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From the Assistant State Superintendent of Federal Programs

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is well accustomed to fulfilling all monitoring requirements as set forth by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and believe me, USDE has not wasted any time in fulfilling their commitment to monitor all States that received approval on their ESEA Flexibility Waiver. When USDE came knocking on Oklahoma's door, it was obvious that they are taking a serious look at what we have accomplished thus far with the ESEA Flexibility Waiver and if we are indeed expediting implementation of the waiver in a timely, accurate and expedient manner.

Several members of various OSDE divisions have twice engaged in high level conversations with those USDE members in charge of monitoring. In both instances, USDE provided a well-ordered set of guiding questions addressing specific principles of the ESEA Flexibility Waiver. The responses submitted by the Oklahoma team were highly professional, well researched and precisely executed.

USDE has divided the monitoring into three components that will be addressed over the 2012-2013 school year through a combination of on-site monitoring, desk monitoring and progress checks. Each component aims to provide the Department with a deep understanding of Oklahoma's progression toward meeting our goals and our on-going approaches to implementation of the waiver as well as unwaived Title I requirements. USDE has also promised to provide States with technical assistance addressing any area that appears to be in need of further guidance.

I must say that there appears to be a marked difference in USDE's monitoring style for this go around as compared to what Oklahoma has experienced in the past. USDE seems to be making a positive transition from the old 'I gotcha' method, to a more constructive analysis of waiver implementation, while offering technical assistance to States in specific areas, and in my opinion, this is a very good thing.
Ramona Signature

Titles I, IIA, VI and X

The Oklahoma State Department of Education has announced many new educational reform initiatives for FY2013. This forward thinking certainly impacts how Federal dollars can be utilized at the district and school level. In order to better serve the districts and ensure accurate technical assistance is provided, OSDE has implemented an online Grants Management System which districts will use to create and submit their Federal Programs applications and claims.

This online system is designed to streamline processes for allocations, applications, carry-over, reallocations and the submission of claims by pre-populating data and immediately indicating errors when applications are not in alignment with Federal guidance. The transparency and accuracy that this system offers for each district's data acts as a system of "checks and balances" of both the fiscal and programmatic use of Federal dollars. OSDE is well aware malfunctions may occur in the system, but OSDE's over-arching goal is to provide service to the districts in a timely manner. I do hope you find the GMS tool to be a time-saver that will minimize your effort while maximizing your use of Federal dollars.

Gloria Bayouth
Executive Director, Titles I, IIA, VI and X

Upcoming Training Opportunities:
2012 ESEA Title II, Part A National Meeting, Arlington, VA - October 29-30

Looking Ahead:


Nutritional Food

Child Nutrition

The beginning of the school year in Child Nutrition is fast and furiously upon us. The office of Child Nutrition is currently in the process of approving all 560 renewal applications through our Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) eClaims System. If your school food authority (SFA) has not certified its 2013 renewal application, please do so. Claims cannot be submitted until your renewal is approved by our office.

As you are aware, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mandated that in order to receive the additional six cents in lunch reimbursement, an SFA must be certified by the Oklahoma State Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs. Our staff is working diligently to certify as many SFAs as possible so they may see the additional six cents reimbursed with the October claim.

Section 111 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Re-authorization Act of 2004 mandates each SFA site must obtain at least two health inspections each school year, post the inspection reports in a publicly visible location and make a copy of the inspection available to the public. In addition, SFAs are required to submit the number of health inspections that have been conducted in the prior year to the State Agency. Find the Health Safety Inspection Report in the eClaims System under AGREEMENT. This report must be completed before access to the September Claim for Reimbursement will be granted.

The month of October is a very important reporting month for CNP. It is crucial for districts to submit October claims and Low-Income Reports so that funding from other sources may be calculated correctly and in a timely manner. Both reports must be submitted after October 31. Contact your CNP Consultant for more information on the submission process. In addition, October is the month in which Verification must occur. This is the process by which SFAs confirm the eligibility status of households who may receive free or reduced-price meal benefits. Find a suggested Verification timeline below.

Thank you for all of your hard work in helping feed Oklahoma.

Joanie Hidenbrand
Executive Director, Child Nutrition

Verification Timeline:
October 1 - Select applications and notify households and or SNAP/TANF/FDPIR agencies - First Required Notice
October 15 - Contact households that have not responded and those who presented insufficient documentation - Second Required Notice
October 29 - Send 10 calendar days' Advance Notice of Adverse Action to households that have not responded, have not submitted the required information, or are no longer eligible for meal benefits
November 9 - Terminate those who did not respond. Households who appeal must continue as approved until an official decision is rendered
November 15 -  All verification efforts must be completed


Titles IC and IIIA

Logo Titles IC and III no text
The Office of Bilingual and Migrant Education is offering all school district staff working with English language learners the opportunity to learn more about the state's English Language Development Standards, which are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The 2012 Amplification of the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards workshop will take place from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on Wednesday, October 17 at the Oklahoma State Department of Education with a repeat session Thursday, October 18 at the Edmond Public Schools Administration Building. The workshop is free and will be presented by Maureen Keithley, WIDA Senior Professional Development Consultant. Registration will be capped at 60 participants for each day. We encourage school district teams (administrators, counselors, content area teachers, and specialists) to attend, but we also realize that you may have to attend solo. To register for either workshop date, click the link under Upcoming Training Opportunities below.

If you are unable to attend you may view the amplified WIDA ELD standards at the WIDA website. These standards along with the Can Do Descriptors will assist you in providing enhanced language instruction eduational services to your ELLs, so we encourage you to familiarize yourselves with them either via the workshop or website.

Melissa McGavock
Director, Titles IC and IIIA

Upcoming Training Opportunities:
Oct. 2012 Volume 1, Issue 2

Second Quarter Calendar


Titles I, IIA, VI and X

October

23 First Quarter Claim Due
26 Deadline for Districts to be 100% Highly Qualified (click here for more information)
*31 Schoolwide Consolidation of Funds Intent to Participate Form Due

November

7 Title ID Consolidated State Performance Report Due
20 October Claim Due
*21 Schoolwide Consolidation of Funds Application Packet Due

December

18 November Claim Due
*21 Notification of Approval of Schoolwide Consolidation
*Priority/Focus Schools Only

Child Nutrition

October
1 Begin Verification Process

November
1 Districts may Access October Claim and Low Income Report
15 Verification Process Complete
19-23 Holiday - No Claims Processed

Titles IC and IIIA

October
1 Title IC and Title IIIA Applications and Allocations Available Online
15 Title IC and Title IIIA Applications Due


Videoconference Schedule

Titles I, IIA, VI and X

October 24, 1:30: Comprehensive Needs Assessment and Introduction to the WISE Tool

November 28, 1:30: Schoolwide Program Components and Introduction to WISE Tool Indicators


Contacts

Titles I, IIA VI, X
(405) 521-2846

Child Nutrition
(405) 521-3327

Titles IC and IIIA
(405) 521-3196


Resources