State agencies must have a general supervision system in place to (1) improve educational results and functional outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families and children with disabilities and (2) ensure that local education agencies and early intervening services programs and providers meet the requirements under the IDEA. State general supervision systems must be reasonably designed to meet these goals. A key responsibility of state general supervision systems is identifying, correcting, and reporting noncompliance. This guide focuses on the steps involved in these processes and is based on the Office of Special Education Programs QA 23-01: State General Supervision Responsibilities Under Parts B and C of the IDEA.
Use of Funds
IDEA Part C Fiscal Requirements
These TA On Demand videos introduce new Part C state staff to several major IDEA fiscal requirements.
Part 1 is an overview of Part C fiscal regulations, including requirements under OMB Uniform Guidance, EDGAR, and IDEA (26 minutes).
Part 2 reviews the fiscal requirements in Sections III and IV of the state grant application, how to manage a grant post-award, and Part C maintenance of effort (40 minutes).
Quick Reference Guide on the Timely Expenditure of Funds
Spending federal funds within the allowed timelines is essential to meeting the purposes of IDEA but can be a challenge for many states. This quick reference guide will help states deepen their understanding of obligation and liquidation requirements and timelines, the grant funding cycle, and oversight responsibilities.
State General Supervision Responsibilities Under Parts B and C of the IDEA
This OSEP guidance provides states with the information necessary to exercise their general supervision responsibilities under IDEA and ensure appropriate monitoring, technical assistance, and enforcement regarding local programs. It reaffirms the importance of general supervision and the expectation that monitoring the implementation of IDEA will improve early intervention, educational results, and functional outcomes for children with disabilities and their families. It replaces these OSEP resources:
- Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Identification and Correction of Noncompliance and Reporting on Correction in the State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance Report (APR) (September 3, 2008);
- OSEP Memo 09-02: Reporting on Correction of Noncompliance in the Annual Performance Report Under Sections 616 and 642 of IDEA (October 17, 2008); and
- Questions and Answers on Monitoring, Technical Assistance, and Enforcement (June 2009).
From Data to Action: Using IDEA Fiscal Data
Identify trends in your state’s IDEA fiscal data with this online resource. Part C and Part B state staff can use these data questions to better understand their state systems, refine policies and practices, and initiate conversations about how to support programs for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.
OSEP Memo: Review of Obligation and Liquidation Timelines and Authority, and Process for Requesting Late Liquidations
This OSEP memo clarifies obligation and liquidation timelines for IDEA Part B and Part C grants, including the timelines and process for requesting late liquidations.
Guidance for Common Prior Approval Requests Under IDEA Parts B and C
This OSEP guidance summarizes the approval process and requirements for three common categories of direct costs for which states must obtain prior approval before using IDEA funds: equipment expenditures, participant support costs, and revision of cost items within budget and program plans. Please also consult the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Frequently Asked Questions on Prior Approval from October 2019.
Engaging Part C State Interagency Coordinating Councils in Fiscal Discussions
Under IDEA, Interagency Coordinating Councils (ICCs) provide critical input on funding the state Part C system. The strategies in this practice guide help lead agencies (LAs) build the Part C fiscal knowledge of ICC members and involve them in meaningful budget discussions. The issues and data analysis questions in the guide are designed to prompt members’ feedback.
IDEA Part C Annual Grant Budget Calculator
The Part C Annual Grant Budget Calculator helps Part C staff plan in detail how they will use Part C grant funds. It is aligned with Section III of the IDEA Part C grant application and will help you prepare the necessary data for an upcoming submission. After a grant is awarded, use the calculator to track expenditures of IDEA funds over the grant’s 27-month life cycle to ensure that you are obligating and liquidating funds in a timely manner.
We recommend replacing the original version in your records with this version (v1.1).
Fiscal Management for State Agencies with Primary Fiscal Responsibility
OSEP uses this protocol to provide differentiated monitoring and support to states with unitary systems, or which utilize internal controls and systems centralized within a state educational agency or state lead agency to ensure compliance with federal fiscal requirements. The protocol has an overarching question for each of the following fiscal topics: fiscal management, fiscal support and guidance, procurement, personnel, budgeting and activities, records and information management, period of performance and carryover, equipment and supplies management, and Part B parentally-placed private school children with disabilities. Each overarching question includes general information, possible follow-up questions, and areas (or issues) for follow-up.