TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: Standard Application System (SAS) for Special Education Programs for School Year 2000-2001
(SAS-A101-01)
A copy of the SAS Administrator's Guide for Special Education Programs and the tentative entitlement printouts for the 2000-2001 school year will be mailed to the special education contact for your district, charter school, or shared services arrangement. The 2000-2001 SAS application for special education programs has been automated and will be submitted over the Internet-based WEB SAS system. The WEB SAS application is used to request state and federal funds identified in the Guide. Applications will be processed and approved in the order received. Every effort will be made to complete Notice of Grant Award (NOGA) approval within 30 days for applications received in substantially approvable form.
Changes in the 2000-2001 SAS for special education programs include revisions to, refinements of, or deletions from the 1999-2000 application and adjustments resulting both from recent interpretations from the Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Module of the Financial Accountability System Resource Guide and the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Personnel responsible for preparing the application should review the Guide carefully. Chapters 1 and 2 include changes, reminders, clarifications, and procedures to apply for federal fund sources in the 2000-2001 WEB SAS. However, Chapter 1 is an introduction only and should not replace a thorough review of the schedules and instructions included in the remainder of the Guide.
Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations §300.220 requires that local programs have certain administrative policies and procedures in effect that are consistent with state policies and procedures. The administrative policies and procedures are being revised in conjunction with the reauthorization of IDEA, and submission of revised policies and procedures will be required at a later date.
The effective dates for the use of funds approved for 2000-2001 will be July 1, 2000, through June 30, 2001, for federal funds other than discretionary and September 1, 2000, through August 31, 2001, for state funds. The effective date for applications received after July 1, 2000, will be the date the application is received by the Agency. Applicant agencies may not obligate or receive any services under these projects before the effective date.
The special education contact will receive the tentative entitlement printouts for the following fund sources:
· IDEA-B Formula/Formula Deaf-The tentative entitlement is the 1999-2000 maximum entitlement for each district/applicant agency and is the base entitlement amount resulting from implementation of the permanent formula established by the reauthorization of IDEA.
· IDEA-B Preschool/Preschool Deaf-The tentative entitlement is the 1997-98 maximum entitlement, including supplemental increases, for each district/applicant agency and is the base entitlement amount as established by the reauthorization of IDEA.
· IDEA-B Capacity Building/Capacity Building Deaf-The tentative entitlement is estimated at $8 per student based on the December 1999 child count.
For applicant agencies with Regional Day School Programs for the Deaf (RDSPD), printouts also include tentative entitlements for the following fund sources:
· IDEA-C Early Intervention Deaf-The tentative entitlement is estimated at $265 per zero- through two-year-old student based on the December 1999 RDSPD federal child count.
· State Deaf-The tentative entitlement is estimated at $7,346 per student based on the December 1999 RDSPD annual survey student count sent to Gallaudet Research Institute.
· IDEA-B Discretionary Deaf-The tentative entitlement is estimated at $239 per student based on the December 1999 RDSPD federal child count.
Eligible programs will be notified of the actual entitlements for IDEA-B Formula/Formula Deaf, IDEA-B Preschool/Preschool Deaf, and IDEA-B Capacity Building/Capacity Building Deaf as soon as the Agency receives the grant awards from the U. S. Department of Education.
A NOGA will be awarded on the initial application based on an estimated $1 roll-forward amount if the fund source is eligible for roll forward. Once the 1999-2000 final expenditure report has been certified and turned over to the Agency, roll forward will be calculated, and a letter will be forwarded to the applicant agency indicating the actual roll-forward amount. An amendment must be submitted by the applicant agency to budget the actual roll-forward amount.
If you have any questions concerning the SAS process, including questions regarding the submission of the application through the WEB SAS system, please contact your education service center special education contact. If you have additional questions, you can contact the Division of Special Education at (512) 463-9362 or the Division of Services for the Deaf at (512) 463-9424. Technical concerns related to the WEB SAS system may be directed to the TEA Help Desk at (512) 463-9800.
Sincerely,
Carol V. Francois
Associate Commissioner
for the Education of Special Populations
CVF:LT:dc
cc: Special Education Contact
Education Service Center Special Education Director
For further information on this topic, contact the Division of Special Education at (512) 463-9362