July 13th, 2011
IDEA Money Watch has obtained the information submitted by the Nebraska Dept. of Education to the U.S. Dept. of Education regarding reduction to local spending (maintenance of effort or MOE) and use of federal IDEA funds for Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) for each school district for the 2009 fiscal year. Get Nebraska information here. (PDF, 45 pgs).
This information is important because it indicates if school districts reduced local spending in light of IDEA Recovery Act funds in FY 2009. IDEA does not require that local districts replace these funds when the Recovery funds run out, putting services for students with disabilities at risk.
Posted in Nebraska IDEA Money Watch | 2 Comments »
October 8th, 2010
According to spending reports released by the U.S. Dept. of Education, Nebraska has obligated 39% of its IDEA Part B Recovery funds, or $29,294,871 as of September 30, 2010. The national average is 50%. Spending details by local school district are available at EdMoney.org.
Latest state-by-state spending reports are always available here. All IDEA Recovery Act funds must be obligated by September 30, 2011.
Tags: ARRA, IDEA, Nebraska, Recovery Act; Omaha Public Schools, Special Education, Stimulus
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September 18th, 2010
According to the August 27, 2010 spending report issued by the US Dept. of Education, Nebraska has obligated $24,640,707 of its IDEA Part B Recovery Act funds – or 33%. Information on school district spending is available at EdMoney.org.
The national average rate of obligation is 46%. The latest state-by-state spending report is always available here.
All funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2011.
Tags: ARRA, IDEA, Nebraska, Recovery Act; Omaha Public Schools, Special Education, Stimulus
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September 18th, 2010
From the GAO report, States Could Provide More Information on Education Programs to Enhance the Public’s Understanding of Fund Use, released July, 2010, the following information was collected via a GAO survey between March and April 2010 and through follow-up communications:
Omaha Public Schools
Omaha, NE 68131
Award amount: $14,300,464
Omaha Public Schools reported that it used its Recovery Act IDEA award to expand early-childhood services, expand the district’s data systems, increase teacher effectiveness through professional development, and undertake dropout prevention efforts. IDEA funds were also used for assistive technology and summer school expansion programs for students with special needs. These funds covered 79 schools and seven alternative programs, which serve 49,079 students. Specifically, the funds were used to implement an online assessment system to support classroom instruction, provide professional development for instructional staff, increase student support to prevent students from dropping out of school, implement an online system for Individualized Education Programs, and expand early childhood programming. As a result of these funds, officials reported that the district was able to improve scores on state reading and mathematics tests, decrease the dropout rate, increase the graduation rate, increase the number of high-need children in prekindergarten programs, and create or retain 298 jobs. They also said that these funds resulted in more learning opportunities for the students by expanding the school day and offering summer school and tutoring. Officials indicated that their Recovery Act IDEA award activities were less than 50 percent completed.
Tags: ARRA, IDEA, Nebraska, Recovery Act; Omaha Public Schools, Special Education, Stimulus
Posted in Nebraska IDEA Money Watch | 1 Comment »
May 26th, 2010
Omaha
Leaders of Omaha Public Schools have been meeting with community groups to determine the best focus for stimulus funds. Funding will be directed at meeting a number of district priorities. Among them are expanding early childhood education, including forging a partnership with Educare, a national organization that helps children between the ages of three and five; improving graduation rates; implementing professional development for all staff; and paying for English as a second language (ESL) endorsement (tuition and fees). The local college of education will provide classes on site and Omaha Public Schools will select the participating teachers.
For the full report Click Here.
Tags: ARRA, ESE, IDEA, IEP, Special Education, Stimulus
Posted in Nebraska IDEA Money Watch | No Comments »
July 29th, 2009
IDEA Money Watch has obtained the latest ratings for school districts in Nebraska. These ratings – available here – are important because they are used to determine districts’ eligiblity to reduce local expenditures on special education when an increase in federal funds occurs.
All but four districts in Nebraska have been given a “meets requirements” rating.
Posted in Nebraska IDEA Money Watch | No Comments »
March 25th, 2009
Nebraska is receiving $74,676,976 in IDEA Part B Recovery Act funds to improve services to its 40,508 school age students with disabilities. We will report on how the state is using these funds and how the performance of students with disabilities is improving. More information is available here.
Please share your comments with us.
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