SEPTEMBER 2010 :: Wyoming still slow to spend IDEA Recovery Act funds

October 9th, 2010

According to spending reports released by the U.S. Dept. of Education, Wyoming has obligated just 23% of its IDEA Part B Recovery funds, or $5,907,741 of the $25,786,496 available (as of September 30, 2010). Wyoming has just 10 months left to obligate all of the IDEA funds provided under the Recovery Act. (All IDEA Recovery Act funds must be obligated by September 30, 2011.)

The national average is 50%. Spending details by local school district are available at EdMoney.org. Latest state-by-state spending reports are always available here.

Wyoming Lags on IDEA Stimulus Spending

August 14th, 2010

IDEA Money Watch ARRA Spending Report as of July 30, 2010 indicates that Wyoming has obligated only 16% of its IDEA Part B Sec 611 funds.

A check of the largest school districts in the state using LEA-level information available at www.edmoney.org indicates these rates of spending:

LARAMIE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 1

Awarded: $3,855,323 | Spent: $1,756

Laramie County School District 2

Awarded: $284,447 | Spent: $121,077

NATRONA COUNTY DISTRICT 1

Awarded: $3,520,627 | Spent: $124,166

CAMPBELL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 1

Awarded: $2,151,942 | Spent: $451,863

SWEETWATER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #1

Awarded: $1,364,565 | Spent: $27,593

SWEETWATER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT #2

Awarded: $728,251 | Spent: $129,185

ALBANY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 1

Awarded: $1,087,887 | Spent: $127,345

Sheridan County School District 2

Awarded: $931,609 | Spent: $104,446

Uinta County School District 1 State of Wyoming

Awarded: $867,439 | Spent: $266,300

Giddy Up, Wyoming!

WY LEA Ratings Now Available

November 24th, 2009

Responding to a request for public records, the Wyoming Department of Education has furnished the school district determinations (ratings) for the 2007-2008 school year. More information and the determinations are available here.

Most school districts in Wyoming received a “Needs Assistance” rating (35), a handful (11) received a “Meets Requirements” rating, and two districts received a “Needs Intervention” rating. These ratings are important because they determine whether a district is eligible to reduce its local spending on special education costs when an increase in federal funds occurs from one year to the next. The Recovery Act is doubling the amount of federal funds to districts for IDEA for FY09.  Additional information is available here.

Welcome to IDEA Money Watch for Wyoming!

April 9th, 2009

Wyoming will receive $25,786,496 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve special education services for its 11,412 school-aged students with disabilities.

We will report on how local school district in Wyoming are using these additional funds and how the academic achievement of students with disabilities is improving as a result.

Please share your comments and experiences.