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DATE: April 25, 2003
TO: School Superintendents, Title II-A Consultants, Title II-A
Contact Persons
FROM: Dr. Fran Watkins, Director, Educator Preparation
SUBJECT: Budget and Carry-Over Funds
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The Title IIA consultants assigned by the Professional Standards
Commission are working with local school systems to implement the
Title II, Part A, Improving Teacher Quality requirements of the
No Child Left Behind Law. Over the last few months, several systems
have requested clarifications related to their budget and carry-over
funds from one fiscal year to the next. Below, we have addressed
the major questions that have surfaced:
Question: What is the period of fund availability
for Title IIA funds that a school system receives?
The availability of Title II, Part A Federal funds is identical
to all other Federal programs, including Title I. Fiscal Year 2003
Title IIA funds are appropriated for use during the period July
2002 through September 30, 2003, but remain available for obligation
until September 30, 2004. Fiscal Year 2003 funds not obligated by
September 30, 2004 lapse and must be returned to the U.S. Treasury.
The State Education Agency is responsible for maintaining fiscal
records that account for funds on a Federal fiscal year basis.
Question: What percentage of Title IIA
funds may be carried over from one fiscal year to the next?
The U. S. Department of Education has not set a limit on the percentage
of Title IIA funds that may be carried over to the next fiscal year.
Systems may carry-over all unused funds to the next fiscal year,
FY2004.
Question: What is the process for transferring
Title IIA funds from one object code to another during this fiscal
year?
Systems may transfer up to 20 percent of their Title IIA funds from
one object code to another without prior approval. To transfer more
than 20 percent between object codes, an amendment must be submitted
to the program manager for approval. A letter should be submitted
that includes an explanation of the requested budget change and
a brief justification. Amendment requests should be sent to me at
the Professional Standards Commission, Two Peachtree Street, Suite
6000, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. You are also reminded that any budget
change, regardless of the amount, requires that you upload amended
budget sheets by June 15, 2003.
I hope that this information is helpful to you and your staff. If
you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me at
(404) 232-2640 or fran.watkins@gapsc.com, or you may contact the
Title IIA consultant assigned to your area. For your convenience,
I have enclosed a directory of the Title IIA consultants.
I also invite you and your staff to visit
the new Title IIA web site located at www.gapsc.com/nclb/home/html.
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