Special Education Listserv
Subject: ARRA/Additional IDEA Guidance
Source: Heidi Atkins Lieberman, Division of Special Education
Intended Audience: Directors of Special Education, Special Education Contacts, and Special Education Stakeholders
Date: April 16, 2009
The U. S. Department of Education has posted additional guidance on the use of ARRA funds under IDEA. Specifically, they revised one of the FAQs regarding the option to reduce your Maintenance of Effort (MOE) by 50%. Please view this FAQ at http://dese.mo.gov/divspeced/Finance/RecoveryReinvestmentActARRA.htm.
I also wanted to remind you that this option of a 50% reduction in MOE is not available to districts that receive a "Determination" label other than "Meets Requirements." As you know, those determinations are made during the summer after Missouri receives the state determination from OSEP. In the last couple of years, only a few districts failed to receive the "Meets Requirements" determination.
Additionally, the option of a 50% reduction in MOE is not available to districts that fail to meet the "excess cost" requirement of IDEA; this year, we are not anticipating any districts in this category.
Additionally, keep in mind that while the U. S. Department of Education documents refer to the 2009 Part B grant, we instead refer to our own state fiscal year (2010 grant).
We will keep you posted on additional guidance regarding the stimulus monies!