How to find answers to your federal programs questions

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How to find answers to your federal programs
questions
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Purpose

• Review the various resource materials available
  for staff and federal program coordinators
  regarding administering and implementing federal
  programs.

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Goal

• Participants will understand the information
  contained in each resource and how to analyze the
  questions to figure out which resource is
  appropriate for finding answers.

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Different Types of Resources

• Program

• Fiscal

• Law (NCLB)
• Title I, II, III, IV, V, etc.
• Regulations
• USDE Guidance
• Policy Letters

• Law (NCLB)
• Regulations
• EDGAR
• OMB A-87
• OMB 133

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Deciphering the Law

• Finding it www.ed.gov
• Search Term NCLB Law
• http//www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/index.ht
  ml
• Three magic words
• Shall or Must Compliance Items (Must dos)
• May Options
• Answers the Questions that sound like
• Do I have to do something?
• What do I have to do for compliance topic?
• Who do I have to include in order to accomplish
  task.?

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Regulations

• Provides further clarification for various
  sections of the law final rules
• Negotiated Rulemaking
• Sets policy and compliance
• Treated the same as the law

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Guidance

• Issued by USDE
• Non-Regulatory
• Provides examples for the how to implement
  questions.
• Strongly encouraged examples of how components
  are implemented
• Answers the question How do I do this.

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Policy Letters

• Issued by USDE
• Provides USDE interpretations of the law for
  specific questions/scenarios related to
  implementing NCLB
• Very specific situations
• Where to Find
• DFP has historical binders (talk to Regional
  Coordinator)
• Title I Handbook more recent

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EDGAR Education Department General
Administrative Requirements

• Defines rules for administering federal grants
  for both grantees (States) and subgrantees
  (LEAs).
• Obligating Funds
• Fiscal Requirements
• Records Retention
• Liquidation of Funds
• Sections 76 and 80 apply to NCLB grant programs
  (will vary program to program).
• http//www.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.h
  tml

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EDGAR Examples

• Section 76.707 Obligation of Funds
• Section 76.708 Start Dates
• Section 76.730 Records What Must be Kept?
• Section 80.32 Equipment
• Section 80.42 Record Retention Timeline

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OMB A-87 Cost Principals and Allowable Uses of
Funds

• Discusses allowable uses of Federal Funds by
  category
• Answers the Question Can I use federal funds
  to pay forsubscriptions, membership fees

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OMB-133 Single Audit Compliance Supplement

• Outlines what auditors should look for when doing
  single audits of federal funds for school
  districts, IUs, etc.
• Download from Whitehouse.gov
• http//georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/omb/cir
  culars/a133_compliance/08/ed.pdf

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DFP Administrative Manual

• How Pennsylvania implements and administers the
  requirements outlined in the law, regulations,
  guidance and EDGAR
• Administrative Manual

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Process for Answering Questions

• Narrow down your choice of resources by analyzing
  the request
• Is it Fiscal or Program related?
• Is it asking a compliance question or how to
  implement?
• Is it asking an administrative question or a
  program question?

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Different Types of Resources

• Program

• Fiscal

• Law (NCLB)
• Title I, II, III, IV, V, etc.
• Regulations
• USDE Guidance
• Policy Letters

• Law (NCLB)
• Regulations
• EDGAR
• OMB A-87 (Allowable Uses of Funds)
• OMB 133 (Single Audit Compliance Supplement)

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Practice

• NCLB Scavenger Hunt
• Teams of 3
• 5 Questions
• 10 Minutes
• Who can find the most answers?

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Questions/Answers