On November 12, 2020, Carole L. Clancy, Director of PDE’s Bureau of Special Education, disseminated a PennLink communiqué titled  Training in Response to Recent Changes by the Federal Office of Special Education Programs. According to the memo, the Federal Office of Special Education Programs has oversight of states’ compliance with federal special education regulations and requirements.  The Office of Special Education Programs has incorporated a component of its compliance monitoring verification visits to include a fiscal verification review.  Some components of its fiscal verification review will include a review of the use of funds for coordinated early intervening services, maintenance of effort, and general use of federal, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA-B), funds.

To assist the local educational agencies in working with these components of the federal on-site visits, PDE is providing training to familiarize special education directors and business administrators with clarifying information.  This training will address three topics: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Fiscal Programming, Contingency Funding, and Approved Private School Electronic Management System.

It is required that each school district and charter school send participants to this training.  Because the training is highlighting the fiscal program data verifications associated with the IDEA-B fiscal reporting requirements, it is strongly recommended that the participants whom you send to this training be your special education director and business administrator.  Also, if a school district or charter school contracts for business services, its contracted business representative should attend.

This training will be held virtually on December 1, 2020.  A recording of the training will be made available following this session.  Please register for the live session at https://www.pattan.net/events/ beginning November 2, 2020.Any questions regarding the fiscal training should be directed to Dr. Del Hart, Chief, Division of Analysis & Financial Reporting, at 717.772.1114 or [email protected].  Any questions about registration should be directed to Karen Weaver at PaTTAN-Pittsburgh, 412.826.6842 or [email protected].