Overview
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriates significant new funding under Parts B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student Services (ADE/ESS) is responsible for the allocation of IDEA Part B ARRA funding to eligible Local Education Agencies (LEAs) using the existing federal formula for IDEA funding.
The State allocation to each eligible LEA is the total of three amounts:
- The base payment is the amount the LEA would have received in federal fiscal year 1997 (our state 1998 fiscal year IDEA) had the State allocated 75% of its federal fiscal year award to the local level;
- The population payment (85% of the remaining flow through funds after the base payments are made) is an amount based on the eligible agency’s relative numbers of children enrolled in public and private elementary and secondary schools within the agency’s jurisdiction; and
- The poverty payment (15% of the remaining flow through funds after the base payments are made) is an amount based on the eligible agency’s relative number of children living in poverty, as determined by the State Educational Agency.
ARRA funding is in addition to the regular IDEA entitlement grants to states; the funds are allocated 85% based on population and 15% poverty as described above. The entire ARRA amount is allocated to LEAs. ADE/ESS is not receiving any ARRA funds for administrative purposes.
Impact
ADE/ESS awards the ARRA monies to the LEAs to ensure that children with disabilities, including children aged three through five, have access to a free appropriate public education to meet each child’s unique needs and prepare each child for further education, employment, and independent living.
ARRA funds are a supplemental appropriation to IDEA Part B Grants that will be distributed to states on July 1, 2009 (state fiscal year 2010) and must be used consistently with the current IDEA allowable uses of funds. These funds must be used for excess costs of providing special education and related services to children with disabilities. Each eligible LEA can access up to 50% of their allocation through September 30, 2009
ADE/ESS and LEAs are required to track and account for the ARRA IDEA Part B funds separately from regular IDEA Part B grant awards.
Application, Evaluation and Decision Making Process for Award of Stimulus Funds
ADE/ESS has calculated the entire allocation amount for each eligible LEA and has posted the list on the ADE Grants Management website at www.ade.az.gov/gme under the “fund alert” link names: ARRA IDEA Grant and ARRA IDEA Preschool Grant. Each eligible LEA will submit an on-line application to provide the ADE with information as to how the funds will be used. The applications will be reviewed for compliance with IDEA, Uniform System of Financial Records for Arizona School Districts (USFR) and Charter Schools (USFRCS), EDGAR, OMB Circular A-87, OMB Circular A-133 and its compliance supplement.
The grant application will require assurances from LEA applicants indicating that they will adhere to the quarterly reporting requirements mandated by the U.S. Department of Education. The quarterly reporting will be accomplished by each sub recipient (LEA) through their submission of grant amendments to approved ARRA grants on a quarterly basis.
Contact Information
Special Education Questions/Comments/Concerns? Email: essdesk@azed.gov
Exceptional Student Services
Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street, Bin 24
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
ESS Tel: (602) 542-4013
Fax: (602) 542-5404
