NH DOE clears federal fiscal review

CONCORD - On January 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education informed the New Hampshire Department of Education that it had resolved all outstanding issues from a fiscal review initiated in September 2016.

A letter from Patrick Rooney, Director of the Office of Support Accountability, states “I am pleased to inform you all of the action requires areas identified by the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) in its fiscal review of the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) have been resolved. The review, which occurred on September 8, 2016, included the fiscal requirements associated with Title I, Part A; Title II, Part A; Title III, Part A; and School Improvement Grant Programs.”

Failure to comply with federal requirements and reach a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education would have resulted in New Hampshire having to send back $3.4 million in federal grant funds.

“It is essential that we are accountable to parents and taxpayers,” said New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. “Resolving these issues allowed us to keep $3.4 million in federal education funds. Our team has worked diligently to improve local compliance with federal grant requirements and increase transparency and accountability.”