Grant Requirements

Washington, Sept. 3 — The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has released proposed instructions for states and districts to follow as they collect data on the aggregate salaries of staff at each of their schools under a push to beef up the Title I comparability provision.

Registration for the mandatory stimulus reporting Web site opened this week in anticipation of the first required reports in October.

State and local governments, contractors, universities, non-profits and others that have received a grant, loan or contract of $25,000 or more under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 are required to register on the website, www.FederalReporting.gov. The site is a key element of the Obama administration's pledge of unprecedented transparency and public accountability for spending under the ARRA.

Washington, Aug. 12 – The Office of Management and Budget added numerous requirements for auditing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act programs in a recent addendum to the 2009 Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement. The addendum includes special tests and provisions for Recovery Act awards, along with guidance stressing the importance of internal controls over Recovery Act funds.

Washington, July 30 — States that want to receive their share of the remaining $12.1 billion in “stabilization” funds will have to meet augmented data collection and reporting requirements that go beyond the basic law, according to tentative guidelines released July 24 by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Washington, July 27 — Friday, the United States Department of Education (ED) released the draft priorities, requirements, definitions and selection criteria for the $4 billion Race to the Top grant program (RTT) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The program is ambitious and demanding.