Special Education Proportionate Set-Aside Requirements October 2015

Overview Each local education agency (LEA) must spend a proportionate amount of its Sections 611 and 619 allocations on providing special education and related services (including direct services) to parentally-placed private school children with disabilities; including home-schooled children.

Proportionate Set-Aside (PSA) § 300.132 (a) “… To the extent consistent with the number and location of children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private, including religious, elementary schools and secondary schools located in the school district served by the LEA, provision is made for the participation of those children in the program assisted or carried out under Part B of the Act by providing them with special education and related services, including direct services determined in accordance with § 300.137....”

Record Keeping § 300.132 (c) “….Each LEA must maintain in its records and provide to the SEA, the following information….” The number of children evaluated; The number of children determined to be children with disabilities; and The number of children served.

Allowable PSA Uses Proportionate share costs are not limited to direct services but can include consultative services, equipment or materials for eligible parentally-placed students with disabilities, or training for private school teachers and other private school personnel. LEAs are prohibited from using the set-aside amount for administrative costs, the costs of child find and the evaluation process of parentally-placed private school students.

Proportionate Set Aside (PSA) Each local education agency (LEA) must spend a proportionate amount of its Sections 611 and 619 allocations on providing special education and related services (including direct services) to parentally-placed private school children with disabilities. Section 300.133 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) specifies a formula that an LEA is required to use to determine the proportionate amount the LEA is to make available or spend to meet the requirements of § 300.132(a). The Calculation is defined under Appendix B to Part 300 – Proportionate Share Calculation Funds must be Set-Aside during the Grant Period Additional Guidance is Available

Accessing SSWS

User Name Contact the division’s SSWS Administrator if you do not have a SSWS log-in ID.

Enter User’s Password to Gain Access User Password Enter User’s Password to Gain Access

Display of User’s Applications

Initial PSA Screen

PSA Worksheet The Worksheet is composed of lines 1 to 7. Lines 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 are auto-filled and only lines 3 and 5 are open for entries.

Line 1-Auto-Populated The number of eligible students will be automatically populated from the system using the auto-generated December 1 child count submission when the collection window is open. In the example above, line 1 indicates 580 students. This number exclude private school and home-schooled children eligible and served. Eligible students are students who have been evaluated and determined eligible for special education and related services by the division. Served students are students who are receiving special education and related services within the division. Note: The number of eligible students cannot be changed since it was submitted with the division’s December 1, 2014 child count, duly certified by the division’s superintendent and reported to the U.S. Department of Education (USED). The number can be entered when the collection window is closed and the division is using the worksheet as a calculator.

Line 2-Auto-Populated In the example provided, line 2 indicates 13 students, representing the number of parentally-placed eligible students that was reported in the LEA’s December 1, 2014 child count submission. This represents the number of children with disabilities parentally-placed in private school or home schooled in the LEA after conducting a thorough and complete child-find process and ensuring that the count was performed on any date between October 1 and December 1 of the preceding year. Note: The number of parentally-placed eligible children with disabilities in private schools cannot be changed since it was submitted with the division’s December 1, 2014 child count, duly certified by the division’s superintendent and reported to the U.S. Department of Education (USED). The number can only be entered when the collection window is closed and the division is using the worksheet as a calculator.

Line 3-User Enters This number represents students identified during the child-find process as being eligible for services, but was not receiving service due to various reasons (i.e., parent has opted not to accept services). The LEA must enter the number of parentally-placed eligible children with disabilities previously receiving service, but are still eligible to receive services in the division; including home-schooled students (i.e., students not included in the Dec. 1, 2014 child count). A count of 4 students is used in the example. The LEA would enter “0” if no students were identified as being eligible and not being served. The LEA is required to set-aside a proportionate amount for the student for future use, if necessary. The division should not include students that are receiving services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Line 4-Auto-Calculated Lines 1, 2 and 3 are automatically added to generate this number. This number represents the total number of eligible students with disabilities, including public, private and home schooled students with disabilities. Based on the illustration, line 4 shows a total of 597 students (sum of lines 1, 2 and 3).

