Audit says better system needed to track attendance
SCHOOLS COULD BE LOSING OR GAINING FUNDS
SCHOOLS COULD BE LOSING OR GAINING FUNDS
The current system used to evaluate the accuracy of attendance data at school districts statewide could lead to districts being deprived of state funding or getting extra cash, a report by the Kentucky State Auditor's Office shows.
The report shows that the Kentucky Department of Education does not have a system in place to evaluate the accuracy of district attendance data and that errors could go undetected for four years. The General Assembly allocates funds to schools based on average daily attendance.
"The purpose of the attendance audit is to ensure that school attendance is calculated, summarized, recorded, and reported in compliance with state laws and regulations," state auditor Crit Luallen said in the report.
Lisa Gross, spokeswoman for the department, which requested the audit, said KDE will incorporate additional procedures to better ensure more accuracy as a result of the report. The auditor's office offered 18 recommendations for improving the current system, including reviewing the previous year's attendance audit findings and making sure there is a separation of duties between teachers and attendance clerks.
Under the current system, to calculate average daily attendance, a school takes the total number of kids attending school every day and divides that by the number of days school was in session. This number is adjusted if schools are closed due to inclement weather, and every school must subtract the five days with the lowest attendance from the final figure. Gross said schools submit both monthly and yearly attendance reports...
This from the Herald-Leader.
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