The Federal Programs Unit is committed to providing support to Arkansas schools and districts in their efforts to improve student achievement and ensure that Arkansas students are proficient in meeting our state standards and prepared for a successful future.

The unit engages in consistent collaboration with all local education agencies that are subrecipients of Federal Grant Program funds to supplement and complement the efforts of local school systems, the private sector, public and private nonprofit educational research institutions, community-based organizations, parents and students to improve the quality of education.

This office provides technical assistance when guiding schools in their efforts to apply ‘best-practices’ in both fiscal and programmatic matters and it will maintain communication efforts not only in the program planning stage, but the implementation stage as well. 

Resources

Federal Programs Programmatic and Fiscal Monitoring Guide was developed to provide a comprehensive review of the federal programs monitoring processes and tools across federal granting authorities.  The purpose of this tool is to provide uniform guidance for subrecipient monitoring.  It is intended to be used yearly by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE as a guide during subrecipient monitoring programs and can be used to monitor previous years.  It should be used in conjunction with any Local Educational Agency (LEA) risk assessments.  Risk assessments, in conjunction with this monitoring guide, provide LEAs and State Education Agencies (SEAs) yearly determinations if grant purposes are being met, the identification of programs before monitoring or an audit, clarification of program requirements, and program expectations.  Not all federal programs or items are applicable to all recipients. Items that do not apply are marked as "Not Applicable."

•  2022-2023 Federal Programs Programmatic and Financial Monitoring Tool (PDF)
•  DESE Spending Handbook for ESA/ESSA Funds 2022-2023 (PDF)
•  2022-2023 Federal Programs Timeline for Submission (PDF)
•  District User Guide for the Federal Grants Management System (PDF)
•  DESE's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Page
•  Commissioner's Memo COM-20-05: Equitable Non-Regulatory Guidance Update
  

Complaint Procedures

•  Commissioner’s Memo COM-21-013 Final Rule: Federal Program Complaint Resolution
•  DESE Rules Governing Federal Program Complaint Resolution

How to Report Fraud or Other Criminal Activity regarding the use of Federal Funds

You may report identified or suspected fraud regarding federal funds to the Office of the Inspector General Hotline: 
1-800-MISUSED (1-800-647-8733)
or mail a written complaint to
Inspector General Hotline
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Ave., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202

February 21, 2020 AASBO/AAFC Presentation and Handout

•  Presentation (PDF) (PPTX)
•  Cost Classification Detail Handout (PDF)

February 21, 2020 AASBO/AAFC Video Recording

•  Building Your Timeline video recording:  https://youtu.be/_lo11ruCJ0k
•  Allocation of Resources video recording: https://youtu.be/d-jssPRCbBs
•  Finance video recording: https://youtu.be/F2lonmxn7gk
•  Cabot School District video recording: https://youtu.be/-QbP97msWfU

For more information, please contact: