Special Education - Preschool Grants, Recovery Act (84.392)

Program

84.392 Special Education - Preschool Grants, Recovery Act

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Special Education And Rehabilitative Services

Authorization

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended, , Part B, Section 619, 20 U.S.C 1419; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Public Law 111-5.

Program Number

84.392

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide grants to States to assist them to make available special education and related services for children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 years, and at a State's discretion, to 2-year-old children with disabilities who will reach age three during the school year.

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds are used by State education agencies: (1) to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to preschool children with disabilities ages 3 through 5, and at the State's discretion, to 2-year-old children with disabilities who will reach age 3 during the next school year; (2) to administer section 619; and (3) for support services, direct services, activities to meet the State's performance goals, to supplement other funds used for a Statewide coordinated service system designed to improve results for children and families, to provide early intervention services in accordance with Part C to children ages 3 through 5 who would otherwise be eligible under the Preschool Grants program, and to continue service coordination or case management for families who receive services under Part C.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

None

Beneficiary Eligibility

None

Credentials/Documentation

No State may recieve a grant unless the Secretary has approved the application and statement of assurances. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The Department of Education awarded 50 percent of the Preschool Grant ARRA funds on April 1, 2009. The other 50 percent will be awarded by September 30, 2009. A separate application is not required for this program. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. There is no separate application required for this program. States are eligible to receive Preschool Grant funds under the Recovery Act if the State education agency established eligibility under section 612 of the IDEA in FY 2008 and the State makes a free appropriate public education available to all children ages 3 through 5 with disabilities. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372 "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

A State does not need to submit a new application to receive the first 50 percent of the Recovery Act funds for Preschool Grants because these funds will be made available to each State based on the State�s eligibility established for FY 2008 Part B funds. States must follow the procedures that will be required for funds under the regular Part B appropriation, which will become available July 1, 2009. In order to receive the remaining 50 percent of Part B recovery funds for Part B Grants to States and Preschool Grants, a State must submit, for review and approval by the Department, an amendment to its FY 2009 application to address the record keeping and reporting requirements under the ARRA.

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. States are eligible to receive funds under this program if the Secretary approved the application and statement of assurances for that State, as provided under Section 612 of Part B of the IDEA, and the State makes a free appropriate public education available to all children ages 3 through 5 year with disabilities residing in the State. Local education agencies are eligible for Preschool Grant funds under the Recovery Act if they met local application requirements in section 613 of Part B of the IDEA in FY 2008 and the State is distributing the Recovery Act funds prior to July 1, 2009 or the LEAs meet these requirements in FY 2009, if the State is distributing the Recover Act funds after July 1, 2009.

Award Procedure

A grant award representing 50 percent of the total preschool grant amount under the Recovery Act is forwarded to the State's department of education. A State must serve all 3 through 5- year old children with disabilities if the State wants to continue participating in this program, as well as to receive funds for children ages 3 through 5 served under the Grants to States program.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

The Department shall not take any final action until a State is provided reasonable notice and an opportunity to submit written objections and opportunity for a hearing.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Part B, Section 619.

Matching Requirements: This program is awarded based on a statutory formula. Under the formula, 85 percent of funds are awarded to States based on their relative populations of children aged 3 through 5, and 15 percent is based on their relative population of all children aged 3 through 5 living in poverty.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are available for obligation at the Federal level until September 30, 2010. State and local education agencies have an additional 12-month period to obligate their funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Reporting requirements will be included in grant award documents. Annual State Performance Plans (SPPs) and Annual Performance Reports (APRs) are submitted to the Department of Education from the State department of education, including information required by section 618 of the IDEA. For the ARRA program funds, States will report on how funds under this program are spent. Additional information on record keeping and reporting requirements will be included in application instructions or program guidance to be provided later.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

As required by EDGAR for State administered programs (34 CFR 76.730-731). Generally, the State and its contractors must retain records related to grant funds and compliance for a period of 5 years. Also, all records supporting claims for Federal funds or relating to the accountability of the grantee for the expenditure of such funds must be accessible for administrative review.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: N/A. Fiscal Year 2009: All State educational agencies, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia received funding under this program. Approximately 724,600 children with disabilities ages 3 through 5 are expected to be served. Fiscal Year 2010: N/A.

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0299-0-1-501.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $400,000,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range of awards to States, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico -- $260,486 to $41,028,219; average award $7,692,308.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

34 CFR Part 300

Related Programs

84.027 Special Education_Grants to States; 84.173 Special Education_Preschool Grants; 84.181 Special Education-Grants for Infants and Families; 84.391 Special Education Grants to States, Recovery Act; 84.393 84.393 Special Education - Grants for Infants and Families, Recovery Act

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Ruth Ryder Office of the Assistant Secretary for Special Education Programs, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: RuthRyder@ed.gov Phone: (202)245-7629

Web Site Address

http://leg/recovery/programs.html

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: N/A. Fiscal Year 2009: Federal funds are combined with State and local funds to provide a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities. This includes special education and related services. Funds are used for salaries of teachers and other personnel, educational materials, related services -- such as speech or occupational therapy -- and other education-related needs. Fiscal Year 2010: N/A.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The applicants eligible to participate in the program qualify for funding based upon an approved application under section 612 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and that they provide a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities ages 3 through 5. The criteria for approving an application appear in the regulations implementing Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.