CAARO Updates

Information for select state and federal categorical programs and annual kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12) audits.

The purpose of the California Department of Education (CDE) Categorical Allocations and Audit Resolution Office (CAARO) updates is to provide local educational agencies (LEAs) and other interested parties with timely information, such as notifications regarding key reporting deadlines, applications for funding, annual audits, and any other topics related to programs administered by CAARO.

Key Dates

Description	Dates
2025-26 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Application Deadline: Consolidated Application (ConApp) and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Federal Addendum LEAs submit applications and plans for fiscal year 2025-26 ESSA funds, which are used by CAARO to calculate final LEA allocations for each ESSA program. Title I, Part A; Title I, Part D, Subpart 2; Title II, Part A; Title III; and Title IV, Part A	5/1/25 - 3/31/26
Grant Management and Reporting Tool (GMART) Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Expenditure Report LEAs report fiscal year 2024-25 expenditure data for CSI, which are used by CAARO to calculate LEA apportionments.	2/1/26 - 2/28/26

Description

Dates

2025-26 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Application Deadline: Consolidated Application (ConApp) and Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Federal Addendum
LEAs submit applications and plans for fiscal year 2025-26 ESSA funds, which are used by CAARO to calculate final LEA allocations for each ESSA program. Title I, Part A; Title I, Part D, Subpart 2; Title II, Part A; Title III; and Title IV, Part A

5/1/25 - 3/31/26

Grant Management and Reporting Tool (GMART) Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) Expenditure Report
LEAs report fiscal year 2024-25 expenditure data for CSI, which are used by CAARO to calculate LEA apportionments.

2/1/26 - 2/28/26

Updates

Update Issue #2026-03 (Coming Soon)

Resources

To subscribe to the CAARO Updates listserv, send a blank email to subscribe-caaro-updates@mlist.cde.ca.gov.

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Last Reviewed: Thursday, February 26, 2026

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CAARO Update Issue #2026-02 (added 26-Feb-2026)
February 25, 2026, (updates to be released monthly).
Calculations to Determine 2025–26 P-1 (added 18-Feb-2026)
Detail of calculations to determine the 2025–26 First Principal Apportionment.
2025–26 First Principal Apportionment (P-1) Letter (added 18-Feb-2026)
Letter to county superintendents of schools, auditors, and treasurers for the 2025–26 P-1.
Third Quarter Apportionment Letter for EPA (added 18-Feb-2026)
Third Quarter Apportionment for the Education Protection Account, Fiscal Year 2025–26.
Funding Excel Files, FY 2025–26 P-1 (added 18-Feb-2026)
Apportionment exhibits provide detail of the distribution of funds by either county and/or local educational agency (LEA) for fiscal year (FY) 2025–26 P-1.

School Improvement Activities, Fiscal Year 2025-26 (added 28-Jan-2026)
One-time funding added to the Budget Act of 2025 to support various school improvement activities.
CAARO Update Issue #2026-01 (added 26-Jan-2026)
January 26, 2026, (updates to be released bi-weekly).
LtrProjAdj-25: State Special Schools (added 26-Jan-2026)
Letter of projected adjustment to the School District Principal Apportionment for Student Attendance in State Special Schools in fiscal year 2025-26.
RecovLtr2-25: Prop 39 (added 22-Jan-2026)
Letter of the Recovery of Unspent funds for the Prop 39 program.