INTRODUCTION
THIS JULY 2003 REIMBURSABLE COST MANUAL
DEFINES REIMBURSABLE COSTS FOR THE JULY 2003‑JUNE 2004 SCHOOL
YEAR. IT APPLIES TO THE
2003-04 PROSPECTIVE TUITION RATES AND THE - 2003-2004 RECONCILIATION
ADJUSTMENT FACTORS AND RECONCILIATION RATES, AND FINAL AUDIT RATES
BASED ON - 2003-2004 ACTUAL DATA.
This July 2003
Reimbursable Cost Manual (Manual) applies to programs receiving
public funds for educating students with disabilities ages 3-21, in
private schools, special act school districts (SASDs), Boards of
Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES
), public school districts, and municipalities, under Articles 81 or 89
of the Education Law.
Approved programs should recognize that information
in financial reports is continually being analyzed and any part of
this Manual may be modified from year to year based on that
analysis. Continuous review by the NYS Education Department (SED),
other State agencies, the State Division of the Budget (DOB) (as
mandated by the Institution Schools Act), and by municipalities
providing funding to programs under section 4410 of the Education
Law may also result in modifications. Since this Manual is revised and updated on a periodic basis,
questions arising about a subject not described herein will be
reviewed by SED and treatment of such subjects may be described in
the subsequent edition of the Manual.
Final costs are determined upon field audit and will
be considered for reimbursement provided that such costs are
reasonable, necessary and directly related to the education program.
Costs must also have adequate substantiating documentation.
Designation of a cost as reimbursable during the initial
rate-setting process or during the reconciliation process does not
mean that the cost will be reimbursed through the final audit rate
since all rates are subject to adjustment on field audit, in
accordance with section 200.18 of the Commissioner's Regulations and
this Manual. A more
detailed review of expenditures during an audit may reveal that
costs reimbursed during a prior rate calculation for that fiscal
year should not be reimbursed.
Programs will be given an opportunity to review and comment
on the draft audit report before the report is made final in
accordance with section 200.18 of the Commissioner's Regulations.
Section I, Cost
Principles, describes costs SED considers reimbursable in the
calculation of tuition rates for approved programs.
Section II, General
Requirements and Definitions, provides information on
recordkeeping requirements, general accounting standards and
definitions for programs receiving reimbursement under Articles 81
and 89 of the Education Law.
Section III, Tuition
Rate-Setting Methodology, provides information on rate setting,
adjustments and closedown.
Section IV, the Index,
provides an alphabetical listing of subjects described in this
publication.
The
Appendices contain supplementary information.
Special attention should be given to Appendix A,
"Categorization of Expenditures" and Appendix A-1,
"Categorization of Revenues" that identify specific items
of expense and revenue. They also provide direction as to where the cost categories
should be reported on the CFR.
Please be advised that reimbursement of expenses designated
as nondirect care expenses will be subject to the nondirect care
cost parameter. Appendix E, “Statement on the Governance Role of a Trustee
or Board Member” is new in this edition.
As this is all new, and to make it easier for the reader,
Appendix E is not underlined.
SECTION I. COST PRINCIPLES
Generally, costs will be considered for reimbursement
provided such costs are reasonable, necessary, and directly related
to the education program and are sufficiently documented.
Such reimbursable costs will be included in the calculation
of tuition rates up to any limits or cost screens approved annually
in the rate setting methodology.
1.
Accounting
Costs
of establishing and maintaining accounting and other information
systems required for management of Articles 81 and 89 funded
programs are reimbursable and subject to the nondirect care cost
parameter. When
consultants or the program's independent CPA firm, provide these
non-audit services, refer to Item #15 Consultants
for reimbursement
standards. (See Section
II, General Requirements and Definitions, of this Manual for
specific details on record keeping requirements).
2.
Administration
A.
Administrative costs include salary and fringe benefit costs
of persons whose primary function is management and administration
of the program and/or agency, in accordance with Federal and State
laws, Regulations of the Commissioner of Education and/or the Board
of Directors. All
administrative costs are subject to the nondirect care cost
parameter.
B.
Administrative costs may include, but are not limited to:
other‑than‑personal‑services costs of
professional dues and conferences; travel; telephone; office
equipment and supplies; bonding of employees handling program funds;
fees for lawyers, accountants and consultants; charges from parent
organizations; personnel advertising and other recruiting costs;
minimum corporation franchise tax or similar business tax; postage;
office equipment rental or depreciation; repairs and maintenance;
depreciation on assets related to administration; administrative
purchase of services; dues; licenses and permits; subscriptions and
publications; interest on operating loans; administrative staff
development; and membership in civic, business, professional or
technical organizations.
3.
Advertising
Advertising
means the costs associated
with publications and other public relations endeavors using the
mediums of newspapers, magazines, radio and television programs,
direct mail, trade papers, and the like.
Outreach
activities, such as publications and other public relations
endeavors which describe the services offered by approved private
schools enabling them to better contribute to community educational
objectives, are reimbursable. The intended outcome of these publications and public
relations endeavors should be that of providing information and not
for the purpose of recruiting students into programs or soliciting
fund raising monies or donations.
