Public School Districts, Special Purpose Schools and ESUs

The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) requested, and was granted, waivers from various federal requirements related to the COVID-19 emergency.

The fiscal waivers allow the NDE to extend the period of availability of the Federal fiscal year 2018 (2018-19) funds to LEAs. Allowing obligation through September 30, 2021 and liquidation through December 30, 2021 for the following programs:

• ESEA¹: Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, Title IC, Title ID Subpart 1 and 2, 21st Century CLC, RLIS, and McKinney-Vento; and
• Special Education: IDEA Part B² and Part C³.

The carryover funds from 2018-2019, with an additional year extension, now have the same obligation and liquidation deadlines as the funds from 2019-2020. NDE is unilaterally extending these deadlines for all LEAs for the carryover funds from 2018-2019.

What this means to school districts:

• Carryover timelines are extended for another year, funds do not expire December 2020.
• For the carryover, no action is needed in GMS by the districts. NDE will manually load 2019 funds released on the Final Reimbursement Request for carryover into 2020-2021 Application.
• Once loaded, to use these funds, a budget amendment is required.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact your program consultant.

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1 Certain fiscal requirements under ESEA pursuant to authority under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act);

2 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B of 1996 period of availability per Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), pursuant to authority under the CARES Act; and

3 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C of 1997 period of availability per Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), pursuant to authority under the CARES Act.