#INspirEDgrants
March 2022
Title I-A Carryover Funds
As a reminder, once an LEA's Title I Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Final Expenditure Report (FER) is finalized and processed, Title I carryover funds will be added to your current fiscal year allocations. The anticipated timeline for this to be completed is the end of March 2022. At that time, your federal grants specialist will contact you and an amendment will be opened to add your carryover funds. LEAs will then have the opportunity to budget the additional funds for the current year allocation.
If you have not completed your FER, please submit this as soon as possible. The Title I FER should be submitted via the Title I App Center. The timely and accurate submission of this report is crucial in determining potential carryover amounts from Title I FY2021 applications that are to be made available for budgeting in Title I FY2022 applications.
Schoolwide Program Application Process
Increased flexibility under ESSA has allowed all schools, regardless of poverty levels, to have access to a schoolwide program as long as it meets the needs of the lowest achieving students in the school.
A Title I-served TAS school is eligible to become a SWP if the following criteria are met:
- School has developed a comprehensive plan in consultation with the district, its school support team, and any technical assistance provider, if applicable.
- School has developed a comprehensive plan with the involvement of parents and other members of the community to be served, and individuals who will carry out this plan including teachers, principals, administrators, and if appropriate, pupil service administrators, technical assistance providers, school staff, and students (if a secondary school).
- School has made the plan available to the district, parents, and the public.
- School ensures that all required statutory components are included in the plan.
LEAs that are interested in learning more about the SWP application process should review the information and resources that will soon be available.
If you have any questions, please contact your assigned federal grants specialist.
Federal Programs Advisory Board Update
On Wednesday, April 13, the Title Grants and Support team will be meeting with the Federal Programs Advisory Board (FPAB) to plan for the FFY2022 (FY2023) grant cycle. The diverse stakeholder group will meet to:
- Review survey data and feedback from the FFY2021 (FY2022) Pre-Application process.
- Brainstorm solutions to challenges encountered while completing the Pre-Application.
- Discuss evidence-based recruitment, retention, and class-size reduction strategies that would be allowable with Title II allocations.
- Seek input regarding competency-based learning with badges and micro-credentials.
The Title Grants and Support team will use information and ideas discussed at this meeting to finalize the application process for the 2022-2023 school year and to provide detailed guidance to the field.
Below are the Pre-Application survey results that will be analyzed by the FPAB:
ESSER I Reminder
LEAs are reminded, if not already doing so, to begin seeking reimbursement for expended ESSER I (CARES) funds. The deadline to encumber funds is Friday, September 30, with a liquidation date of Thursday, December 15. The amendment deadline for ESSER I (CARES) will be Monday, May 30.
LEAs working with nonpublic schools are encouraged to meet regularly with these schools to ensure equitable share funds are being expended in a timely manner and discuss any amendment needs, if applicable, prior to the amendment deadline of Monday, May 30.
If you have any questions, please contact your assigned federal grants specialist.
Emergency Assistance for Nonpublic Schools (EANS) II
Contact eans@doe.in.gov with any questions.
Springtime Consultation Reminders
LEAs are required to provide timely, meaningful, ongoing consultation. In the spring, this should include a face-to-face or virtual meeting between LEAs and nonpublic schools (NPS) in their district. This meeting acts as the beginning of a multi-tiered approach to providing equitable services to students through federal funding. If a NPS has not been contacted by their LEA, the NPS should be proactive establishing this connection, even if services were previously declined.
The following topics should be discussed during spring consultation:
How student needs will be identified;
What services will be offered;
How, where, and by whom services will be provided;
Size and scope of services;
Amount of funds available and how the amount is determined;
Delivery of services, including whether to use a third-party vendor/contractor;
Pooling of funds;
How services will be assessed and the strategies used to improve services;
Method or data source for determining the number of low-income students (Title I specific);
When services will be provided (Title I specific);
Whether to use funds in coordination with funds available under other programs (Title I specific). ESEA sections 1117(b)(1) and 8501(c)(1)
LEAs will be required to use the Updated Affirmation of Consultation form available on the Equitable Services webpage.
Each NPS should be prepared with as many details as possible regarding potential services, professional development, long-term plans, and the usage of federal funding prior to the spring consultation meeting with their LEA.
Further information and resources are available on the Equitable Services webpage.
Upcoming Opportunities
Brustein & Manasevit, PLLC Spring Forum: Brustein & Manasevit, PLLC is offering a virtual Spring Forum, "Planning for Uninterrupted Crises," from Monday, May 2 - Thursday, May 5. The forum will commence on Monday, May 2 with two EDGAR pre-sessions, followed by general and breakout sessions catered to the most pressing matters in federal grants management. General and breakout sessions will be offered Tuesday through Thursday, from noon to 4 p.m. ET. More information can be found here.
REMINDER: FY 2023 Indirect Cost Rates
Beginning Tuesday, March 1, LEAs are eligible to apply for FY 2023 Indirect Cost Rates. Please read the following memo, which includes application instructions. Contact icr@doe.in.gov with any questions.
Title Grants and Support Employment Opportunities
If you would like to join a dynamic, collaborative team, please click on the links below to discover the duties and responsibilities of these positions.
Federal Grants Specialist (2 positions available)