NCLB Updates

1
NCLB Updates

• June, 2006
• Marilyn Peterson, Federal Programs Director

2
Agenda

• NCLB Qualified Teachers 2006-07
• Consolidated Monitoring
• NCLB Consolidated Application
• Portal
• REAP
• AYP

3
NCLB Qualified Teachers

• NCLB Goal 100 teachers in core academic areas
  are NCLB qualified by end of 2006-07
• State of the Schools Report (report card) for
  2005-06 will have the percentages for each school
  and district including
• The teachers who met NCLB Qualified through the
  HOUSSE
• Special Education teachers who are NCLB qualified

4
Plans for NCLB Qualified

• NCLB requires districts develop a plan to meet
  the goal of 100 NCLB Qualified
• The plan should show how the district will
  support and help those teachers gain content
  knowledge
• Provide professional development opportunities
• Use Title I and Title II-A funds
• Can also provide funds for college courses
  district decision

5
NCLB Qualified Teachers Plan

• NEW question on the NCLB Consolidated Application
  for 2006-07
• Only for districts (ESUs do not need to complete)
• Under the Goals and Needs tab for Professional
  Development
• Use information from the State of the Schools
  Report

6
HOUSSE

• High Objective Uniform State Standard Evaluation
• Teachers become NCLB qualified through reporting
  activities that have helped them gain content
  knowledge (experience, professional development,
  courses, etc.)
• HOUSSE forms can be submitted at any time
• Forms available on NDE homepage under Federal
  Programs - NCLB

7
Special Education Teachers

• Last Curriculum Report identified the Special
  Education teachers teaching content areas without
  endorsements
• Fall Personnel Report for 2006-07 will include
  information and HOUSSE forms
• Special Education teachers and teachers who have
  new assignments for which they are not endorsed
  will have to submit a HOUSSE by November 1

8
New Teachers

• New elementary and new special education
  elementary teachers
• Graduates of Nebraska institutions in 2006 are
  NCLB Qualified because they took the State
  assessment in use at that time
• Graduates (starting in 2007) must take the EECIA
  to be NCLB Qualified
• EECIA not required for a license
• Passing score on EECIA is 159

9
Consolidated Monitoring - NEW

• On-site monitoring of the NCLB Consolidated
  Application
• All programs included in the application
• Once every three years
• New schedule being developed
• Use the checklist as a guide to ensure programs
  are being operated in compliance with NCLB
• NDE reviewer or a team will visit

10
2006-07 Allocations

• Allocations, when finalized, will be posted in
  .pdf files on the NDE homepage (Federal Programs
  NCLB) like last year
• The file of all Multi-district members and fiscal
  agents will also posted on the same site as above
  please review for accuracy!

11
2006-07 Application

• An email will announce opening date for
  submitting applications anticipate that this
  will be around July 15th
• Applicants will have 45 days to submit
• 30 day extensions must be requested in writing
  (email)
• Reminder Nonpublic Participation forms are due
  by July 1
• Can only pay for continuing activities until new
  application is approved

12
Portal

• Maintaining accurate information is the
  responsibility of the district
• Must use the Portal to make changes in
  administrators and staff (financial contacts,
  data entry, etc.)

13
LB 126 Districts and Portal

• Class I district staff will not have access to
  the Portal after June 14
• Email sent to all superintendents of receiving
  districts with a process for gaining
  authorization to their former Class I district
  information

14
How to report changes --

• Authorized representative -- use the
  Administrative Tab to remove access to your
  district for staff who are leaving
• Superintendents who move -- use the same
  Administrative Tab to acquire access to their new
  district dont create a new account (Note the
  system will allow only one authorized
  representative per district)

15
Portal Help Desk

• Julie Rotherham (julie.rotherham_at_nde.ne.gov)
• 1-888-285-0556
• 402-471-3151

16
Financial Reporting

• An amendment to the application must be made
  before submitting a request for reimbursement if
• Funds have been spent in an object code that
  exceeds the allowable variance (25 or 2,500 of
  what was approved) or
• No funds were budgeted in that object code

17
Lessons Learned Documentation

• Only computer printouts are to be submitted (no
  invoices, no receipts)
• Vendor level must identify use of funds (no
  credit card or petty cash entries)
• Journal entries must include documentation of
  original transaction
• Accounting records must match what is budgeted
  (all salaries in object code 100, etc)

18
Lessons Learned - Budgets

• Once funds are completely moved (REAP-FLEX) out
  of a program, you cant add other funds to that
  program
• Scheduled Payments
• Select this option only in the original
  application, not in amendments
• Do not inflate salaries and benefits
• Spend funds only in approved object codes

