Special Education

Description of Use of Funds (20 U.S.C. 1411(e)(5) - IDEA 2004)

To:	Ken Kienas, U.S. Office of Special Education Programs
From:	Marcia Mittnacht, State Director of Special Education
Date:	February 15, 2007 (posting date, transmittal to USDOE follows the public comment period)

Massachusetts DOE (MASSDE) provides the following information on our intended use of Part B funds for Federal Fiscal Year 2007 - Massachusetts' Fiscal Year (MFY) 2008. MASSDE has been informed that its estimated award for the MFY08 appropriation is $266,131,779. MASSDE estimated grant may be considered to consist of three parts:

Required flow-thru:	$236,931,186	Part 1
State Administration:	5,341,909	Part 2
Other State Activities:	23,858,684 ___________	Part 3
Total	$266,131,779

Under part 1, MASSDE intends to flow-thru the amount required -- $236,931,186 or 89% of the grant. Under part 2, MASSDE intends to use the full amount for administrative activities related to implementation of Part B and we have articulated the various uses of these funds on the included form for "Use of Funds." Under part 3, MASSDE intends to use $23,858,684 on activities consistent with the required and allowable activities articulated on the included form for "Use of Funds." Planning for these activities is in process. MASSDE begins its planning for each fiscal year in October of the preceding year and has been planning for these funds since October 2006. Our entire planning process will be completed by May 2007. During this period, MASSDE reviews data from our general oversight programs, input from constituent groups, and information from our various planning and accountability processes including a review of planned activities articulated in our State Performance Plan. LEAs, parents and constituent groups have opportunities to recommend funding and programs each year. Opportunities for input occurred and will occur through participation in planning for our State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report, and in working group discussions related to each of the Indicators, discussions with our State Advisory Council and our State Steering Committee, as well as small group needs assessment discussions, and review of current funded programs with key constituents. LEAs, parents and other constituent groups are represented on our state advisory council for special education and our state special education steering committee and on State Performance Plan working groups. The Use of Funds form, along with our assurance statements, are posted on our website for public notice 60 days prior to the submission of this document. Notices are sent to multiple constituent groups directing them to the website and providing them with information on how they may obtain hard copies of the information if they do not have easy web access. We retain the information on our website for 60 calendar days, and solicit and accept public comment for the first 30 days during which the information is posted. With this information, I believe Massachusetts has submitted all required documents. If more detail is needed, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Last Updated: February 15, 2007