Wednesday, February 12, 2014

State Auditor can't certify MAEP estimates

State Auditor Stacey Pickering issued the following press release:


State Auditor Unable To Certify FY2015 MAEP Calculation

JACKSON- State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced today that he is unable to certify the accuracy of the FY 2015 final estimate calculation of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP).

Members of the legislature and the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) were notified on Friday.

“I am unable to certify the MAEP calculation again this year because the data used by the Department of Education is not accurate and unreliable,” Auditor Pickering said. “And because there was a recalculation of the Base Student Cost this year, these errors and flaws will be compounded and will remain uncorrected over the next three years until the next recalculation takes place.”

The Office of the State Auditor has found:

·School districts are not in compliance with House Bill 1530 (2013 Regular Session), new legislation designed to standardize the average daily attendance counts across the State. ADA data accounts for $1.9 billion of the MAEP formula, but many school districts are not able to comply partially because MDE failed to work with software companies on a statewide level to ensure they have timely and effectively implemented software changes to uniformly account for the new law.

·The “At-Risk” part of the MAEP formula, $82 million total, relies on free lunch program application data which does not require proof of income eligibility and is difficult to verify due to federal audit restrictions.

·The Add-on Cost salary increment used in the calculation, specifically Special Education, Vocational Education, and Gifted Education is arbitrary. This is an ongoing trend for at least the past five years.

OSA recommends MDE verify and utilize the most current data for all elements of the MAEP estimates.

OSA also recommends MDE compile budget requests, based on research, analysis, documentation, and presentation of fact-based evidence, that project the costs of meeting the actual needs of our public schools.

Posted by Kingfish at 3:55 PM

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

it would be nice it Auditor Pickering spent more time doing his job as opposed to attacking his fellow Republicans like the single consititutional conservative candidate for US Senate, state senator Chris McDaniel.

You know McDaniel is the right man for Seantor when you have the likes of Bill Minor, Hob Bryan, Haley (pardongate)Barbour and Stacy Pickering (unfairly) attacking him.

Just say no to the establishment and to the status quo - Vote McDaniel for Senate.

February 12, 2014 at 4:10 PM
Anonymous said...

Get out of here with that mess - everything is not about McDaniel.

So, what is the practical effect of these findings? Do these things have to be fixed before money is spent, or they get the money anyway?

February 12, 2014 at 4:51 PM
Anonymous said...

Accountants battling accountants. BFD.

February 12, 2014 at 7:07 PM
bill said...

I think the Auditor is trying to say that it's time the legislature repealed the fuzzy math MAEP formula. School expenditures should be based on budgets and needs, not some cockeyed set of algorithms that a handful of people in the world understand. If we're going to have nearly twice as many superintendents as we do counties, at least make them earn some of their money by doing what their kids do every night - homework.

February 13, 2014 at 9:43 AM

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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).

Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.

In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS.