A message from state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan: (sent 6.26.12)

This afternoon, the Governor signed the State School Aid budget for next year and as many of you know, it included language regarding state funding of kindergarten in order to clarify funding methods and purposes in relation to the use of federal Title I dollars being used to pay for a half-day of kindergarten instruction. The bill also directs me, as State Superintendent, to request clarification from the U.S. Department of Education as to whether that is an allowable use of Title I funds.

In an effort to help schools who are in the process of developing their district budgets for next year, I am immediately sending that request to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (2 attachments listed here).

I also am attaching a copy of the letter the U.S. Department of Education sent to one of your colleagues, who made a similar inquiry earlier this year.

While I am hoping that the feds will clarify in favor of helping out our schools in this situation, this earlier response to your colleague may provide you some preliminary guidance in developing your own budgets.

The MDE will send districts the latest response from the U.S. Department of Education when they receive it.