Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Idea)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) appropriates additional funding for programs under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Part B of IDEA provides funds to school divisions and states to ensure that children with disabilities, including children aged three through five, have access to a free appropriate public education that meets their individual needs and prepares them for further education or training, employment and independent living.
Uses of ARRA IDEA, Part B, Funds
- July 30, 2009 (Office of the Governor) – Executive Order 85 (PDF) requires employers to post recruitment notices for positions fully or partially funded by ARRA on the Virginia Workforce Connection.
- April 24, 2009 (VDOE) – REVISED ARRA Use of Funds Summary (PDF). This document replaces the summary issued March 27.
Sub-Grant Awards & Allocations
The amounts listed for school divisions in the two tables below, represent 50 percent of the total IDEA grant amount divisions are scheduled to receive under the ARRA. Virginia expects to receive the second half of the ARRA IDEA grant by September 30, 2009. School divisions will also receive a separate federal fiscal year 2009 IDEA award under the regular IDEA program by July 1, 2009.
- May 1, 2009 – 2009-2010 Special Education Grants to States - ARRA (Part B, Section 611, Flow-Through Sub-grants, CFDA #84.391A) (PDF)
- May 1, 2009 – 2009-2010 Special Education Preschool Grants - ARRA (Part B, Section 619, Preschool Sub-grants, CFDA #84.392A) (PDF)
The following provisions apply to this grant:
- Any qualifying expenditure authorized under the IDEA made on or after the February 17, 2009, — the effective date of the grant — may be charged to this award.
- Expenditures must be tracked separately from “regular” Part B grant expenditures.
- The “regular” Part B grant is expected to be made to Virginia on July 1. Separate sub-grant award notifications as well as the final sub-grant award notifications (for the remaining 50 percent of ARRA funds) will be made through the online OMEGA system and a Superintendent’s Memo shortly after September 30, 2009.
- A school division's entire ARRA allocation plus the “regular” Part B allocation will constitute its federal FY 2009 award. All 2009 grant award monies must be encumbered by September 30, 2011.
- In order to take advantage of the "50 percent flexibility maintenance of effort (MOE)" option, a local school division must have received a "Meets Requirements" determination under section 616 of IDEA. Unless previously notified to the contrary, a school division can assume it has achieved the "Meets Requirements" status. For additional information see Item D-7, page 16, of the "Funds for Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Made Available Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" (PDF) guidance document.
- If a school division is required to set aside 15 percent of its IDEA allocation for early intervention services due to having been identified as having significant disproportionality, it may not take advantage of the "50 percent MOE flexibility." For additional information see Item B-4, page 10, of the "Funds for Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Made Available Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" (PDF) guidance document.
- School divisions that voluntarily set aside 15 percent of the IDEA allocation for early intervention services should be aware that its MOE flexibility will be impacted as well. (Additional guidance concerning this provision will come from the Division of Special Education and Student Services).
Reimbursement procedures will follow the normal process under the on-line OMEGA system. - In order to request reimbursement for ARRA funds through OMEGA, a division's allocation amount must be distributed to the appropriate federal object codes. The budget transfer originator will need to select "Change my object code budget" from their OMEGA "I want to…" list to prepare and submit the necessary budget transfer. Once the budget request is submitted and completely approved, reimbursement requests can be submitted through OMEGA. Permissions and approval queues in OMEGA for ARRA funds will be the same as those currently established for the regular IDEA Section 611 and 619 awards.
- Sub-grantees must adhere to the grant terms and conditions (PDF) under the ARRA.
For more information, see:
May 1, 2009 (Superintendent's Memorandum) – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Sub-grant Awards Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Guidance Documents
- April 3, 2009 (Superintendent's Memorandum) – Use of IDEA ARRA Funds to Purchase Equipment.
- April 1, 2009 (USED) Revised September 9, 2010 – Guidance: Funds for Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (PDF).
- March 6, 2009 (USED) – American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009, IDEA Recovery Funds For Services To Children And Youths With Disabilities (PDF). This document provides states and LEAs with basic information regarding how and when IDEA, Part B recovery funds will be awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.
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