The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) has authorized Cognos to to have software in place by May 15, 2009, for schools to enter plans for spending American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds. The software will allow plans and budgets to be entered for each school as well as district-wide plans and budgets. School districts will be responsible for allocating funds to the school level. Once all of the plans for the school district are entered and approved at the school district level, they will be reviewed by ADE. Further information pertaining to the software and the ARRA budgeting process will be communicated prior to May 15th, 2009. The original plan will need to include a budget for the total ARRA funds the district expects to receive. The allocations can be found on the web site located at http://recovery.arkansas.gov/ade/ade_index.html or on Commissioner’s Memo number COM-09-158.
The purpose of this memo is to ask superintendents, directors, and educational service cooperative directors to determine who will be entering ARRA plans into the Cognos software so the individuals can be granted the appropriate access. It is anticipated that it will be a streamlined process very similar to filling in columns in a spreadsheet. Some of the columns will have drop-down menus that will allow the user to select from a pre-determined list of options. Plans will likely be amended throughout the next two years; and therefore, the same individuals will be responsible for updating the plans as needed.
A form for the purpose of naming specific individuals who will be entering ARRA plans in the Cognos software is located on the APSCN web page at http://www.apscn.org. Access the COGNOS ARRA ACCESS FORM by clicking on the APSCN drop-down menu and selecting “FORMS.” Please complete the form and fax it to the number on the bottom of the form.
Districts with fewer than 10,000 students will be provided no more than two licenses which will be restricted for entering ARRA plans. All other districts will be provided no more than four restricted licenses.