Federal and state laws require the California Department of Education (CDE) monitor implementation of categorical programs operated by local educational agencies (LEAs). LEAs are responsible for creating and maintaining programs which meet legal requirements. LEAs are monitored to ensure that they meet fiscal and program requirements of federal categorical programs (21st CCLC), mandated areas of state responsibility (ASES), and funding in Economic Impact Aid—Limited English Proficient and State Compensatory Education (EIA-LEP and EIA-SCE), Physical Education, and Educational Equity.
The Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) Office coordinates reviews through a combination of data review, document review, and on-site visits. LEAs are assigned to one of four cycles: A, B, C, or D. Each year, CDE analyzes extensive data for all LEAs which receive categorical funds in two of the four cycles. LEAs may be selected for an on-site or online monitoring every two years. The Cycle Schedule by School Year demonstrates the distribution of the cycles for a four-year period. Several factors, including compliance history, academic achievement, program size, and fiscal analysis, are considered in identifying LEAs for reviews. Using this established selection criteria, approximately 60 LEAs and sites are selected for on-site or online monitoring. Several LEAs are also randomly selected each year for monitoring.
FPM Regional Team Leaders (RTLs) coordinate teams of select program monitors to conduct on-site or online monitoring of the LEA using the Program Instruments. Please visit the California Department of Education for current resources on Compliance Monitoring, including FPM and their FPM Frequently Asked Questions.
The Region 8 Expanded Learning Services Office of the Ventura County Office of Education can provide technical assistance to programs within Region 8 to prepare for onsite & on-line FPM compliance reviews. For more information contact Ernesto Durán, Regional Lead, for more information at EDuran@vcoe.org or (805)437-1376.
Last revised Feb 2022.