The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and other federal laws require local education agencies (LEAs) to provide programs and services to their schools based on the requirements specified in each of the authorizing statutes (ESSA and IDEA). The laws further require that state education agencies such as the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) monitor the implementation of federal programs by sub-recipients and determine whether the funds are being used by the school for their intended purpose and achieving the overall objectives of the funding initiatives.

DLEACS was selected for a collaborative federal programs on-site monitoring visit that took place on November 19, 2019. The purpose of this visit was to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the school’s expenses of Federal grants that are included in the various applications and to determine whether these programs are meeting the intended purposes as specified in the applications and governing statutes and the objectives of the authorizing statutes. 

The on-site visit entailed staff interviews and a documentation review of the requirements from the federal programs. Please see the report here. Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School's plan of corrective action is in progress and will be posted within 30 days.