Line 5-User Enters This amount should represent the total of the 611-school age allocation and the 619-preschool allocation. The LEA should enter the total FFY2015-2017 Part B Allocation on line 5. In the illustration provided, line 5 indicates $1,180,603 as the total Part B allocated amount.

Line 6-Auto-Calculated This amount is automatically generated in the system (line 5 divided by line 4). This represents the average proportionate amount that should be allocated or set-aside for each eligible student. In the illustration, line 6 shows that $1,977.5595 should be set-aside for each student.

Line 7-Auto-Calculated This amount is automatically generated in the system (line 6 multiplied by the total of lines 2 and 3). This represents the total proportionate amount that should be allocated or set-aside for all eligible students. In the illustration, line 7 shows that $33,618.51 should be set-aside for all eligible students with disabilities.

Completed Worksheet Submit by Oct. 23, 2015

Menu Options Two Menu Options are Available: Worksheet – This is the page on which the user will enter the information to determine the division’s proportionate share. All fields marked by an asterisk (*) are required. Reports – The Verification Report will open when this menu option is selected. The division’s Verification Report is generated upon completion and submission of the worksheet. If the collection window is closed, the application can be used as a calculator only.

Reports Option Once the worksheet is submitted, the collection window will automatically close and lock. The worksheet will display as a read only file and no edits can be made unless the division contacts the VDOE to reopen the collection window. Once submitted the LEA must print the verification report.

Verification Report The Verification Report for the current year (2015-2016) and previous years can be viewed by selecting the ‘Reports’ option on the left side of the PSA application screen. This report must be printed and signed by the Superintendent or Superintendent’s Designee. The signed copy should be sent to VDOE no later than two (2) weeks after submission, by fax at (804) 371-8796 or SSWS Drop-box to Emilia Boothe. The original copy must be retained by the LEA for audit purposes.

Important PSA Reminders PSA funds must be set-aside annually. Any funds not spent or obligated by June 30, 2016, for special education and related services (including direct services), must be carried forward for one additional year (i.e., July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017). Any unspent funds after the one year carry-over period can be used on other special education and related services. Amounts spent to meet the PSA requirement should be appropriately noted in OMEGA during the reimbursement process by selecting the appropriate dropdown option. The FFY2014 (i.e., 2014-2016) award should reflect a balance available if all PSA funds were not spent . If not, the division should make this correction as soon as possible.

Key Points The calculated PSA amount will be the division’s set-aside amount for the FFY2015 award. The annual plan does not need to be revised to agree with the newly calculated PSA amount. LEAs should track the services provided, the costs incurred, the number of children evaluated, the number of children determined to be children with disabilities and the number of children served.

Important Grant Reminders Ensure procurement mechanisms conform to Federal and State laws and standards. LEAs must document time & effort in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for employees funded from federal grant sources. LEAs must maintain financial & programmatic records as required by Federal & State law. General Rule – Sole Use of property purchased with Part B funds. LEAs must maintain a physical inventory of property purchased with Part B funds (Ipads, computers, etc.,).

Collection Window Opens October 5, 2015 Closes October 23, 2015 Divisions not submitting the Speced-PSA calculation will be contacted individually and will be required to follow a protocol to reopen the collection window. This protocol will be shared with those specific school divisions. Any late submissions (i.e., 30 days after collection window closes) and inaccurate reporting of information will impact the division’s local determination.

SESS Budget & Finance Staff Members’ Contact Information Pat Brooks – 804-786-9153 Patricia.Brooks@doe.virginia.gov Emily Boothe – 804-225-2701 Emilia.Boothe@doe.virginia.gov Tracie Coleman – 804-225-2704 Tracie.Coleman@doe.virginia.gov Sherry Hubbard – 804-225-2339 Sherry.Hubbard@doe.virginia.gov Website: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/special_ed/grants_funding/index.shtml

Questions