2017 Nebraska Revised Statutes
Chapter 79 - SCHOOLS
79-1007.07 Financial reports relating to poverty allowance; department; duties; report; appeal of department decisions.

79-1007.07. Financial reports relating to poverty allowance; department; duties; report; appeal of department decisions.

(1)(a) The annual financial report required pursuant to section 79-528 shall include:

(i) The amount of the poverty allowance used in the certification of state aid pursuant to section 79-1022 for such school fiscal year;

(ii) The amount of federal funds received based on poverty as defined by the federal program providing the funds;

(iii) The expenditures and sources of funding for each program related to poverty with a narrative description of the program, the method used to allocate money to the program and within the program, and the program's relationship to the poverty plan submitted pursuant to section 79-1013 for such school fiscal year;

(iv) The expenditures and sources of funding for support costs directly attributable to implementing the district's poverty plan; and

(v) An explanation of how any required elements of the poverty plan for such school fiscal year were met.

(b) The department shall set up accounting codes for the receipts and expenditures required to be reported on the annual financial report pursuant to this subsection.

(2) The department shall determine the poverty allowance expenditures using the reported expenditures on the annual financial report for the most recently available complete data year that would include in the poverty allowance expenditures only those expenditures that are not included in other allowances, that were used to specifically address issues related to the education of students living in poverty or to the implementation of the poverty plan, that do not replace expenditures that would have occurred if the students involved in the program did not live in poverty, and that are paid for with noncategorical funds generated by state or local taxes or funds distributed through the Tax Equity and Educational Opportunities Support Act pursuant to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or the federal Education Jobs Fund created pursuant to Public Law 111-226. The department shall establish a procedure to allow school districts to receive preapproval for categories of expenditures that could be included in poverty allowance expenditures.

(3) If the poverty allowance expenditures do not equal 117.65 percent or more of the poverty allowance for the most recently available complete data year, the department shall calculate a poverty allowance correction. The poverty allowance correction shall equal the poverty allowance minus eighty-five percent of the poverty allowance expenditures. For aid calculated for school fiscal years prior to school fiscal year 2016-17, if the poverty allowance expenditures do not equal fifty percent or more of the allowance for such school fiscal year, the school district shall also be disqualified from receiving a poverty allowance for the school fiscal year for which aid is being calculated.

(4)(a)(i) For aid calculated for school fiscal years prior to school fiscal year 2016-17, if the department determines that the school district did not meet the required elements of the poverty plan for the most recently available complete data year, the department shall calculate a poverty allowance correction equal to fifty percent of the poverty allowance for such school fiscal year and the school district shall also be disqualified from receiving a poverty allowance for the school fiscal year for which aid is being calculated.

(ii) For aid calculated for school fiscal year 2016-17 and each school fiscal year thereafter, if the department determines that the school district did not meet the required elements of the poverty plan for the most recently available complete data year, the department shall calculate a poverty allowance correction equal to five percent of the poverty allowance for such school fiscal year.

(b) Any poverty allowance correction calculated pursuant to this subsection shall be added to any poverty allowance correction calculated pursuant to subsection (3) of this section to arrive at the total poverty allowance correction.

(5) The department may request additional information from any school district to assist with calculations and determinations pursuant to this section. If the school district does not provide information upon the request of the department pursuant to this section, the school district shall be disqualified from receiving a poverty allowance for the school fiscal year for which aid is being calculated.

(6) The department shall provide electronically an annual report to the Legislature containing a general description of the expenditures and funding sources for programs related to poverty statewide and specific descriptions of the expenditures and funding sources for programs related to poverty for each school district.

(7) The state board shall establish a procedure for appeal of decisions of the department to the state board for a final determination.

Source

• Laws 2006, LB 1024, § 80;
• Laws 2007, LB641, § 20;
• Laws 2008, LB988, § 29;
• Laws 2009, LB545, § 5;
• Laws 2011, LB18, § 3;
• Laws 2012, LB782, § 158;
• Laws 2013, LB407, § 4;
• Laws 2015, LB525, § 20.