1. Special Project Grants Funds and
IDEA EC Grant Application & Fiscal Accountability
New Charter School Leaders Institute
June 2019
Presented by Lori Peterson
Special Project Funds Consultant
NCDPI Exceptional Children Division
Special Programs and Data Section

2. IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Our nation’s special education law
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

3. Funding
611 Funds
Annually, LEAs, charter schools and SOPs have the opportunity to submit federal grant applications for funding under IDEA, Section 611.
Federal IDEA, Section 611 (3 through 21) funds are allocated to traditional LEAs, charter schools and State-operated programs (SOP) through PRC 60 based on a formula that includes:
a base payment
Average Daily Membership (ADM), and
the number of children living in poverty.
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

4. Funding
619 Funds
Annually, LEAs and charter schools have the opportunity to submit federal grant applications for funding under IDEA, Section 619.
Federal IDEA, Section 619 (3 through 5) funds are allocated through PRC 49 based on a formula that includes:
a base payment
ADM, and
the number of children living in poverty.
Note: 619 funds are now available to charter schools for five-year old children with disabilities who were not yet 6 on the December 1 child count. Charter schools will have access to these funds beginning with the school year.
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

5. Funding Access EC Grants Online Application Use of Funds Facilities
Program and Services
Personnel/Certification
Professional Development
Assurances
Maintenance of Fiscal Effort
Use of funds – Chart of Accounts
Facilities – ADA
Program and Services – full continuum
Personnel/Certification – HQ teachers and assistants
Professional Development – what is being offered
Assurances – BAAS – finance
Debarment – drugs, suspension,
Program - services
MOE – Budget and Expenditures
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

6. Online Application Will be due at a specific time and will lock
Contains compliance checks
Contains audit checks
Cannot be completed overnight
Does not have spell check feature
Travels through a process for approval
Contains an amendment component
Help is located within the application –
Version 4.1 EC Grants Training Document
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

7. The Application
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

8. The Budget
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

9. The Fiscal Monitoring process is composed of three tiers
Tier I – Budget vs. Expenditures
Tier II – Desk Reviews
Tier III – On-site/Virtual Reviews
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

10. Fiscal Monitoring Tier I Tier II Review of budget vs. expenditures
All systems complete an IDEA Fiscal Desk Review every five years. There is a random selection of at least 50 systems each year for the desk review.
Desk Review contents:
Time and Effort
Equipment purchase and inventory
Maintenance of Fiscal Effort (MOE)
Proportionate Share – traditional LEAs only
Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS)
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

11. Fiscal Monitoring Fiscal Monitoring
Tier III
IDEA Fiscal Monitoring on-site reviews
On-site/Virtual Review Contents include:
Time and Effort
Equipment
Contracted Services
Maintenance of Fiscal Effort (MOE)
Proportionate Share – traditional LEAs only
Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS)
Risk Based criteria include but are not limited to:
Findings from the IDEA Desk Review
Annual LEA Single Audit Findings
EC Director turnover
SEA identified potential fiscal issues
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

12. Fiscal Monitoring Fiscal Monitoring
Visit the Finance and Grants tab on the EC Division website. Here you can find forms needed for fiscal accountability.
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section

13. There are 6 Special Project Funds
Special State Reserve
Risk Pool
Group/Foster Home
Out-of-District
Developmental Day Center
Community Residential

14. Applications, Procedures, and Instructions
Available at:
DPI’s EC website under Finance & Grants

15. Applications, Procedures, and Instructions
Select “Applications” from the menu that appears on the next page

16. Applications, Procedures, and Instructions
Next, a listing of the individual applications appears. A brief description for each funding area is also provided. Click on the funding area name to view, download and save documents or forms to complete.

17. Risk Pool vs Special State Reserve
RP Federal Funds- PRC 114
Application due date: Sept. 15th
Child was enrolled the previous year.
Child specific, provide support
High needs
Minimum rubric score of 8
Cost requirement- 3 times the per pupil expenditure
Services are documented in IEP
Cannot provide funds for teacher salaries
SSR State Funds- PRC 063/036
Application due within 60 days of enrollment/change
Child is new to the LEA or application submitted due to a change in condition.
Child specific, provide support
High needs
Yes/No questions in the application assist to define high need
Services are documented in IEP

18. What is meant by “high need?”
Behaviors that:
are not age-appropriate or typical
present as a safety issue
have not been corrected through appropriately applied interventions (PBIS, MTSS, BIP, etc)
Physical or medical needs
Life skill challenges: self help, self care, hygiene
Specific needs that call for specialized support
Communication needs

19. Risk Pool vs Special State Reserve, cont’dRP
Materials & Equipment
Child specific
If child leaves LEA
Goes with child if in N.C.
Stays with LEA if child leaves N.C.
Validation Visits
If child withdraws, within 10 days submit End Of Year update, Reversion form.
By June 30th, submit End Of Year update and, if applicable, reversion form.
SSR
Materials & Equipment
Child specific
If child leaves LEA
Goes with child if in N.C.
Stays with LEA if child leaves N.C.
Validation Visits
If child withdraws, within 10 days submit End Of Year update, Reversion form.
By June 30th, submit End Of Year update and, if applicable, reversion form.

20. Group/Foster Home Funds
State PRC 032 and Federal PRC 060
For children new to the LEA who are residing in a licensed Group or Foster Home.
Application/ Roster due within 60 calendar days of enrollment.
The Group/Foster Home must be licensed by the appropriate agency for 24 hour child care.
LEA is responsible for verifying that the center is appropriately licensed.
Withdrawals are to be submitted within 30 calendar days.

21. Thank You! Lori Peterson lori.peterson@dpi.nc.gov 919-807-3966
EC Division – Special Programs and Data Section