New York State places students without regard to advertising
or public relations activities.
(Refer to Item #40, Recruitment of Personnel.)
Guidelines
for Preschool Program Advertising
:
A.
Chapter 474 of the Laws of 1996 amended Section 4410 of the
Education Law to require the State Education Department (SED) to
establish guidelines for advertising by preschool programs and
evaluators. The
following guidelines have been developed pursuant to the Statute and
corresponding amendments to the Regulations of the Commissioner of
Education.
These
amendments also require preschool programs and evaluators to
periodically submit copies of advertising to the State Education
Department for review. However,
neither the Statute nor the Regulations require approved programs to
advertise. Advertising
costs for the purpose of
recruiting students into programs or soliciting fund raising monies
or donations are not
reimbursable and remain nonallowable in the calculation of
tuition rates.
If
you have any questions, please call the Policy Development Unit of
VESID - Special Education Policy and Quality Assurance Office at
(518) 473-2878.
B. Advertisements should
include:
·
Clear
identification that the program is for preschool children who have
or are suspected of having a disability pursuant to Section 4410 of
Article 89 of the Education Law;
·
A
statement that any services provided are based upon the individual
needs of the preschool child found to have a disability, as
determined by the Committee on Preschool Special Education of the
local school district;
·
A
statement that the local school district will determine the location
where needed special education services will be provided, which may
be the child’s normal daytime setting;
·
A
statement that parents are responsible for arranging for and paying
the costs of any child care.
C.
The following are appropriate contents of advertising:
·
A
description of special services available:
evaluation, special education, speech therapy, occupational
therapy, physical therapy and labeled as special education services;
·
A
description of the appropriate licensure and/or certification of
staff employed;
·
A
statement that indicates that the special education services are at
no direct cost to the parent, but that funding is provided through
county taxes and state funds, earmarked for special education
services provided;
·
A
statement that transportation may be a service provided, but,
parents are encouraged to transport their own children and may be
reimbursed at a rate per mile or a public service fare established
by the municipality and approved by the Commissioner.
D.
Advertisements should not include:
·
Information,
which would mislead a parent to believe their child, can receive, at
no cost to them, day care services or any and all services the
agency has to offer.
·
Information
which would mislead a parent to believe that the decision regarding
appropriate services and where services will be provided is based
solely upon what the parent/or the provider requests;
·
Information
which would indicate that services are “free” since services are
paid through local and state funds;
·
Information
which would indicate that transportation is always provided;
·
General
statements that would lead the reader to believe that this is
something other than a special education program (i.e., are you
concerned about your children – come see us);
·
Any
information, which would be false, deceptive or fraudulent with
respect to the services to be provided to preschool children and
their families.
4.
Assistive
Technology Devices and Services
*
An
assistive technology device is defined as "any item, piece of
equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially, off the
shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain,
or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a
disability." (34
CFR 300.5)
An
assistive technology service is defined as "any service that
directly assists a child with a disability in the selection,
acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device." (34 CFR
300.6)
A. Preschool
Children
Under
the preschool system, an approved program would make available and
be responsible for, in most situations, high and low assistive
technology devices as part of its instructional program and be
reimbursed, as part of the tuition rate, through the Department's
current rate-setting methodology. When a child-specific assistive technology device is
required, the county in which the child resides purchases or leases
the device and submits costs to the Department on a STAC-1 form. The assistive technology device should be identified on the
related service line of the form.
Counties
must contract with assistive technology service providers and must
submit the contracted rate for such services on the annual County
List of Approved Rates for Related Services (SED-RS-3).
B. School
Age Children
When
the school district that is programmatically responsible for the
student, purchases or leases equipment specified on the IEP, the
cost is not reimbursable
in the tuition rate.
*The
above information is referenced from Thomas Neveldine's memo of
September 1995 regarding Assistive Technology Devices and Services
.
5.
Auditing
The
cost of certified audits necessary for the administration and
management of Articles 81 and 89 funded programs is
reimbursable subject to the limitations and requirements for
consultant services (Refer to Item #15 on Consultants
).
6.
Bad
Debts
Bad
debt expenses are not reimbursable. Actual
or estimated losses resulting from uncollectible accounts or other
claims, including related collection and legal costs, are not
reimbursable operating expenses for Articles 81 and 89 funded
programs.
7.
Bedding/Linen
Costs
of bedding and linens are not reimbursable as an education expense.
Such costs are considered to be parental responsibility or
residential expenses. However,
bedding, linen and towels for the nurse's office and for the
classrooms will be considered reimbursable.
8.
Bonding
Costs
of insurance premiums on bonds covering employees who handle program
funds are reimbursable and subject to the nondirect care cost
parameter.
9.
Capital
Expenditures
(A)
Special act school districts (SASDs), public school districts
and BOCES
are not required to
depreciate the cost of buildings, equipment, furniture, fixtures or
vehicles over the useful life of such assets.
