10/23/10

The Texas Education Agency released a TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED letter dated October 15, 2010, on new reporting requirements under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA).  School districts and open-enrollment charter schools that receive grant awards totaling more than $25,000 and contract awards totaling more than $550,000, respectively, directly from the federal government on or after October 1, 2010, must report certain information, including a description of the award and, in some instances, must also report the total compensation and names of the top five school officials.  A report will be due by the end of the month following approval for a federal grant or contract, and must be updated when there are changes to specific information on file.  

The letter explains that the new reporting requirements will not apply to federal awards that passed through the the TEA.  However, for federal funds awarded directly from an federal agency (where the funds did not pass through another agency), including the U.S. Department of Education, a school district and open-enrollment charter school will be responsible for initiating their own process to ensure compliance with the FFATA reporting requirements.    

In order to furnish the required information, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools will need to register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system as well as the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) and will need a DUNS number.  

The FFATA required reporting will be made through the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) at www.fsrs.gov.  Data submitted to FSRS will also be released to the public at www.USASpending.gov.  

To read the TEA announcement, click on the link below.

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/taa/ffata20101015.html