Special Education Listserv
Subject: Funding/Capital Cost/Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Leases/Purchases for FY08 and FY09
Source: Shelley Witherbee, Director, Funds Management
Intended Audience: Special Education Administrators, Superintendents, Business/Finance Directors, ECSE Directors
Date: August 20, 2008
The Division has revised the funding policy for Capital Cost purchases pertaining to the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program.
For FY09: Districts must now submit their leases at the beginning of the year for prior approval as opposed to waiting until the Expenditure Report is due. For the 2008-09 school year, districts must submit their lease with a copy of the ECSE Capital Cost Funding Calculation Worksheet by September 17, 2008.
Our intent in revising the policy was to make it more equitable. The formula is based on the number of ECSE students, the total purchase/lease price, the State/Division standard for instructional and ancillary space of 60 square feet per student, and the cost per square foot to determine a funding amount.
Requests for reimbursement will be a two step process. First, the district must complete the ECSE Capital Cost Funding Calculation Worksheet posted at http://www.dese.mo.gov/divspeced/Finance/ecseindex.html. After approval of the worksheet, the Division will send an ECSE Capital Cost Funding Agreement in which the district must sign and return to DESE with supporting documentation. Districts acquiring leases/purchases for capital costs during the school year should submit the worksheets on an as needed basis.
For FY08, the Division will continue to fund leases and purchases as it has in the past. As always, districts must submit their leases from the 2007-08 school year by September 17, 2008, in order to receive reimbursement.
For FY09, the Division will fund leases and purchases according to the new funding policy.
The Division will make all necessary adjustments for Capital Costs leases and purchases related to the Expenditure Report.