2012-13 CARS Winter Release Cover Letter
January 15, 2013
Dear Consolidated Programs Directors, Consolidated Programs Cooperative Directors, and Administrators of Direct-Funded Charter Schools:
2012-13 CONSOLIDATED APPLICATION FOR FUNDING
CATEGORICAL AID PROGRAMS, WINTER RELEASE
This letter provides information related to the completion of the 2012–13 Consolidated Application (ConApp) for Funding Categorical Aid Programs, Winter Release, and highlights the most notable changes in the ConApp and its categorical programs. For other related information, such as the link to the Consolidated Application and Reporting System (CARS) and the instructions for completing the ConApp, visit the California Department of Education (CDE) Request for Applications (RFA) [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/co/ca12rfa.asp] Web page. Using the contact information provided to us through last year’s ConApp, we will notify the designated contact by e-mail when the ConApp is available on the CDE RFA Web page.
Records Retention
Per the U.S. Code, Title 20, Section 1232f(a) [http://us-code.vlex.com/vid/sec-records-19195084]
, each recipient of Federal funds under any applicable program through any grant, subgrant, cooperative agreement, loan, or other arrangement shall keep records which fully disclose the amount and disposition by the recipient of those funds, the total cost of the activity for which the funds are used, the share of that cost provided from other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective financial or programmatic audit.
The recipient shall maintain such records for three years after the completion of the activity for which the funds are used. The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall have access, for the purpose of audit examination, to any records maintained by a recipient that may be related, or pertinent to, grants, subgrants, cooperative agreements, loans, or other arrangements to which reference is made in subsection (a) of this section, or which may relate to the compliance of the recipient with any requirement of an applicable program.
CARS-Online Submission of the ConApp
The CARS is the online version of the ConApp. The CARS will run on any computer. In order to obtain access to CARS, you must use your unique password that was selected through the Centralized Authentication System on the CARS [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/co/cars.asp] Web page and have the person you designated as the local educational agency (LEA) Administrator assign you rights to access your LEA’s data.
All ConApps must be submitted online through the CARS. No paper copies of the ConApp will be accepted. Any subsequent revisions to the ConApp must also be submitted online through the CARS. However, LEAs are required to obtain original signatures on the Certification of Assurances, Prayer Certification and EIA Advisory Committee Approvals to certify compliance with all laws and regulations related to the ConApp programs. These original signatures must be kept on file at the LEA and be available during a compliance review, complaint investigation, or an audit. It is not necessary to mail or fax this page to the CDE, unless requested. All data collections are due no later than February 28, 2013, except for the Title I Part A Notification of Schoolwide Participation. The Title I Part A Notification of Schoolwide Participation is accepted on an ongoing basis.
Funding Opportunities
LEAs, including direct-funded charter schools, may review a funding profile for each program on the CDE Consolidated Application [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/co/ap/conapp-programs.asp] Programs Web page. Each funding profile contains a brief description of the program, eligibility criteria, funding information, and CDE contacts for additional program or fiscal information.
Legal Assurances
Legal assurances for programs funded through the ConApp are located on the CDE RFA [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/co/ca12asstoc.asp] Web page. The CDE recognizes that some of the legal assurances do not apply to direct-funded charter schools. In the event an LEA cannot agree to specific assurances as a condition for receiving funds and operating programs, the issues must be identified and resolved prior to the submission of the ConApp. For assistance on resolving these issues, please contact Anne Daniels, Associate Governmental Program Analyst, Education Data Office, by phone at 916-319-0640 or by e-mail at adaniels@cde.ca.gov.
LEA Plan
As a condition of receiving federal funds from the ConApp, each LEA must have an approved State Board of Education (SBE) LEA Plan. The ConApp is the fiscal companion to the LEA Plan. The SBE must approve both the ConApp and the LEA’s initial LEA Plan.
In addition, each LEA shall periodically review and, as necessary, revise its LEA Plan (Elementary and Secondary Education Act [ESEA] Section 1112[d][3]). The ESEA does not define “periodically,” which the CDE interprets to mean that LEAs review and update their LEA Plan annually as LEAs are subject to review at any time. Any revisions must be approved by the local school board and kept on file with the original Plan.
In any year, initial LEA Plans, including LEA Plans for new or reauthorized direct-funded charter schools, must be approved by the SBE by its March meeting in order for the LEA to be eligible for current year funding. Those LEA Plans approved after the March meeting will receive funding for future years only. As an example, to be eligible for
2013-14 funding, LEA Plans are due no later than January 3, 2014. An original and two copies of an LEA Plan must be submitted to:
Improvement and Accountability Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 6208
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
New and reauthorized direct-funded charter schools whose LEA Plans are approved on or before the March 2014 SBE meeting will be eligible to receive ESEA funding for the 2013-14 year. Those whose plans are approved after the March 2014 SBE meeting will receive funding for future years only.
