FPM Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) process.

Is the Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) process an audit?

No. FPM is simply an overall determination of whether the local educational agency (LEA) is meeting statutory program and fiscal requirements for categorical programs.
What is the difference between an onsite and an online FPM review?

Both types of reviews are very similar—individual programs will use the same program instrument for both the onsite and online reviews. During the onsite reviews, however, the California Department of Education (CDE) conducts in-person interviews with LEA staff, school site staff, and LEA and school advisory committees.
What is “Telemonitoring”?

Telemonitoring is an alternative FPM review format that was developed in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An FPM review using this format is conducted remotely, similar to an online review, but with interviews and other meetings taking place using Web videoconferencing applications, such as Zoom.
How much time and effort is involved in an FPM review?

The FPM process will generally require dedicated time and effort from district program administrators over a 60-day period prior to the review. During this period of time, district program administrators work directly with CDE program specialists to locate and provide evidence of compliance.
What is a program instrument and how is it developed?

An FPM program instrument is a representation of federal or state laws, regulations, or controlling judicial decisions that is arranged into statutory core and supporting items. The program instrument is used by the CDE to determine whether an LEA is meeting the requirements of each program. Each program instrument also contains appropriate legal citations.

FPM Program Instruments are developed and reviewed by individual CDE program offices on an annual basis. Program instruments may change from year to year to correspond with changes in federal or state law, regulations, or controlling judicial decisions.
How many meeting minutes of the School Site Council (SSC) should an LEA upload?

There is not a specific number of meeting minutes. The meeting minutes uploaded must provide documentation that the SSC has met all requirements in the program items. LEAs should make certain that official minutes include full descriptions of all required SSC activities.
What exactly does the term “finding” mean?

In FPM, a finding is a determination by the CDE that an LEA did not meet the minimum programmatic or fiscal requirements of a particular compliance area. FPM findings appear as a three-part statement in the review’s Notification of Findings, which is the official report of the review:
- A reiteration of the specific requirements which the LEA must meet
- A description of the evidence which indicates the LEA is not meeting the requirements; and
- The subsequent steps the LEA must take to show that it subsequently is meeting the requirements
What is the process for resolving findings after a review?

The LEA must submit supporting documentation for each finding in CMT within 45 calendar days of the Notification of Findings. CDE Program monitors work with LEA staff to resolve findings. The LEA may request additional resolution time by posting a comment in CMT for the item with the following information: extended due date requested (specific date); justification for extension (brief explanation); activities the LEA will complete in order to resolve the finding. The program monitor will decide whether to grant the request.
Does the LEA need to resolve findings only at the sites the FPM team monitored?

No. The LEA must correct this finding throughout the entire LEA at all sites.
What assistance is available to help district and site administrators understand the FPM process?

Each LEA selected for an FPM review is assigned a CDE FPM Review Lead, who is the designated point of contact for the FPM review and will work with LEA staff to coordinate all activities of the review. The CDE also provides LEAs with a collection of FPM-related resources organized on a program-by-program basis in the CDE Box file sharing site.

County office of education staff are an additional resource for support in the FPM process. Please access the CDE Compliance Monitoring Web page for contact information of the County Office of Education Monitoring Leads.

The CDE also offers training to assist LEAs in understanding the overall FPM process and the requirements of each program instrument on an annual basis in August.

Questions: Federal Program Monitoring Office | fpmoffice@cde.ca.gov | 916-319-0935