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SDLA Compliance Resource

Finalize Title III EL and Immigrant Subgrant Budgets

The CARS budget close for translating identified needs and approved plans into allowable, supplemental, sufficiently detailed federal spending proposals.

  • Title III
  • CARS
  • Federal Budget
Date(s)September 30, 2026
Applies toLEAs accepting 2026–27 Title III EL and/or Immigrant Student Program subgrants, including consortium leads as applicable

In Plain Language: Reconcile estimated allocations and pupil counts, enter complete EL and Immigrant budgets separately, test allowability and supplement-not-supplant, align activities with the LCAP Federal Addendum and consortium responsibilities, and certify final CARS forms by September 30.

Why this matters

A budget total can balance while the plan remains noncompliant. Vague activities, wrong student counts, mixed EL/Immigrant funding, unsupported administration, or member-level consortium charges can delay approval or create monitoring findings.

Primary ownership

Primary owner: Title III program lead with federal-programs fiscal lead. Partners: CARS coordinator, EL services, immigrant program, LCAP/Federal Addendum, private-school consultation, consortium lead/members, procurement, HR, and authorized representative.

Operational workflow

  1. 1. Confirm accepted funding, estimated allocation, source pupil count, direct-versus-consortium status, assurances, and current CARS instructions.
  2. 2. Map each proposed cost to identified need, authorized Title III purpose, Federal Addendum activity, timeline, responsible staff, and evidence of benefit.
  3. 3. Separate EL, Immigrant, private-school, consortium, administration, and indirect-cost calculations.
  4. 4. Reconcile line items to the district budget/ledger setup and obtain program/fiscal/consortium review.
  5. 5. Validate and certify both applicable CARS budget forms by September 30; retain final exports and approvals.

Implementation pathway

Eligibility/allocation
Need/activity map
Separate calculations
Review
Certify

Evidence to retain

  • Eligibility/allocation and student-count support
  • Federal Addendum/needs alignment
  • Detailed budget and allowability review
  • Private-school/consortium documentation
  • CARS validation/certification
  • Final forms and ledger crosswalk

Official guidance and help

Source review completed August 30, 2026. Verify current CDE, CARS, CMDC, GMART, program, fiscal, consortium, and entity-specific instructions before acting.