Private School - Unable to Spend Funds

CDE's Special Education Division recognizes that the LEA may not be able to fully expend the proportionate share allocation due to the following reasons:

  • There are no parentally placed students with disabilities in private schools for the term of the proportionate share budget.
  • The private school refuses the equitable services from the LEA. 

For either of these reasons, the LEA may hold the proportionate share budget until the last 3 months of the 27 month period. The SELPA, as the grantee, may do the following:

  1. Submit a letter to the CDE with an explanation for prior approval to expend the unspent balance for other qualifying activities/costs.
  2. The letter will indicate the applicable resource code(s) and dollar amount(s) while also highlighting all reasonable efforts to expend the balance(s). The following is an example of language that will be included with the letter(s): At the end of the 20xx-xx grant expenditure period, our SELPA/District had a total of $ ______ unspent in Resource 3311. We therefore request that $______ unspent in Resource 3311 be reallocated to Resource 3310. 
  3. The explanation will be on SELPA's letterhead, and it will be signed by an authorized agent. The letter requesting approval will be sent to the Special Education Division ("SED") Program Office contact. 

Example 1

The LEA is required to allocate a proportionate share of IDEA funds from July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025. However, the LEA had no qualifying private school students between July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. Therefore, upon July 1, 2025, the SELPA may ask CDE's Special Education Division if the funds can be used special education for non-private school purposes from July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025.

Example 2

The LEA is required to allocate a proportionate share of IDEA funds from July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025. However, one of the two private schools with parentally placed SWD has refused services from the LEA. Therefore, the LEA shall use the share of IDEA funds for the other private school with parentally placed SWD. 

Example 3

The LEA is required to allocate a proportionate share of IDEA funds from July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025. However, both of the two private schools with parentally placed SWD has refused services from the LEA. Therefore, upon July 1, 2025, the SELPA may ask CDE's Special Education Division if the funds can be used special education for non-private school purposes from July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025.