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Case study: PA LEAs apply for Contingency Funds online using CFunds

In 2005, Leader Services responded to a need by the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Bureau of Special Education (BSE) for software for managing the Pennsylvania contingency fund process.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Contingency Funds Request System, or CFunds, is designed to allow Pennsylvania school districts and charter schools to electronically submit requests for contingency funds to help offset the costs of providing Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to students with significant disabilities. Using common web browsers over a secure SSL connection, local education agencies (LEAs) can apply for contingency funding that furnishes additional money (up to $150,000 per LEA) to provide for a specialized program or related service to meet a child's educational needs where expenses are high because of a significant disability.

Released in January 2006, the CFunds application also allows LEAs to determine an eligible amount for the request (subject to Bureau of Special Education approval). LEAs can securely submit student IEPs as supporting documentation based on pre-defined criteria or random selection. The application validates input data instantly based on pre-defined rules, reducing errors. It features a message center that allows LEAs to review communications from the Bureau of Special Education and respond to requests for clarification or other information. Once the data has been entered, the application allows LEAs to review pending requests. Security features allow LEAs to maintain user accounts and district contact information.

By reducing paperwork and errors and facilitating communication between the LEA and the Bureau of Special Education, CFunds streamlines the application, review, and approval processes.

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