19
Close-out of the 2005-06 Project

• Check the box on the Reimbursement Request page
  for Final Claim
• Submit supporting documentation for every claim
  included in the final request for which you have
  not already submitted documentation

20
Closing Out

• Submit all claims through August 31st
• Even through the project year for all NCLB grants
  runs through September, claims should be
  submitted in accordance with district fiscal
  years
• Two exceptions for programs with carryover
  limitations Title I (15) and Title IV (25)
  report through September 30 if needed

21
Carryover Limitation Waivers

• If the amount of carryover will exceed the
  limitations for Title I and Title IV, a written
  request for a waiver must be submitted
• Request must identify the reason(s) for needing
  to exceed the limitation
• Title I programs can be approved for a waiver
  only once every three years

22
Payments

• Scheduled Payments
• Object Codes 100 and 200 in any program
• Payments begin in October or when application is
  approved if after October
• 10 equal payments (75 of the approved amount)
  with the balance paid at close-out
• Automatic payments
• Will pay claims submitted without documentation
  until a threshold is reached
• Start when the previous year is closed out

23
Threshold 1

• When the total of scheduled payments and
  submitted claims paid reaches the first threshold
  of 50 of the total approved amount of the
  program, the system will notify you that
  supporting documentation is needed for all
  expenditures to date
• Failure to submit documentation in 30 days will
  stop scheduled payments

24
2nd Threshold

• When the total of scheduled payments and
  submitted claims paid reaches 75 of the total of
  the program, the system will again notify you
  that supporting documentation is due (for all
  expenditures since the last threshold)
• If only scheduled payments, supporting
  documentation is due in January (expenditures
  through December) and in April (through March)

25
REAP SRSA Grants

• Draw down claims for legitimate expenditures by
  September 30, 2006 for grants awarded in July of
  2004.
• REAP funds remaining are an asset that transfers
  to receiving district if a Class I
• Non-eligible districts receiving REAP SRSA funds
  will be able to draw-down funds

26
REAP SRSA 2006-07

• Only eligible districts that have never applied
  need to do so now (highlighted in yellow on
  eligibility spreadsheet)
• http//www.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/eligibility.ht
  ml
• Still working on updating census locale codes for
  new districts

27
REAP Dates

• Anticipate having allocations in September
• Grant Award Notification sent to the district
• New grants will also receive information on
  setting up bank accounts, etc.
• Nebraskas contact
• Robert.Hitchcock_at_ed.gov
• 202-260-1472

28
REAP Accountability

• Districts that have received REAP SRSA and RLIS
  grants or used REAP-FLEX for all three years
  http//www.ed.gov/programs/reapsrsa/eligible05ayp/
  index.html and
• Did not make (adequate yearly progress) AYP for
  the last year (defined on next slide)
• Must use REAP SRSA funds for activities defined
  in Section 1116 school improvement activities
  focused on raising student performance

29
Federal Accountability

• For Small Schools is State Accountability
• Making AYP is a MET on both the Quality of the
  STARS Assessment (portfolio rating) and a MET
  on student performance on STARS
• A MET is a Good, Very Good or Exemplary Rating
• Larger schools is AYP Federal Accountability

30
REAP Audits

• The U. S. Department of Education REAP office
  will be conducting audits of districts receiving
  funds
• Will include all years of funding
• Most likely desk audits (phone interviews)
• May request documentation
• If merging with another district, be sure to
  forward all REAP documentation and records

31
Adequate Yearly Progress

• NEW - the 10-day window for reviewing the AYP
  status of schools and districts begins on August
  1 this year
• SPED ELL - Districts have until June 30 to submit
  the number of English Language Learners and
  Special Education students who completed high
  school in more than four years (Data Collections
  in Portal)

32
Graduation Rate

• Students with disabilities who graduate with a
  regular diploma in a program described in their
  Individualized Educational Program that may take
  more than four years
• English Language Learners who are enrolled in a
  LEP program that provides services that allow a
  fifth year in order to receive a regular diploma,
  determined by the district on a case-by-case basis

33
NCLB and NSSRS

• NSSRS Nebraska Student and Staff Reporting
  System
• Dual data collections during 2006-07
• Will eventually use NSSRS for all student
  information needed for NCLB
• Low-income, LEP counts, etc., for formula
  allocations
• AYP decisions
• Program participation information

34
Sources of Information

• NDE Homepage
• Grant Management Requirements and Guidance
• LB 126 Checklist
• Consolidated Monitoring Checklist (when finalized
• ARMS grants and forms

35
ARMS Grants

• Assessment and Reporting Management Systems
  (ARMS) grants
• Due July 1, 2006
• Application form, guidance and allocations
  spreadsheet on the NDE homepage