This document constitutes official notice of the 2019-2020 ESA Matching Grant Awards.
Act 877 of 2019 requires the Arkansas Department of Education to set aside $5,300,000 to be used to provide school districts with matching grants for expenditures of evidence-based programs intended to improve the academic achievement of identified national school lunch students.
These programs shall be limited to:
- Tutors as set out in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(4);
- Before-school academic programs and after-school academic programs, including transportation to and from the programs under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(2); and
- Prekindergarten programs under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-2305(b)(4)(C)(i)(b)(3).
Only those expenditures coded with the appropriate codes for the allowable uses outlined by the Act will be eligible for matching funds. The allowable program codes to be used when coding expenditures are as follows:
004* ESA, Before and After Academic Program
005* ESA, Pre-K
006* ESA, Tutors
204* ESA/SP ED, Before and After Academic Program
205* ESA/SP ED, Pre-K
206* ESA/SP ED, Tutors
The calculation is based upon ESA expenditures incurred from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 in the allowable categories. Because the total of statewide expenditures exceeds the amount of funding allowed by the Act, funding is calculated on a pro rata matching basis to the schools. This was determined by dividing the districts expenditures by the statewide total of allowable expenditures, and applying that percentage to the amount of funding available in order to determine the funds reimbursed to the district.
In order for the ESA matching funds not to be calculated towards the 85% ESA expenditure requirements in the fiscal year in which the matching funds are received, the funds must be receipted and expensed using the following new fund and revenue code:
2282 32382 ESA Match Grant
Matching funds may be used only for the expenditures allowed under this program and are meant to supplement, not replace, the districts ESA spending.
For questions regarding ESA Matching Grants, contact Cynthia Smith 501-683-5288 or Anita Sacrey 501-682-4484