Public school districts and BOCES must adhere to the
applicable sections of the General Municipal Law, which govern
Capital Expenditures
. SASDs may choose to
renovate existing buildings or expense equipment, furniture,
fixtures or vehicles by transferring funds from the General Fund
to a Capital Project or
Capital Expenditure
Fund as discussed in
section (B) below:
(1)
Renovations of existing buildings:
Costs of renovations, alterations, or major repairs must be
approved by the District Board in accordance with the District's
annual approved budget policy.
Proposals for renovations, alterations or major repairs must
be submitted to the Commissioner's designated program and fiscal
representatives for their review and comment.
See Appendix D: Guidelines
for Development, Review and Approval of Capital Projects for
Students with Disabilities.
(2)
Purchases
of furniture, fixtures or
equipment: For proposed
purchases of equipment, furniture, and fixtures, three (3) estimates
must be provided for items which cost more than $1,000 and have a
useful life of more than two years.
(3)
Special act school districts have no voters or bonding
authority and are not considered component school districts within
the meaning of Section 1950(14) of Education Law for the purpose of
participation in funding of BOCES capital projects, without the
prior written approval of SED and the New York State Division of the
Budget.
(4)
Consistent with the provisions of Chapter 383 of the New York
State Laws of 2001, SASDs and public school districts are authorized
access to the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY)
for financing and refinancing of bonds for school construction
projects. SASDs and
public school districts are further authorized to structure
financing of capital projects consistent with the payment of
building aid based on assumed amortization of debt service payments
in accordance with the useful life of the project.
(5)
Special act school districts, public school districts and
BOCES are required to fully access available Building Aid funding
for all capital projects. Failure
to apply for Building Aid funding will result in an adjustment to
approved capital costs to reduce reimbursement through the tuition
rate to the level of funding that would have resulted if the
provider had applied for Building Aid.
(B)
Interfund transfers will be recognized in the tuition rate
calculation process under the following conditions:
(1)
In cases where there may be several transfers between funds,
costs will only be reimbursed once in the tuition rate-setting
process.
(2)
Proposed transfers from the General Fund
to the Capital Fund or
additions to the Capital Fund will be recognized in the tuition rate
calculation if a fiscal staff review determines prior to the
transfer of funds, that transfers or additions result from the need
to fund capital projects. Such
projects must have been approved by resolution of the Special Act
District Board and endorsed by the SED program staff.
Fiscal
staff will consult with the Department of Facilities Planning and/or
State Aid Unit staff during the review process. Districts should
submit copies of proposals to Facilities Planning staff and to the
Rate Setting Unit (RSU). RSU staff review will confirm in writing that amounts to be
transferred are reasonable and made at appropriate times during the
completion of the project.
(3)
When the Trust and Agency fund is used as a clearinghouse for
expenses, transfers from the General Fund
to the Trust and Agency
Fund will be recognized in the rate calculation process, if
consistent with regular District practice and in compliance with
this Manual. However, transfers from the Trust and Agency Fund back to
the General Fund will be offset in rate calculations, if the costs
have already been included in a tuition rate.
(4)
When a capital project(s) is completed and the Capital
Projects Fund
has a surplus, then a
transfer(s) from the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund
is required. The
transferred amount will be offset in rate calculations, if the
previous transfers to the Capital Project Fund have already been
included in a tuition rate. Interest
income earned by Capital Projects Fund and retained in this fund
will be offset in the tuition rate calculations to the extent it was
not previously offset in tuition rate calculations.
(5)
Transfers to Contingency funds are not reimbursable in the
calculation of tuition rates.
(C)
All other providers should also refer to Item #18 on
Depreciation
/Amortization
in this Manual.
10.
Charges
from Parent or Related Organizations
Charges
to programs receiving administrative services, insurance, supplies,
technical consultants, etc. from a parent or related organization
are reimbursable provided they are based on actual direct and
indirect costs, allocated to all programs on a consistent basis, and
defined as reimbursable in the Regulations of the Commissioner of
Education, the CFR Manual or this Manual.
(Refer to Section II. C. Definitions, Item 4, in this Manual
for less-than-arm's-length (LTAL
) transactions).
11.
Students'
Activities
A.
Costs incurred for intramural activities, student
publications, student clubs and other student activities, to the
extent such activities are normally provided by public day schools,
are reimbursable direct care expenditures.
Reasonable costs of class field trips during school hours and
extra‑curricular activities after school hours are
reimbursable as direct care expenditures.
B.
Ordinary living expenses such as the cost of overnight class
trips or other expenses that are normally assumed by parents of
students attending public day schools are not reimbursable.
C.
Costs incurred for, or in support of, alumni activities and
similar services are not reimbursable.
12.
Clothing
/Uniforms
Ordinary
living expenses, such as the cost of clothing and uniforms that are
normally assumed by parents or legal guardians of students attending
day care centers or public day schools, are not reimbursable.
Clothing
expenses for staff such as
uniforms for custodians or bus drivers, even if required by school
policy, are not reimbursable. Such
costs are considered to be personal expenses.
13.
Commencement
and Convocation
Costs
of commencement and convocation activities are reimbursable when
they are consistent with local public school districts.
