Error processing SSI file
Error processing SSI file

TEA Correspondence

A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

February 10, 2010

SUBJECT: Revised Period of Obligation for Eligible 2009-2010 Federal Education Grants

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

The purpose of this letter is to notify local education agencies (LEAs) of an immediate change to the project end date for federal education grant programs, and thus the period during which LEAs are permitted to obligate grant funds.  This change applies to school year 2009-2010 and subsequent school years for federal education grant programs. The decision to amend project end dates addresses the Tydings Amendment provision (Section 421[b] of the General Education Provisions Act [GEPA], 20 U.S.C. 1225[b]) that allows grantees a period of 27 months to obligate federal education funds.

In accordance with the Tydings Amendment provision, any federal education grant funds that are not obligated and expended at the end of the period in which they were appropriated shall remain available for an additional 12 months, for a total of 27 months.  The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will implement the 27-month provision in the following manner:

LEAs will have 13.5 months to expend and obligate current-year funds and an additional 13.5 months to obligate and expend applicable roll-forward funds. LEAs are advised that as a result of this change, obligation periods may begin as early as July 1 of any federal fiscal year and continue through August 15 of the subsequent year.  Therefore, the current 2009-2010 Notices of Grant Award (NOGAs) for the applicable grants will be revised to show as ending August 15, 2010.

The Division of NCLB Program Coordination will provide further detail in separate communications regarding the subsequent impact of this change to various NCLB program requirements, such as the Initial Compliance Review Desk Audit Process.

Following is the list of 2009-2010 federal grant programs whose obligation period and NOGA end date has been extended from June 30, 2010, to August 15, 2010:

  • Title I, Part A–Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Education Agencies
  • Title I–School Improvement Program (SIP)
  • Title I, Part C–Education of Migratory Children
  • Title I, Part D–Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk, Subpart 1–State Agency Programs
  • Title I, Part D–Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk, Subpart 2–Local Agency Programs
  • Title II, Part A–Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund
  • Title II, Part D–Enhancing Education Through Technology
  • Title III–Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Immigrant Students
  • Title IV, Part A–Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities
  • Title VI, Part B–Rural Education Initiative, Subpart 2–Rural and Low-Income School Program
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B–Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities, Grants to States
  • IDEA, Part B–Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities, Grants to States, Deaf
  • IDEA, Part B–Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities, Preschool Grants
  • IDEA, Part B–Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities, Preschool Grants, Deaf

2009-2010 New Expenditure Report Dates
Please note that the Expenditure Reporting (ER) system currently reflects the new project end date of August 15, 2010, for school year 2009-2010 federal education grant programs.  Accordingly, the 2009-2010 deadline dates for the final and revised final expenditure reports have changed to the following:

  • Final expenditure report due date: September 30, 2010
  • Revised final expenditure report due date: November 1, 2010

It is important that the revised final expenditure report submitted on or before November 1, 2010, be 100% accurate. Grantees will not be able to access the ER system after November 1, 2010.  TEA will not pay any expenditure report received after November 1, 2010 under any circumstances.  The decision is final and there will be no opportunity for appeal.

Special Expenditure Report Process Discontinued for Title I, Part A, and Title IV, Part A
LEAs receiving funding for Title I, Part A, and Title IV, Part A, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program, will no longer report special expenditures to reduce their roll-forward amounts. The special expenditure-reporting process previously permitted for those grantees is no longer necessary now that LEAs have a full 27-month period of obligation for these grant programs.

Update to 2009-2010 Notice of Grant Award (NOGA)
An updated NOGA to reflect the August 15, 2010, project end date will be issued to LEAs with the release of maximum entitlements in Spring 2010. In addition, the transmittal e-mail that accompanies the NOGA will show the revised expenditure reporting deadlines.

Grantees are reminded to review the applicable program statute and regulations as well as the award document for all of the aforementioned programs listed to ensure they are in full compliance with such requirements.

2010-2011 NCLB Consolidated Federal Grant Application - New Business Process
With the revision to the period of obligation, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is also implementing new business processes that are intended to benefit LEAs in upcoming school years for programs included in the NCLB Consolidated Federal Grant Application.  Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, grantees can expect the following changes:

  • Budget and apply for their NCLB planning amounts without their estimated roll-forward amount.  By implementing this change, the TEA anticipates the issuance of an original NCLB NOGA in a timelier manner. 
  • Actual roll-forward amounts will be available late fall 2010.
  • Maximum entitlements for 2010-2011 school year will be available in late fall 2010 rather than spring 2011.
  • TEA staff will adjust LEA budgets to reflect actual roll-forward and maximum entitlements and will issue updated 2010-2011 NCLB NOGAs.  Budget adjustments will be made to the largest class object code as appropriate.
  • Reallocations for 2010-2011 school year will be available in the spring 2011.  Again, TEA staff will adjust budgets and issue updated NCLB NOGAs.

For questions, you may contact the Division of Formula Funding at (512) 463-8525.
Sincerely,

Yolanda Cantu
Senior Director, Division of Formula Funding

TEA Homepage

Back to TEA Correspondence Homepage

Error processing SSI file