This subpart establishes general requirements that a State must meet to apply for a grant under a program covered by this part. Additional requirements are in applicable statutes and regulations for the program.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a State that makes subgrants to local educational agencies under a program subject to this part must have on file with the Secretary a State plan that meets the requirements of section 441 of GEPA (20 U.S.C. 1232d), which may include information about how the State intends use continuous improvement strategies in its program implementation based on periodic review of research, data, community input, and other feedback.

(b) The requirements of section 441 of GEPA do not apply to a State plan submitted for a program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

As used in this part, State plan means any document that applicable statutes and regulations for a State-administered formula grant program require a State to submit in order to receive funds for the program. To the extent that any provision of this part conflicts with program-specific implementing regulations related to the plan, the program-specific implementing regulations govern.

Unless otherwise specified by statute, regulations, or the Secretary, each State plan is effective for a period of more than one fiscal year, to be determined by the Secretary or by regulations.

(a) A State shall include the following certifications in each State plan:

(1) That the plan is submitted by the State agency that is eligible to submit the plan.

(2) That the State agency has authority under State law to perform the functions of the State under the program.

(3) That the State legally may carry out each provision of the plan.

(4) That all provisions of the plan are consistent with State law.

(5) That a State officer, specified by title in the certification, has authority under State law to receive, hold, and disburse Federal funds made available under the plan.

(6) That the State officer who submits the plan, specified by title in the certification, has authority to submit the plan.

(7) That the agency that submits the plan has adopted or otherwise formally approved the plan.

(8) That the plan is the basis for State operation and administration of the program.

(b) [Reserved]

A State shall make the following documents available for public inspection:

(a) All State plans and related official materials.

(b) All approved subgrant applications.

(c) All documents that the Secretary transmits to the State regarding a program.

(a) Sections 76.125 through 76.137 of this part contain requirements for the submission of an application by an Insular Area for the consolidation of two or more grants under the programs described in paragraph (c) of this section.

(b) For the purpose of §§ 76.125-76.137 of this part the term Insular Area means the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

(c) The Secretary may make an annual consolidated grant to assist an Insular Area in carrying out one or more State-administered formula grant programs of the Department, consistent with applicable law.

The following regulations apply to those programs included in a consolidated grant:

(a) The regulations in §§ 76.125 through 76.137; and

(b) The regulations that apply to each specific program included in a consolidated grant for which funds are used.

An Insular Area may apply for a consolidated grant for two or more State-administered formula grant programs . This procedure is intended to:

(a) Simplify the application and reporting procedures that would otherwise apply for each of the programs included in the consolidated grant; and

(b) Provide the Insular Area with flexibility in allocating the funds under the consolidated grant to achieve any of the purposes to be served by the programs that are consolidated.

A consolidated grant is a grant to an Insular Area for any two or more State-administered formula grant programs. The amount of the consolidated grant is the sum of the allocations the Insular Area receives under each of the programs included in the consolidated grant if there had been no consolidation.

(a) An Insular Area shall use the funds it receives under a consolidated grant to carry out, in its jurisdiction, one or more of the programs included in the grant.

(b) An Insular Area shall comply with the statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to each program under which funds from the consolidated grant are expended.

(a) The Secretary annually makes a single consolidated grant to each Insular Area that meets the requirements of §§ 76.125 through 76.137 and each program under which the grant funds are to be used and administered.

(b) The Secretary may decide that one or more programs cannot be included in the consolidated grant if the Secretary determines that the Insular Area failed to meet the program objectives stated in its plan for the previous fiscal year in which it carried out the programs.

(c) Under a consolidated grant, an Insular Area may use a single advisory council for any or all of the programs that require an advisory council.

(d) Although Pub. L. 95-134 authorizies the Secretary to consolidate grant funds that the Department awards to an Insular Area, it does not confer eligibility for any grant funds. The eligibility of a particular Insular Area to receive grant funds under a Federal education program is determined under the statutes and regulations that apply to that program.

(a) An Insular Area that desires to apply for a grant consolidating two or more State-administered formula grant programs shall submit to the Secretary an application that:

(1) Contains the assurances in § 76.132; and

(2) Meets the application requirements in paragraph (c) of this section.

(b) The submission of an application that contains these requirements and assurances takes the place of a separate State plan or other similar document required by this part or by applicable statutes and regulations for programs included in the consolidated grant.

