The U.S. Department of Education reached out to education leaders and stakeholders last week inviting them to offer ideas to reduce the burden of some administrative recordkeeping and reporting requirements tied to federal funding and to better promote existing flexibility that can reduce burden in low-income schools.
State, local and tribal governments that administer federally funded programs must follow federal recordkeeping and reporting requirements intended to ensure the proper use of federal dollars. One example of these requirements is time-and-effort reporting, which verifies that an individual whose salary is supported by a federal program is spending the appropriate amount of time carrying out allowable activities of that program. Completing these requirements can often be time consuming and provide little information on the impact of services supported through the program.
In an effort to reduce administrative burdens while still ensuring the proper use of federal funds, the Department is seeking ideas to improve administrative recordkeeping and reporting protocols regarding the use of federal funds, including those pertaining to time-and-effort reporting. Ideas submitted should consider alternative evidence that could replace applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements, increase the use of data and development of data systems, or encourage reforms that create long-term improvements around efficiency and productivity. For example, within the context of time-and-effort reporting, interested education leaders and stakeholders may wish to offer suggestions that will improve the quality and content of the information reported, such as demonstrating the valuable impact federally funded positions have on improving student achievement, school services and community involvement in education.
The Department is also interested in ideas to better promote existing flexibility called “Schoolwide schools” that can permit schools with large numbers of low-income students to reduce requirements associated with time-and-effort reporting, in addition to providing other benefits. Yet, districts and schools rarely take advantage of this flexibility. Last March, the Department released promising practices for productivity and flexibility, encouraging States to take advantage of this available alternative. To help further these efforts, the Department invites education leaders and stakeholders to offer ideas that will help promote or improve guidance around existing flexibility.
In a memorandum sent to federal departments last February, the President urged federal agencies to work with state and local officials on increasing efficiency and reducing costs of protocols tied to federal dollars while maintaining accountability. Soliciting ideas from local, tribal and State governments as well as the general public as part of the Department’s ongoing outreach to engage local officials in an open dialogue about ways the federal government can better serve their needs.
To submit an idea or learn more, visit http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/10/granting-administrative-flexibility-for-better-measures-of-success.
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