Recurring Findings

Education: Recurring Most severe Noncompliance
Federal Program Issue First Year Reported
Department's Assertion Page Number
English Language Acquisition Grants Education does not have an adequate process in place for assessing the cash needs of its subrecipients. 2001-02
Partially corrected. Education established a task force to effectively improve cash management over federal programs. Education has implemented a pilot project involving local educational agencies (LEAs) reporting federal cash balances on a quarterly basis using a Web-based reporting system. In addition, Education has developed cash management fiscal monitoring procedures to verify LEAs’ reported cash balances and to ensure compliance with federal interest requirements. Education’s cash management improvement project will commence with the Title II-Improving Teacher Quality federal program, for the quarter period ending October 31, 2009. Education has informed LEAs that cash management procedures apply to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. In this regard, Education has established a Federal Cash Management Data Collection Web page specific to Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and Title I, Part A ARRA. Based on the information reported by the LEAs, Education determined the allocations for following scheduled Title I apportionments. 266
Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Education does not have an adequate process in place for assessing the cash needs of its subrecipients. 2001-02
Partially corrected. Education established a task force to effectively improve cash management over federal programs. Education has implemented a pilot project involving local educational agencies (LEAs) reporting federal cash balances on a quarterly basis using a Web-based reporting system. In addition, Education has developed cash management fiscal monitoring procedures to verify LEAs’ reported cash balances and to ensure compliance with federal interest requirements. Education’s cash management improvement project will commence with the Title II-Improving Teacher Quality federal program, for the quarter period ending October 31, 2009. Education has informed LEAs that cash management procedures apply to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. In this regard, Education has established a Federal Cash Management Data Collection Web page specific to Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and Title I, Part A ARRA. Based on the information reported by the LEAs, Education determined the allocations for following scheduled Title I apportionments. 266
Title I, Part A Cluster: Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies This program falls under the Cash Management Improvement Act (CMIA) with a required funding technique of preissuance for payments to local agencies. The preissuance technique requires the State to disburse cash advances to local educational agencies (LEAs) not more than three days after the advance is deposited in the State’s account. In our sample of 60 drawdowns, we noted that one of Education’s draws was for $187,000, which was paid four days after the cash was received by the State Controller’s Office. 2007-08
Remains uncorrected/disagree with finding. Education did not deviate from Cash Management Improvement Act (CMIA) policies and procedures that were established by the Department of Finance (Finance) in agreement with the State Controller's Office. Although the CMIA report that was submitted to Finance reflects delays, the delays were under ten days. Finance does not require explanation unless the payment exceeds ten days. 266