Consolidated Applications due July 1  

The due date to submit the Consolidated Application for NCLB Title formula grant programs is July 1, 2005. Districts should make every effort to submit their Consolidated Applications by July 1 in order to avoid any problems with federal program fund obligations. 

Federal regulations require that a district’s application must be received at the Department of Education (DOE) in a “substantially approvable form” before the district is allowed to obligate or expend federal program funds. 

The period between July 1 and the date the district’s application arrives at DOE is effectively a “blackout period” for obligating federal funds. Any activities occurring during this period (summer school, professional development, supplies or equipment orders, teacher salaries, etc.) are not eligible for reimbursement from federal program funds. 

While the Department of Education will accept applications until Sept. 30, 2005, districts need to be aware that any obligations occurring during this blackout period will have to be covered by local funds.