(c) An Insular Area shall include in its consolidated grant application a program plan that:

(1) Contains a list of the State-administered formula grant programs to be included in the consolidated grant;

(2) Describes the State-administered formula grant programs under which the consolidated grant funds will be used and administered;

(3) Describes the goals, objectives, activities, and the means of evaluating program outcomes for the programs for which the Insular Area will use the funds received under the consolidated grant during the fiscal year for which it submits the application, including needs of the population that will be met by the consolidation of funds; and

(4) Contains a budget that includes a description of the allocation of funds—including any anticipated carryover funds of the program in the consolidated grant from the preceding year—among the programs to be included in the consolidated grant.

(a) An Insular Area shall include in its consolidated grant application assurances to the Secretary that it will:

(1) Follow policies and use administrative practices that will insure that non-Federal funds will not be supplanted by Federal funds made available under the authority of the programs in the consolidated grant;

(2) Comply with the requirements (except those relating to the submission of State plans or similar documents) in the applicable statutes and implementing regulations for the programs under which funds are to be used and administered, (except requirements for matching funds);

(3) Provide for proper and efficient administration of funds in accordance with the authorizing statutes and implementing regulations for those programs under which funds are to be used and administered;

(4) Provide for fiscal control and fund accounting procedures to ensure proper disbursement of, and accounting for, Federal funds received under the consolidated grant;

(5) Submit an annual report to the Secretary containing information covering the program or programs for which the grant is used and administered, including the financial and program performance information required under 2 CFR 200.328 and 200.329.

(6) Provide that funds received under the consolidated grant will be under control of, and that title to property acquired with these funds will be in, a public agency, institution, or organization. The public agency shall administer these funds and property;

(7) Keep records, including a copy of the State Plan or application document under which funds are to be spent, which show how the funds received under the consolidated grant have been spent.

(8) Adopt and use methods of monitoring and providing technical assistance to any agencies, organizations, or institutions that carry out the programs under the consolidated grant and enforce any obligations imposed on them under the applicable statutes and regulations.

(9) Evaluate the effectiveness of these programs in meeting the purposes and objectives in the applicable statutes under which program funds are used and administered;

(10) Conduct evaluations of these programs at intervals and in accordance with procedures the Secretary may prescribe; and

(11) Provide appropriate opportunities for participation by local agencies, representatives of the groups affected by the programs, and other interested institutions, organizations, and individuals in planning and operating the programs.

(b) These assurances remain in effect for the duration of the programs they cover.

(a) After an Insular Area receives a consolidated grant, it may reallocate the funds in a manner different from the allocation described in its consolidated grant application. However, the funds cannot be used for purposes that are not authorized under the programs in the consolidated grant under which funds are to be used and administered.

(b) If an Insular Area decides to reallocate the funds it receives under a consolidated grant, it shall notify the Secretary by amending its original application to include an update of the information required under § 76.131.

(a) An Insular Area may request that any State-administered formula grant programs be included in its consolidated grant and may apply separately for assistance under any other of those programs for which it is eligible.

(b) Those programs that an Insular Area decides to exclude from consolidation—for which it must submit separate plans or applications—are implemented in accordance with the applicable applicable statutes and regulations. The excluded programs are not subject to the provisions for allocation of funds among programs in a consolidated grant.

The Secretary waives all requirements for matching funds for those programs that are consolidated by an Insular Area in a consolidated grant application.

Insular Areas may only use and administer funds under State-administered formula grant programs during a fiscal year for which the Insular Area is entitled to receive funds under an appropriation for that program.

Any funds under any applicable program which are available for obligation and expenditure in the year succeeding the fiscal year for which they are appropriated must be obligated and expended in accordance with the consolidated grant application submitted by the Insular Area for that program for the succeeding fiscal year.

(a) If the Secretary determines that an amendment to a State plan is essential during the effective period of the plan, the State must make the amendment.

(b) A State must also amend a State plan if there is a significant and relevant change in the information or the assurances in the plan.

(c) If a State amends a State plan, to the extent consistent with applicable law, the State must use the same procedures as those it must use to prepare and submit a State plan, unless the Secretary prescribes different procedures for submitting amendments based on the characteristics and requirements of a particular State-administered formula grant program.