Frequently Asked Questions

REAP
-9/11/02-
Q: If we choose to split a combined 3/4 class because of high needs, can we pay the cost of an additional teacher with REAP money?
A:Yes, REAP is supplemental. In the absence of Federal money would you be required to hire the extra teacher? Probably no, so you could pay for additional teacher with REAP.

-9/3/02-
Q: How is the amount of the REAP award determined?
A: To estimate the district's award: Go to the listing on our website http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/reap.html of the eligible districts in each State. Subtract 50 from the ADA listed for your district on the spreadsheet; multiply the balance by $100; add $20,000. If the amount is over $60,000, use $60,000. This is the "initial calculation" described in the statute. Take the resulting amount and SUBTRACT the sum of the prior year allocations listed on the spreadsheet. Reduce this amount by 20 percent. The result should be close to the final allocation. --Charles Lovett

Q: When will that information be available?
A: We hope to begin work on generating grant award documents to mail to districts within a week. The award document will provide the precise amount of the award, and the same mailing will contain information on obtaining payments. We will send State coordinators final allocation tables as soon as we have made the necessary notifications here, most likely before districts get their awards.

Q: Is there a parochial cooperation required as with the NCLB funding?.
A: We are working on non-regulatory guidance that will answer a lot of questions -- but in the meantime, SRSA is not a covered program under the private school participation requirements in Title IX.--Charles Lovett

General .
-9/11/02-
Q: Is it possible to determine the specific consortia activities prior to us making a decision?
A: ESU will follow the guideline set forth by the program to decide the offerings made available with grant funds. We cannot determine specifics before you commit funds because the decisions we make will be based on the amount of funds committed to each consortium. There will be an opportunity for input after consortium has been formed.

Q: During the teleconference Marilyn said transferred funds may not be consorted. The green sheets administrators received states they can. Can you clear this up?
A: You have identified an inconsistency between the information provided on the green sheet and the telecast but it is based on new understanding. When we asked USDE staff, they said we could consort transferred funds. However, they also said that transferred funds had to be accounted under their original grant. It wasn't until after we sent out the green sheets did we realize that it is not possible to do both. If a district transfers funds, it means to use the funds for the purposes of another program not to combine the funds into one grant. The district still has to have the original grant in their district budget but the expenditures would reflect the transferred program. Applying this to a consortia -- if a district transferred funds from one grant (A) to another grant (B) and then assigned the funds from the combined grants to a consortia, they would be assigning funds from two grants (both A and B). The consortia would have to apply for use of funds under two grants, etc. So, until we receive additional clarifying guidance or figure a way to do this, we are saying funds that have been transferred to another program cannot be assigned to a consortium.

Q: Which type of paras are affected by NCLB?
A: Paras hired after January 8, 2002 for Title 1 are required to follow the new guidelines. If the district is a school wide Title 1, all paras would be affected.

Q:Will there be an option to create a local test for para qualification?
A:The guidance as to what is the state or local test has not been set . The test may also be changed to local or state qualifications. This is still receiving much discussion.

Q: Will ESU 7 offer para training?
A: ESU 7 plans to offer para training or provide sources of on-line training. On-line may be a better vehicle for some districts who replace paras frequently throughout the year.

-9/9/02-
Q:How do ESU consortiums access LEA monies?
A: The monies will work like they always have. The LEAs will assign thei allocations to the ESU and then the grant award will be made directly to the ESU from NDE - Karen Stevens, NDE

-9/3/02-
Q: What is the procedure for submitting the District Comprehensive Plan?
A: Previous instructions for submitting the District Comprehensive Plans for School Improvement did not include the following important information:

The website opens at 8:00 a.m. on September 3rd. Look for "School Improvement Plans" on the nde homepage: http://www.nde.state.ne.us

The USER NAME and PASSWORD for the first time the contact person enters the website is the county-district number. Be sure to include the hyphen as in the following example:.

USER NAME: 01-0001.
PASSWORD: 01-0001.

The contact person will then be asked to enter a new password. The "Help" screens provide information on contact persons for assistance - Dr. Marilyn Peterson, NDE

Q: If there is no private school within the physical boundaries of the district does the district have to have a Private School Participation sheet? If they do, does the money follow the student out of the district to the private school, as it does in Title I?
A: For all programs (other than Title I), the district does not submit a private school participation form UNLESS there is an approved private school within the physical boundaries of the district. If there is a private school, the district, must "provide equitable services" to "eligible staff and students". We do not yet have guidance for "equitable service" or "eligible staff and students". We do know that part of the law does not specify a per pupil allocation like Title I does (and without having a definition of eligible staff and students, there would be no way to calculate "per pupil" amounts). For now, we are saying that services (example: professional development) funded through these programs should also be offered to private school teachers. - Dr. Marilyn Peterson

-8/30/02-
Q: Marilyn P stated that she was going to create a template for possible answers for Part B. Has this been forwarded to you?
A: I do not have it. sorry. I am not sure that she is going to complete one. - Don Fritz, ESU Liasion

Q: How do I count the number of words I have entered in a word processing document for the District Comprehensive Plan?
A: If you are using Microsoft Word, select the Word Count command from the Tools menu. Remember, do not justify text or use tables or charts as spaces count as a character. Spell check the document before transferring it to the website.