Additional information about the LEA Plan is located on the CDE LEA Plan [http://www.cde.ca.gov/nclb/sr/le/] Web page. For questions regarding LEA Plans, contact Cheryl Tiner, Education Research and Evaluation Assistant, Improvement and Accountability Division, by phone at 916-319-0414 or by e-mail at ctiner@cde.ca.gov or Laura Wagner, Manager, Improvement and Accountability Division, by phone at 916-319-0789 or by e-mail at lwagner@cde.ca.gov.
Title I, Part A Participation in 2012-13
The application for funding declares that the local education agency (LEA) authorized by the local governing board is applying for specified categorical aid funds.
In order to receive Title I apportionments for 2012-13, the LEA must:
- Select “Yes” for Title I, Part A participation and certify the 2012-13 Application for Categorical Program Funding data collection no later than March 31, 2013.
- Have a State Board of Education (SBE) approved LEA Plan.
- Submit a Cash Management Data Collection (CMDC) cash balance report during the reporting window.
For questions regarding the CMDC, contact Karen Almquist, Education Fiscal Services Assistant, School Fiscal Services Division, by phone at 916-327-4406 or by e-mail at federalcashmanagement@cde.ca.gov. For Title I, Part A fiscal questions, contact Leslie Sharp, Education Fiscal Services Consultant, School Fiscal Services Division, by phone at 916-323-4977 or by e-mail at lsharp@cde.ca.gov.
Title II, Part A Participation in 2012-13
The application for funding declares that the local education agency (LEA) authorized by the local governing board is applying for specified categorical aid funds.
In order to receive Title II, Part A apportionments for 2012-13, the LEA must:
- Select “Yes” for Title II, Part A participation and certify the 2012–13 Application for Categorical Program Funding screen no later than March 31, 2013;
- Have a State Board of Education (SBE) approved LEA Plan; and
- Submit a CMDC cash balance report during the reporting window.
For questions regarding CMDC or Title II, Part A fiscal matters, contact Karen Almquist, Education Fiscal Services Consultant, School Fiscal Services Division, by phone at 916-327-4406 or by e-mail at federalcashmanagement@cde.ca.gov or kalmquis@cde.ca.gov.
Title II, Part A, Expenditure Report for Fiscal Year 2012-13
As in the prior year, the CDE is requiring LEAs to submit expenditure reports for the Title II, Part A program. These reports will be processed through the CARS. However, these reports will not be the determining factor for each LEA’s next apportionment.
As in the prior year, apportionments for Title II, Part A will be based on the cash balance reported by the LEA to the CDE, using the CMDC system, discussed above.
For questions regarding the CMDC, contact Karen Almquist, Education Fiscal Services Consultant, School Fiscal Services Division, by phone at 916-327-4406 or by e-mail at federalcashmanagement@cde.ca.gov. For Title II program questions, contact Jackie Rose, Associate Governmental Programs Analyst, Title II Leadership Office, by phone at 916-322-9503 or by e-mail at jrose@cde.ca.gov.Title III, Part A Immigrant Obligation Report
The LEAs will use the Title III, Part A Immigrant Obligation Report to record obligations by object code for the 2012-13 Title III Part A Immigrant Education Student Sub-grant Program entitlement. Each LEA receiving a Title III sub-grant in Fiscal Year 2012-13 must complete this data collection.
Title III, Part A Limited English Proficient Obligation Report
The LEAs will use the Title III, Part A Limited English Proficient (LEP) Obligation Report to record obligations by object code for the 2012-13 Title III Part A LEP Student Sub-grant Program entitlement. Each LEA receiving a Title III sub-grant in Fiscal Year 2012-13 must complete this data collection.
Economic Impact Aid
Charter schools receive funding in lieu of Economic Impact Aid (EIA) as part of the Charter School Categorical Block Grant. Charter schools’ funding in lieu of EIA is not included in the ConApp. For charter school funding information, contact Byron Fong, Education Fiscal Services Consultant, Charter Schools Fiscal Office, by phone at 916-323-0498 or by e-mail at byfong@cde.ca.gov.
For more information, please see the CDE EIA [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ca/eia.asp] Web page.
Consolidated Application Related Documents
The following documents that relate to the 2012-13 ConApp are available on the CDE RFA [http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/co/ca12rfa.asp] Web page:
- 2012-13 ConApp Cover Letter
- 2012-13 ConApp Guidance
- 2012-13 Legal Assurances
If you have any questions regarding these documents, please contact the ConApp Support Desk by phone at 916-319-0297 or by e-mail at conappsupport@cde.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Cindy Kazanis, Director
Educational Data Management Division
District, School and Innovation Branch
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814