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SDLA Compliance Resource

Complete and Retain the AMS Annual Certification

Make the annual AMS certification using current requirements and retain evidence supporting each assurance for audit.

  • Fiscal & Budget
  • Governance & Board Approval
  • Curriculum & Instruction
TimingAnnually before the applicable annual audit; confirm the current CDE/AMS completion window
Applies toProposition 28 AMS recipients, including recipients with no expenditures in the year
Authority and scopeState annual funding certification; no unverified uniform June 30, 2027 submission deadline is imposed

AB 2440 certification transition is separate from report deadlines

AB 2440, Chapter 606, effective January 1, 2027, adds a defined supplement-not-supplant calculation and changes the section numbering. Amended EC 8820(k) adds a schoolsite-compliance certification commencing with fiscal year 2027–28. Confirm current CDE implementation instructions and the applicable fiscal year before certifying. These changes do not establish an independently verified June 30 portal deadline for this annual certification. Final AB 2440 certification provisions.

Targeted conflict review completed October 21, 2026. Earlier source stamps describe the earlier review scope.

In Plain Language: Make the annual AMS certification using current requirements and retain evidence supporting each assurance for audit.

Why this matters

A certification is an assertion about actual funding use and program commitments. It needs evidence and cannot be replaced by the annual public report.

Primary ownership

Business services and authorized LEA official, with arts-program and HR owners

Required distinctions and controls

  • Use current requirements for arts uses, supplement-not-supplant, staffing rules where applicable, and administration costs. Account for any valid CDE waiver.
  • CDE’s published FAQ distinguishes retained annual certification from the separately submitted annual report. Verify how the current AMS portal implements the certification.
  • CDE flags pending guidance updates for AB 2440. Recheck the current legal and portal instructions; do not copy the PDF’s June 30 date as an independently verified statewide deadline.

Recommended LEA workflow

  1. Identify the certification year, current CDE instructions and authorized certifier.
  2. Build an evidence checklist for every applicable assurance and waiver.
  3. Reconcile the allocation-year ledger, prior-year uses, staffing and arts funding baseline.
  4. Resolve exceptions before the authorized official makes the certification.
  5. Retain the completed certification, support and review record for the annual audit.

Evidence to retain

  • Current certification instructions
  • Assurance-to-evidence checklist
  • Fiscal/staffing support
  • Valid waiver if applicable
  • Signed/completed certification

Related calendar resources

Official guidance and help

Return to the Annual Compliance Calendar

Reviewed October 21, 2026. Confirm the current agency instructions, applicable funding year, recipient scope, local policy and final submitted or approved state before acting. Recommended preparation steps support the named requirement and do not create an additional statewide filing deadline.