Special Education Listserv

Subject: Part B Entitlement Application and Due Date Changes

Source: Debbie Gerlette, Supervisor, Funds Management

Intended Audience: Special Education Directors, Finance Administrators

Date: February 22, 2008

DESE is moving to a new web-based electronic Planning and electronic Grants System (ePeGS) for applications and reporting requirements.  The IDEA Section 611 (Part B) application will be one of the first grant applications in this new system beginning with the 2008-09 school year.  Districts will receive notification on ePeGS training in the coming months.

In order to assist school districts with their budget preparation for the next school year, the Part B allocations will be calculated earlier this year.  The calculation process will begin as soon as DESE receives notification of the grant award.  The district due date for the Part B application has been changed to June 15.

School districts may begin to obligate funds as of the substantially approvable date (the date on which the application is received by DESE or July 1, whichever is later), even though the application may not yet have been given final approval.  The application is considered to be in substantially approvable form when all of the required items have been received by DESE.  In this case, the budget application and assurances are the required items.

As the district prepares for the upcoming year, please keep in mind that federal dollars may not be used to replace state or local funds.  IDEA Part B contains the following fiscal requirements that LEAs must comply with in order to continue to receive funding: 

1) Supplement Not Supplant;

2) Maintenance of Effort; and,

3) Verification of excess cost.

If an LEA fails to comply with these requirements, they will be required by law to return the amount of misused funds.  Information is posted on our website regarding these topics at:

http://dese.mo.gov/divspeced/Finance/ or contact the Funds Management Section at 573-751-0622 with questions.