Maine.gov

? CARES Act Maine Department of EducationFrequently Asked Questions Updated 4/23/2020 How much money will Maine receive?The Congressional Research Service has provided a preliminary state-by-state breakdown of education funding allocations in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).Maine expects to receive:$10.87m in the Child Care and Development Block Grant $95.645m in overall Education Stabilization Fund$9.3m for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEEF)$43.7m in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF)$42.5m. in Higher Education FundElementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSERF)The basic requirements for ESSERF funding: While ESSERF allocations are based on Title IA, these funds are not Title I funds. The allowable uses include the following Federal programs: Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Perkins (CTE), McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and any of the following:Coordination of COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts.Providing principals and other school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools.Activities to address the unique needs of underserved or disadvantaged students.Training and PD for staff on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases as well as purchasing of supplies for sanitization and cleaning of facilities.Planning for and coordinating during long-term closures, including for how to provide meals to eligible students, how to provide tech for online learning to all students, etc.Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software, and connectivity) for students who are served by the local educational agency that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including low-income students and students with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment.Providing mental health services and supports.Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs.Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in local educational agencies.When is the funding expected to be allocated to Maine? The Maine Department of Education will apply for the funding once the application is made available. The Secretary of Education shall issue a notice inviting applications from SEAs by April 26, 2020. The US Department of Education has 30 days to approve the state application following the submission by the Maine Department of Education.What is the Maine DOE doing now to ensure SAUs will have access to the available funding?The Maine DOE is currently: creating a streamlined application process for SAUs;creating policy guidance for allowable grant projects within each eligible federal program;exploring the possibility of having the State apply for the funding on behalf of SAUs;working in partnership with SEAs nationwide to allocate the K-12 relief funding quickly and efficiently to SAUs; andworking with the Maine Department of Administration and Finance Services to create the necessary financial orders. Is there an application process that needs to be established? Yes, the Department of Education is currently drafting an application template. With the federal Stimulus (2009) and the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) (2010 and 2011) there was a streamlined application developed for the SAUs to complete. Department staff are adapting the former SFSF application to address the components of the CARES Act.How much goes to K-12 and are the publics and town academies/independents treated equally in the distribution?Maine has been projected to receive $43.7 million in K-12 relief funding. There will need to be equitable participation of non-public schools. The CARES Act reflects this requirement for both Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund and Governor’s Emergency Relief Funds.The Maine Department of Education will assist SAUs in complying with equitable services requirements. Key actions will include:helping SAUs understand their equitable services obligations while ensuring compliance with equitable services does not unduly delay the deployment of funds;establishing reasonable expectations for virtual consultation; andfacilitating virtual group meetings between private and public-school stakeholders where appropriate.What ESEA waivers has the Maine Department of Education applied for and received?On April 7, 2020, the Maine Department of Education received a waiver to secure several flexibilities within ESEA, as amended by ESSA. The waiver will provide Maine SAUs with flexibility for several ESEA provisions as it relates to the K-12 education stabilization funding portion of the CARES Act. The flexibilities are as follows: 1) SAUs may request to carry over of more than 15% of Title I grant funding to the next fiscal year; 2) SAUs may spend more than 15% of Title IV grant funding to purchase technology infrastructure for FY 2019 funds and any available FY 2018 carryover funds; 3) The SEA may extend the period of allowability for FY 18 funds until September 30, 2021 for McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, and Title V funds; 4) Requirements of Title IV, Part A of ESEA with regard to content area spending requirements for FY 2018 and 2019; 5) SAUs that received $30,000 or more in Title IV, Part A may waive the needs assessment requirements section 4106(d) for the 2019-2020 school year, and 6) the definition of professional development in section 8101(42) of the ESEA for the2019-2020 school year.Title IWill the Maine Department of Education accept waivers from SAUs interested in moving their schools from a targeted assistance to a schoolwide model?Yes, the passage of ESSA provided the Maine Department of Education with the authority to waive the 40% requirements. Title IICan you clarify the ESEA Title II provisions under the CARES Act? The CARES Act gives USED the authority to waive (for school year 2019-2020 only) the definition of “professional development” in ESEA section 8101(42). That definition covers all professional development provided under ESEA programs. No other provisions in CARES directly impact Title II. This means, Educational technicians can also receive professional development under the purview of Title II. Title IVDoes the Title IV, Part A waiver flexibilities impact Title IV FY20 funding currently approved for Maine districts?Yes, the Department and SAUs can provide one-time training for teachers on navigating remote learning. The one-time training will be allowed if related to the COVID-19 crisis.IDEADoes the CARES Act include funds for compensatory education services for students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)? For SAUs, the authorized uses of funds under the K12 portion of the Education Stabilization Fund include, among others, any activity authorized under ESEA or IDEA. Reporting and Internal Controls Will COVID-19 related expenses from March be reimbursed?Any approved COVID-19 ESSERF project expense, which was encumbered on or after march 13, 2020 and served to address specific challenges brought on by COVID-19, is eligible for reimbursement. Will there be Reporting Requirements regarding the CARES Act?As was the case with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the State Fiscal Stabilization Act ten years ago, there will be at least quarterly reporting by the SAUs of the amounts of funds received, the amount spent or obligated for each project or activity, and a detailed list of the projects and activities supported by the CARES Act funds, including a description and estimated number of jobs created or saved.In addition the Secretary of Education may impose additional requirements of the State Education Agency such as an initial report within 45 days of receiving the CARES Fund detailing the process for awarding the funds to the SAUs, the criteria for determining the entities most significantly impacted by the coronavirus and are essential for carrying out emergency educational services.Are there expectations of internal controls to ensure funds are utilized for allowable purposes and to have adequate cash management of the federal funds?There are expectations that appropriate internal controls are in place to track the CARES funding separately from other federal program funds. The Maine Department of Education's Consolidated Application and Grant Reimbursement website will be utilized by SAUs to complete the ESSERF application and receive reimbursement.Please send your CARES Act related questions to the Department’s Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Chelsey Fortin-Trimble at chelsey.a.fortin@. ................
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