Section 425.80  Block Grant Funds

Only schools recognized pursuant to this Part shall be eligible to receive school safety and educational improvement block grant funding under Section 2-3.51.5 of the School Code.

a)         In order to receive its proportionate share of these funds for a given school year, a school shall be required to submit, at the conclusion of the school year and in a format specified by the State Superintendent of Education:

1)         a final calendar demonstrating that the length of the school term conformed to the requirements of Section 425.30 of this Part; and

2)         month-by-month attendance information.

b)         The State Superintendent shall annually establish and publicize the timelines for the submission of this information.

c)         Each school shall maintain attendance records in an auditable format, i.e., one that shows that attendance was taken daily and supports the information transmitted to the State Superintendent.

d)         Each school shall prepare an annual expenditure report, in a format specified by the State Superintendent, relating to its use of block grant funds and make this report available to the State Superintendent upon request.  Payments to a school whose use of block grant funds in a prior year is found not to have complied with the requirements of Section 2-3.51.5(1) of the School Code shall be reduced to reflect amounts expended for purposes not allowed under that Section, and the school shall be subject to potential additional consequences for noncompliance as set forth in Section 425.50 of this Part.

e)         Any school that, for two years in a row and in any combination, either fails to deliver the report required by Section 27-8.1 of the School Code to the State Superintendent of Education by November 15 or delivers a report that does not demonstrate that at least 90 percent of the pupils enrolled in the school have complied with the requirements of that Section regarding immunizations and health examinations (other than dental and eye examinations) shall be issued a Notice of Non-Compliance.  Unless, within seven school days after mailing of the notice, the school presents written evidence to the State Superintendent that it has delivered the report required by Section 27-8.1 and the report demonstrates compliance with that Section, the State Superintendent shall reduce by 10 percent the next payment of block grant funds under this Section, provided that all amounts withheld shall be restored to the school after compliance is documented.