Texas Education Agency Division of IDEA Coordination July 2010

High Cost Fund Eligibility Application Opens Monday 8/16/10 Closes Friday 10/1/10 at 5 pm Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/102

LEA Eligibility Criteria The LEA has not violated the least restrictive environment (LRE) requirements of IDEA 2004 The LEA has not lapsed IDEA Formula or Formula Deaf funds from the previous year (based on Final Expenditure report from ) The LEA does not roll forward 50% or more of its IDEA Formula funds into The LEA has complied with all systems of accountability and reporting to the TEA Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/103

Changes for Roll Forward Last year, the LEA could not roll forward 80% or more of its IDEA funds into the new year. This year it cannot roll forward 50% or more. Next year, roll forward will not be a factor in determining eligibility since the USDE is encouraging LEAs to spend their ARRA funds before spending their regular IDEA-B funds. This may result in large roll forward amounts into Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/104

Changes for Non-public day school costs Last year, the non-public day school cost was part of the non-residential student section. This year, non-public day school has its own section. Three sections for student costs: Residential Non-Residential Non-Public Day School Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/105

Changes for Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/106

Changes for ESY (Extended School Year) and Transportation Last year, these costs were not allowed This year, the excess costs are allowable The excess costs are those costs that exceed the amount of state funding received Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/107

Changes for Student page: If the disability code is OHI, the LEA must list the qualifying condition in the next row. Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/108

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Changes for Non-residential cost items Last year, the following cost items were allowable with High Cost Funds: Educational or other Diagnostician Evaluation Group Therapy LSSP Social Worker This year, these cost items are not allowable Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1010

Changes for Non-residential costs Last year, the allowable cost items were displayed in columns and the LEA had to use a scroll bar to view all the allowable costs This year, the allowable cost items are displayed in a pop-up window Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1011

Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1012

Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1013

Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1014

Changes for Student Identifier Code: In the previous years, the LEA was required to enter a 6 character student identifier code. This year the code will be 12 characters The LEA will enter a user-defined 6 character student identifier code (alpha numeric) Once the LEA saves the application, the system will automatically insert the LEA’s county district number in front of the LEA-entered student identifier code Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1015

Changes for Definition of a high cost child Last year, the costs of the high cost child had to be at least $25,000 in order to qualify as a high cost child This year, the costs must be at least $35,000 (Total costs minus adjusted allotment and minus Medicaid/SHARS, if applicable, must be at least $35,000). Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1016

Changes for Pro-rating tool This year, TEA is providing an electronic pro-rating tool to assist LEAs in calculating the pro-rated salary of allowable positions The tool is located in the Help button of the High Cost Fund Eligibility application Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1017

Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1018

Changes for An instructional power point will be available by clicking on the Help button The power point will provide step by step instructions on how to complete the HCF Eligibility application Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1019

Reminders If applying for a high cost fund award for a residential student, the discretionary residential application packet must be submitted by the LEA to their ESC by September 1, All corrections requested by the ESC or TEA must be submitted to TEA within five days of the request. If these deadlines are not met, the residential student’s HCF application will be denied and a HCF will not be awarded for that student. Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1020

Reminders After receiving an award letter for HCF, the LEA must submit the eGrants IDEA-B High Cost Fund application (SPED AH11) to budget the funds. The deadline to submit the eGrants High Cost Fund application is 7/15/11. The funds are effective 10/1/10. Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1021

Reminders When completing the eGrants IDEA-B High Cost Fund application, the cost items must tie back to the cost items approved on the High Cost Fund Eligibility application. Since High Cost funds are student-specific, the award amount received for the specific student may not be used for another student. If the eligible high cost fund student leaves in the middle of the year, contact the IDEA Coordination funding team for instructions. Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1022

Calculation of the High Cost Fund award amount The amount of funds requested statewide and the amount of funds available will affect the amount being awarded. If the requested amount exceeds the amount available, TEA will calculate the award amount based on the percentage the request is to the LEA’s tentative entitlement. If the adjusted award amount still exceeds the amount available, reduction to the award amount will be based on a common factor. Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1023

LEA Tent Ent Request Amt % of Ent Initial Award Amount Factor Award Amount A250,000200, , ,021 B250,000 50,000 50, , ,064 C250,000250, , ,594 D750,000 25,000 25, TEA IDEA Coordination December 2009

Questions If an LEA has questions regarding the High Cost Fund process or application, contact the funding team at: For TEA SE access, link to Texas Education Agency/ IDEA Coordination 07/1025