-8/27/02-
Q: How long can the dollars for the various Titles be allocated for?
A: All federal grants under No Child Left Behind have a 27 month "life-span" since the Tydings amendment applies. - Dr. Marilyn Petersen

Title I
-8/30/02-
Q: In Title I, what is the difference between a schoolwide and a district?
A: Title I schoolwide is a district, K-5, free and reduced lunch percentage 40% or more. Any other school that has a Title I program is referred to as a Title I Target School.

Q: Can we transfer Title I monies from Part A to Part C?
A: Title I monies must remain in their designated sections.

Q: What is the ESU tadministrative percentage?
A: The grants usually have a designated percentage for administration. ESU would follow the program guidelines.

Q: What happens to the Title II funds Mike Kissler administrates? A: He administrated the Class Size Reduction Funds. These are now combined with the Eisenhower Funds. Together they make Title II A. The purpose of Title II A is to provide teacher and principal training.

-9/3/02-
Q: Can Title II, Part D monies pay for the district contract for Internet filtering?
A: It is appropriate to utilize Title II, Part D funds for such a service

-8/30/02-
Q: Can Title II, Part D pay for an extended contract of a Technology Coordinator?
A: It is appropriate to utilize Title II, Part D funds for Technology Coordinator salary - Jim Lukesh, NDE

Q: Can science lab equipment (microscopes, etc) be purchased with Title II, Part D monies?
A: Title II, Part D funds are to be used to purchase hardware and software. - Jim Lukesh, NDE

Q: Is there still a competitive grant for technology funding?
A: Approximately 1.5 million dollars of the Title II, Part D monies is allocated for competitive grants. To be eligible districts must be High Poverty and either 1) High Need or 2) Designated as a school that needs improvement.

Q: Who is eligible for the competitive portion of Title II, Part D funds?
A: Since High Poverty is calculated by individual school buildings, a district may determine their High Poverty percentage by averaging the buildings' percentages. If this makes the percentage lower than required for a High Poverty distinction, the district may apply for the grant as a district with the High Poverty building targeted as the primary beneficiary. - Jim Lukesh, NDE
High Poverty -
-District serves a concentration of poor students
- Using Title I formula (formula students, free-reduced llunch count, etc) with 15% or higher qualifying as high need
-Points given in competition for percentage values above 15%

High Need -
-District in substancial need of professional development in technology
-50% or more of teachers need more professioanl development in theis area
-Student/computer ratio >25:1
- Jim Lukesh, NDE (Check with your LAN Manager for the Profiler Technology Survey)

Title III
-8/30/02-
Q: If a district is a REAP school can they transfer their LEP or Immigrant Ed monies to another Title program instead of consorting?
A: I do not think so, but I need to forward this question to Marilyn Peterson to find out for sure. So she may write you back directly. If she does, I'll ask her to send me a copy of her response. Will keep you posted. - Nancy  Rowch, NDE Title III

Q: In the August 9 meeting with Marilyn Peterson, she referred to a web site of frequently asked questions. Can you guide me to that site, or enter me as a member of that site?
A: The FAQ section is under development and currently "in-house" only. As soon as it is ready, we will send out a notice which will let everyone know it is up and ready for the public. It will be on the Federal Links Page off the NDE site. - Ronda Littrell, Nebraska Catalyst Project & Title I

Q: Can you transfer funds to Title III to increase it to $10,000, and as a result you would not have to form a consortium?
A: Yes, you may transfer funds from Title II A, Title II D, Title IV and/or Title V to meet the $10,000 subgrant limitations for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Program . This applies also to the $5,000 subgrant limitation of the Immigrant Education portion of Title III.

Q: Tell me more about Immigrant Education Funds. What makes it different from LEP funds? What is the criteria?
A: Immigrant Education Program Funds are for school districts that have experienced a significant increase in the enrollment of eligible immigrant students over the preceding 2 years as compared to the current school year and a district has experienced at least a 5% increase in the number of eligible immigrant students. LEP Program funds are based upon the disaggregate student population for each ethnicity numbers reported in the district annual report .

Q: What if my Title III LEP subgrant is less than the $5000, can I just transfer the allocated funds to another area to utilize them there since I will not be able to meet the $5000 minimum on my own?
A: No, the guidelines state that the district must have sufficient eligible immigrant students to generate a subgrant of $5,000, or they must form a consortium of at least $5,000. The same applies to the LEP portion of the grant.

Q: When will there be a Title IV planning meeting?
A: At this point, the meeting should be in mid-September, so that plans may be completed by the October 1 deadline.

Q: Whom do I contact to find out more information about my district's Title IV grant funds or grant guidelines?
A: At ESU 7, Ray Huggett is the coordinator for the Title IV funds.