After taking the lead role among members of Missouri’s congressional delegation in opposing a troubling U.S. Department of Education regulation, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) today announced his office has been notified by the department that his efforts to secure a two-year extension from costly accounting requirements impacting Missouri career and technical schools (career centers) was successful. The department has indicated they will reach out to career centers regarding the extension this week.  

The following 9^th District schools are affected by the regulation: Eldon, Hannibal, Kirksville, Macon, Mexico, Moberly, Pike County, St. Charles and Washington.

“This extension is vital for our state career centers, which play a pivotal role in ensuring Missourians have the necessary technical skills to succeed in our nation,” Luetkemeyer said. “I believe education policy is a state and local issue, and it is important that we keep the long arm of the federal government from dictating their wishes on our schools.”

Since 1997, federal regulations have stipulated that postsecondary education institutions applying for Title IV funds must submit annual financial statements to the Department of Education prepared on an accrual basis, a method of accounting. For years, the Department of Education has granted multiple extensions to Missouri career centers to operate under their current reporting system -- cash accounting -- because Missouri allows school districts to adopt any comprehensive basis of accounting. Missouri is unique from many states in that many of its career centers are part of local school districts.  

If the extension had not been approved, state career centers would have been required to adopt expensive financial reporting requirements at a time when these schools are facing major financial challenges. In November, Luetkemeyer sent, and every member of the Missouri delegation signed on, a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan requesting that the Department of Education provide a waiver from requiring Missouri’s career centers to comply with the regulation when applying for Title IV funds.  Fewer than 40 schools in the state, which are larger in nature, prepare their financial statements using the accrual basis method of accounting, and 90 percent of all schools in Missouri use the cash basis of accounting. While the Department of Education was unwilling to grant an outright waiver, it granted an extension. Luetkemeyer will continue to push for a full waiver from the onerous regulation.   

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