The United States Department of Education (USDE) hosted a webinar to discuss fiscal considerations for IDEA Stimulus Funds. From this, we received some valuable information that represented some flexibility for districts with the IDEA Stimulus Funds relative to the amount of IDEA ARRA funds that are required to be spent by June 30, 2010. With June 30, 2010 only 3 months away, we are sending this reminder message to ensure that you are prepared to expend the appropriate amount of your 2009-2010 IDEA ARRA subgrants by that date.
Spending Timelines for Stimulus Funds:
The original guidance was that 85% of Stimulus Funds should be obligated by September 30, 2010, with the remaining 15% obligated by September 30, 2011. This guidance remains true for Title I Funds, but the updated guidance for IDEA Stimulus Funds is more flexible for districts: "An LEA should use the IDEA recovery funds expeditiously. An LEA should obligate the majority of these funds during school years 2008–09 and 2009–10 and the remainder during school year 2010–11." (Guidance Document on IDEA Part B Stimulus Funds: http://stimulus.k12partners.org/content/updated-usdoe-idea-part-b-guidance-april-17th).
ODE asked USDE if their guidance meant 51% or more by June 30, 2010. While the USDE indicated no specific percentage, we suggest you use this approach as a minimum goal. This does not prohibit spending more than 51% of your IDEA ARRA subgrants by June 30, 2010. It then could leave a district with up to 49% of its stimulus funds for use between 7/1/10 and 9/30/11.
Please remember that while IDEA ARRA funds could conceivably be spent in four different fiscal years (February 17 to June 30 of 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and the first three months of 2011-2012), the IDEA ARRA subgrants are considered by the USDE as a 2009-2010 grant.
If you have further questions about this reminder, please contact Eric Richards at eric.richards@state.or.us for school age questions, Nancy Johnson-Dorn at nancy.johnson-dorn@state.or.us for EI/ECSE questions and Steve Smith at steve.w.smith@state.or.us for interagency services questions.
If you have any difficulty opening the above link, please contact Laura Allran at laura.allran@state.or.us or 503-947-5674.
