Board asked to authorize federal IDEA and ESEA grant application; staff says allocations not yet finalized

District staff asked the Maury County Board of Education to approve submission of the annual federal application that permits the district to receive federal funding for IDEA and ESEA programs.

“IDEA is… the special education portion of our federal funds, and ESEA is our title funds,” a staff presenter said, describing how the funds support special education, Title I, Title II and ELL programs. The presenter explained the board’s approval authorizes the district to submit the application and begin using preliminary allocations for payroll and other allowable expenses.

Board members asked whether the application is more than a cover page and whether staff knows the allocation amounts. The presenter said the submission at this stage is essentially a cover/authorization to apply; the state often does not finalize district allocations until October. “Sometimes our federal allocations do not come in, like, our actual allocations do not come in until October… we don’t have actual… how much federal money we’re going to get at this moment in time,” the presenter said.

The presenter explained the application passes through several internal approvals and state review before finalization and noted the board chair’s and superintendent’s signatures are part of the attestation chain. The board discussed whether the scheduled July meeting date on the application should change if meeting dates move; staff said the application can be updated if meeting dates are modified.

The item was discussed for placement on the consent agenda; staff said it could be processed at the upcoming special called meeting if the board preferred.