Cash Assistance $37,018
84.367 Esea, Title Ii, Part A - Supporting Effective Instruction $31,559
84.184 School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program $30,000
84.425 Education Stabilization Fund: Covid-19 Esser Supplemental Grant $25,238
84.424 Esea, Title Iv, Part A, Subpart 1 $15,089
10.555 Covid-19 National School Lunch Program - Supply Chain Grant - Cash Assistance $12,961
84.173 Idea - Part B, Preschool $7,210
10.560 State Administrative Expenses (sae) for Child Nutrition $1,930
10.649 Covid-19 P-Ebt Administrative Cost Grant - Cash Assistance $628