When Can I Spend My Funds?

Although the Federal fiscal year is October 1 to September 30, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education grant (Perkins V)  becomes available on July 1. Only 25% of the grant funds are available from July 1 – September 30. The remainder of the grant becomes available on October 1.

How Do I Purchase And Document Correctly?

• PURCHASES MAY NOT BE MADE THROUGH PERSONAL TEACHER ACCOUNTS.  PURCHASES MUST BE MADE BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYING THE CTE TEACHER.

• An itemized printout of the total expenditures attributed to the approved Career and Technical Education application for the year must accompany all claims for reimbursement. 

  • This printout must include the date of purchase, vendor, amount and description of items purchased. The printout should also provide detailed information on any personnel services charged to the Perkins grant. Additional information may be requested, such as accounting ledgers.

The following expenditure items always require supporting documentation including, but not limited to, purchase orders, invoices, and receipts.

• All credit card purchases

• Travel expenditures related to a conference requires adequate documentation (per 2 CFR 200.474)

• Food: generally, there is a very high burden of proof that paying for food and beverages with Federal funds is necessary to meet the goals and objectives of a Federal grant. There may be unique circumstances where the costs would be permissible because they are reasonable and necessary. See the section on meals within the Allowable and Non-allowable Uses of Funds section for more detailed information.

• Reimbursement to individuals

• Salaries

The NDE will review the following for all financial claims:

• Expenditures were pre-approved

• Claims reflect expenditures as reported (equipment/supply purchases must be itemized)

• No more than 5% of allocation administration fee is claimed and documented

• Documentation for Time and Effort is included for all staff and substitute teachers

• Documentation includes copies of invoices, purchase orders, or receipts

• Documentation of accounting records showing where the cost was actually paid (accounting ledger printout)

All ledgers, copies, and supporting documentation should be attached/provided to the claim form before submitting to NDE.

***Following these guidelines does not necessarily guarantee reimbursement.***

How Do I Ensure Fidelity In Use Of Funds?

Nebraska CTE will assist educators in making a more formal shift from collecting data to using data to ensure local CTE programs create success for students and employers and reduce performance gaps for CTE concentrators, including those who are members of special populations. 

The quality and effectiveness of Nebraska CTE is dependent on the ability to constantly evaluate and improve. 

Through Nebraska’s reVISION process, all local recipients are required to analyze disaggregated student performance data to identify performance disparities across student groups, detect root causes, and direct resources towards addressing both. These findings will be carried through to each recipient’s annual application for Perkins funds. 

Within the application, a description of how concentrators from special populations are provided with programs that enable them to meet or exceed State determined levels of performance, and prepare them for further learning in high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand occupations will be included.