SHARS Survey Due Nov 1, 2024 for IDEA-B Recipients

SHARS Survey Due Nov 1, 2024 for IDEA-B Recipients

September 26, 2024 | Grants Management

Don’t fret because today’s task should be quick and painless since most charter districts don’t participate in SHARS (Student Health and Related Services, a Medicaid program). If you received IDEA-B funding in 2023-24, then your LEA is required to complete the SHARS survey by Nov 1, 2024. SHARS is a program by which districts can receive funding from Medicaid for certain SPED services. Even if you do not have a SHARS program, you must complete the survey if you received IDEA-B funding so that TEA can complete maintenance of effort (MOE) for the federal grant (IDEA-B).

Where is the survey located?

The survey is available at the following link*:
Link to SHARS Survey Due Nov 1, 2024

*Note: The Superintendent or Chief Operating Officer should complete the survey.

  • Option 1 – Your LEA received the IDEA-B grant but did not participate in the SHARS Medicaid program (this is most charters).
  • Option 2 – Your LEA participates in the SHARS program, but the money collected from SHARS is not spent or tracked directly to SPED expenses (not coded to PIC 23).
  • Option 3 – Your LEA participates in the SHARS program, and the money collected from SHARS is spent directly on SPED. (You will have to enter a 2023-24 amount because this amount will be removed from your SPED expenditures, and it does not count toward MOE).

Don’t understand MOE? You are not alone! No worries, the CSS federal team does understand and can advise you on IDEA, SHARS, and more!

Where can I find more information?

For the complete TEA memo regarding the SHARS survey requirement, click here: TEA SHARS Survey Memo

It is unusual for small Charters to participate in SHARS because the number of eligible SPED students on Medicaid is not enough to warrant the complexity/time obligation of the program; however, keep in mind, many small charters DO participate in IDEA-B (the reason we are reaching out to you today).

Because SHARS funding comes from the government, you don’t get to count it as money you spent for SPED students out of your state and/or local funds. For MOE, only money spent for SPED students from fund 420 and/or fund 199 and coded to PIC 23 is used to calculate your SPED expenditures. These amounts cannot be reduced from your last compliant year without submitting an exceptions workbook.

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