Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698746624926.pdf (Micronesia, Federated States of)
STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

20-105 RE: C.R.

NO.

20-155/EDUCATION SUBJECT: APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,963,151 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2019.

JANUARY 17, 2019 The Honorable Wesley W. Simina Speaker, Twentieth Congress Federated States of Micronesia Sixth Regular Session, 2019 Dear Mr. Speaker: Your Committee on Education, to which was referred C.R.

No.
No.

20-155, entitled: “A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,963,151 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2018.

FUND UNDER PART B OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDCATION ACT (IDEA), INCLUDING ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE GRANT.”, begs leave to report as follows: The intent and purpose of this resolution are expressed in its title.

Your Committee held a public hearing on the above captioned matter on January 16, 2019.
Present at this hearing were the Secretary of the Department of Education and his key staff, including staff from the Division on Special Education, and representatives from the Department of Justice and the Office of the President.

SCRL 20-124/CR NO.

20-155/Education Committee STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

20-105 RE: C.R.

NO.

20-155/EDUCATION SUBJECT: APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,963,151 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2019.
JANUARY 17, 2019 Staff from the NDOE Division of Special Education, including its Chief of Division were present at the hearing and gave an update of the services and programs for this school year 2018/2019.

The grant which is the subject of this report is the second half of the funding for this school year.

The NDOE staff indicated at the hearing that the program action plans and performance reports are now available to the public on the NDOE website.
The Division of Special Education has always been an important part of our Nation’s educational system.

The program is well known to the Committee, and the Chief of the Division has been long serving as head of this program.

The Chief of Special Education provided new statistics to the Committee that show as of 2018 it served the needs of 1,851 of our young people from newborn to 21 who have disabilities.
Currently the number of personnel, including all teachers and administrators at the state level, is 308.

Over the last several years the number of students has declined slightly while the number of teachers has increase by 20% in the last three years.

The Chief of Division stated during the hearing that the program has had several teachers resign and retire during this past year, and those numbers are expected to decline.

Currently almost 80% of the proposed funding is to be used for personnel.
The Committee also raised concerns that training, textbooks, specialized equipment and other necessary supplies for this program are being compromised by the high percentage of funding utilized for personnel.

The Chief of the Division stated that these were valid concerns and the NDOE Division of Special Education has given guidance to the states regarding this matter, however, it was the up to the states to do their budgeting.
The Chief of Division agreed with the Committee that training and supplies for special education has decreased across the Nation.

-2- STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

20-105 RE: C.R.

NO.

20-155/EDUCATION SUBJECT: APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,963,151 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2019.

JANUARY 17, 2019 A detailed budget is available with the Committee for the review of the members.

It is substantially the same as in year’s past.


The Chief of Division stated the formula for distribution is based on three factors: 1) population of the state, 2) number of children per state served, and 3) performance.
At the close of the hearing the Committee requested that NDOE Division of Special Education work with the all the four states, in an effort to utilize more of the Compact funding for teachers salaries, thereby freeing up money from this source to purchase supplies, textbooks, specialized equipment and additional training for teachers serving children with disabilities.

The Committee will do additional oversight to look at this division in the coming year regarding the above issues.
Your Committee would like to offer the following technical amendments to read as follows: 1.

2.

3.

Title, line 2, delete “2018 and insert “2019” in lieu thereof.

Page 1, line 15, delete “Special” and insert “Regular” in lieu thereof.

Page 1, line 15, delete “2018” and insert “2019” in lieu thereof.

Notwithstanding the concerns mentioned above, your Committee on Education is in accord with the intent and purpose of C.R.

No.
No.

20-155 with the inclusion of the above minor amendment, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as C.R.

No.

20-155, C.D.

1.

-3- STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT NO.

20-105 RE: C.R.

NO.

20-155/EDUCATION SUBJECT: APPROVING AND ACCEPTING A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,963,151 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2019.
JANUARY 17, 2019 Respectfully submitted, Joseph J. Urusemal, chairman Derensio S. Konman, vice chairman /s/ Derensio S. Konman Florencio S. Harper, member Alik L. Alik, member /s/ Esmond B. Moses Esmond B. Moses, member /s/ Wesley W. Simina Wesley W. Simina, member /s/ Ferny S. Perman Ferny S. Perman, member -4-