The purpose of this memorandum is to notify you that the distribution formula for Part B (Title VI-B) will change effective with the 2000-2001 school year. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 established a permanent formula for distributing Part B funds to eligible public agencies. According to Federal regulations implementing the IDEA, at 34 CFR 300.706, the permanent formula will become effective beginning with the fiscal year in which the amount appropriated for Part B exceeds $4,924,672,200. Because the appropriation for 2000-2001 exceeds that "trigger" amount, the permanent distribution formula will become effective on July 1, 2000. Consistent with 34 CFR 300.712(b), the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) will distribute Part B funds not set aside for state administration and state-level activities based on the following criteria:
Base Payment: A public agency will receive an amount it would have received if the ADE had distributed seventy-five (75) percent of the fiscal year 2000 grant award (1999-2000 school year). The remaining funds will be distributed as follows:
Enrollment: Eighty-five (85) percent of the remaining funds will be distributed on the basis of the public and private school enrollment of elementary and secondary students for the 1999-2000 school year.
Poverty Level: Fifteen (15) percent of the remaining funds will be distributed on the basis of the school-age population living in poverty. Allocation for each public agency will be based on the total free and reduced school lunch applications for each agency for the 1999-2000 school year.
For the 2000-2001 school year, $6,417,004 will be distributed based on the total private and public school enrollment for all children K - 12. Currently, the ADE does not collect data on the enrollment of students Grades K - 12 in private schools. To ensure that the portion of funding based on enrollment is accurate for each district, data from each private school must be collected. In addition, the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education has notified us that children in private schools are to be included in the enrollment count of their district of residence.
This distribution based on enrollment will have a significant impact in future years on a district's receipt of federal special education funding. To ensure accuracy, we ask that you do the following:
1. Please complete the attached form for each private school located within your district.
2. For each private school, please list the name of the private school and the enrollment by district of residence for all children, K - 12, attending that private school.
3. Submit a separate form for each private school in your district.
4. Report the enrollment as of March 1, 2000.
5. Return this information to the Special Education Office by April 28, 2000, to the address listed below.
Grants and Data Management
Special Education
Arkansas Department of Education
#4 Capitol Mall, Room 105-C
Little Rock, AR 72201 - 1071
It is recognized that providing this information is an additional burden on districts where private schools are located; however, the appropriate level of funding is dependent upon having the data. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.