$115.4 SFSF payment clarification

Thanks to all who participated in ODE’s April 17th Stimulus Implementation Webinar.  Since Friday, we’ve received many questions regarding the $115.4 SFSF payment and whether or not it can be considered additional money.  

 The district and ESD estimates that Mike Wiltfong of the State School Fund posted on the web dated March 9, 2009 include the $115.4 in SFSF funds in the formula estimates.  In other words, the $115.4 has been included in the formula estimates as backfill, so no further payments of federal SFSF funds will be made to districts in 2008-09. 

 
Our original intent was to distribute these funds with the May 15 payment.  However, we recently have confirmed ODE must obtain grant applications from LEAS (the application will be released shortly) and request the federal funding through the Oregon Department of Administrative Services.  This may create a delay in getting the SFSF monies to districts by May 15. However, we will do everything within our control to ensure this happens. 
 
As indicated in earlier communications, these funds are federal funds subject to reporting requirements, the details of which have not yet been finalized by the U.S. Department of Education.  ODE guidance on reporting requirements will be posted on http://stimulus.k12partners.org/ as soon as details are reported by USDOE.