The COVID-19 school closures have created unprecedented challenges for school systems, not the least among them the provision of special education and related services to students with disabilities in accordance with IDEA.  This virtual training will cover high priority IDEA compliance topics in terms of closing out the 2019-2020 school year during these challenging times and preparing for a successful return to brick and mortar operation, as well as, reviewing the impact of and potential flexibilities that may come from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act on IDEA programming.  The CARES Act provides new funding that includes all allowable uses of funds under IDEA (as well as many other flexible options) and provided the U.S. Secretary of Education with an opportunity to request the authority to waive requirements not otherwise waivable.  CARES Act funds will be available as well as remaining FY 19 IDEA funds with FY20 funds coming in July. Will the FY 18 IDEA funds be extended until 2021 under GEPA as the ESSA funds have been? Each of these funding streams must be documented and expended on allowable costs.  The session will highlight topics such as allowability, extended school year, compensatory services, and maintenance of effort, among others.

States and school districts have significant accountability when it comes to ensuring their ESSA funds are spent in an allowable manner.  New funding always brings higher risk.  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes all allowable uses of funds under ESSA (as well as many other flexible options), ESSA FY18 funds are extended until 2021, and there are still FY 19 ESSA funds with FY20 funds coming in July.  Each of these funding streams must be documented and expended on allowable costs.  This virtual training will cover the current requirements and flexibilities offered by the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Education Department.  The session will review documentation best practices and discuss how States and districts can implement internal controls to assure allowability and reducing the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse.

ED released guidance outlining its interpretation of how states and districts must provide CARES Act equitable services.  Notably, ED’s guidance requires the CARES Act equitable services set-aside to be calculated on total enrollments in public verse private schools, not taking poverty into account. This appears inconsistent with the Congressional language on the way equitable services should be provided and with how allocations to States and districts are calculated, so took States and districts by surprise – and is likely to draw significant pushback. The guidance answers additional questions, such as what non-public schools are eligible for the funds, who may be served, which LEA is responsible for providing the equitable services, and how and when to begin the consultation process. This session will cover ED’s guidance and its impact on districts. We will also cover Congressional and district reactions to the guidance, and the general enforceability given the disclaimer that the contents “do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way.”

This virtual training will review the educational stimulus provisions of the CARES Act (the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act), including the additional funding available for ESEA and other major programs through the U.S. Department of Education and State Governors, as well as new waivers mandated by Congress.  This will include discussion of the potential uses of funds for that funding and cautions regarding fiscal requirements.

Attendees will learn about the discussion regarding providing the Secretary of Education with expanded waiver authority in areas like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Perkins Act, ESEA, and others, and what the Secretary is likely to request – as well as what Congress may or may not approve.  Existing waiver authority under ESEA, new expedited waivers, and considerations like advocate concerns will also be covered.

Finally, this session will cover major guidance issued to date regarding COVID-19 and its impact on ESEA programs.

This virtual training will cover COVID-19-related legislation enacted, including any supplemental appropriations or economic stimulus measures and how that legislation may impact and provide relief to federal grantees. The training will also discuss COVID-19 guidance for grantees from the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Departments of Education and Agriculture, which may cover issues such as extended school closures, child nutrition program flexibility, and federal ESEA waivers, among others. Finally, this training will delve into precautions that grantees must take if seeking to transfer federal funds to meet local obligations as States face reduced tax revenues and increased demands on Medicaid.

In light of the current coronavirus outbreak, it is important to think ahead, plan, and prepare to ensure compliance with IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  What do extended periods of school closures mean in terms of providing a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities?  What considerations should be made for students who have health conditions that may put them at higher risk for a severe reaction to the virus?  During this virtual training session, we will cover considerations that need to be made in serving students with disabilities during these challenging times, including addressing common scenarios likely to arise during the next few months, as well as explore implications on the use of IDEA funds.

All non-federal entities must maintain proper cash management procedures. While most grantees and subrecipients understand that this includes proper disbursement and reimbursement procedures, non-federal entities may find themselves in hot water if they do not follow proper cash management rules related to income earned in a federal program, and applicable credits received during the award, or in tracking and recording cash and in-kind contributions for matching or cost sharing requirements. This webinar will discuss the applicable financial management rules, including how to record and use program income, applying credits to federal awards in line with the regulations, and how to properly document matching funds and services.