Categorical Funding

"Categorical funding" as defined by the Administrative Rules Chapter 281.98, means financial support from state and federal governments that is targeted for particular categories of students, special programs, or special purposes. This support is in addition to school district or area education agency general purpose revenue, is beyond the basic educational program, and most often has restrictions on its use. Where categorical funding requires a local match, that local match also is considered to be categorical funding. Categorical funding includes both grants in aid and budgetary allocations. Although grants in aid and budgetary allocations are both categorical funding, they are defined separately to distinguish unique characteristics of each type of categorical funding. Chapter 281.98 describes appropriate uses of grants in aid, budgetary allocations and tax levies and funds. In addition Chapter 291.98 also addresses indirect cost recovery, restriction on supplanting, mandatory carryforward, discontinued funding, expenditures, restriction on duplication, excess expenditures, commingling, and uses of levies and funds.

2017 Iowa Acts chapter 153, House File 564 and Iowa Acts chapter 172, House File 642 included additional allowed uses for certain categorical funds. The impacted funds include the professional development supplement (project 3376), at risk and dropout prevention modified supplemental amount (project 1119; also impacts project 1116), and preschool foundation aid (project 3117). See Flexibility Legislation Guidance.

Categorical Funding and Budgetary Allocations Unspent at the End of the Fiscal Year and Carried Forward, by District and AEA

FY21 Carryforward of Categorical Funding

FY20 Carryforward of Categorical Funding

FY19 Carryforward of Categorical Funding

Previous years data is available upon request.

Links to more Information about Budgetary Allocations

• Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) Allocations
  • Sources for Local Projects

• Statewide Voluntary Four-year-old Preschool Program
  • State Aid Payment Summary
  • Program Information

• Supplementary Weighting

• Operational Function Sharing Supplementary Weighting

• Limited English Proficient (LEP) Weighting
  • Sources for Local Projects
  • Program Information

• Special Education Weighting

• At-Risk Formula Supplementary Weighting
  • Sources for Local Projects
  • Program Information

• Reorganization Incentive Weighting

• Gifted and Talented Weighting
  • Sources for Local Projects
  • Program Information

• Returning Dropout and Dropout Prevention
  • Sources for Local Projects
  • Program Information

• Use of Unexpended General Fund Balance
  • Unspent Authorized Budget Report Lines 21 and 22
  • Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 281.98 (22)
  • Iowa Code 257.31

• Early Intervention Supplement
  • State Aid Payment Summary
  • Program Information
• Educator Quality Basic Salary Supplement (TSS)
  • State Aid Payment Summary
  • Program Information
• Educator Quality Professional Development Supplement
  • State Aid Payment Summary
  • Program Information
• Teacher Leadership and Compensation System
  • State Aid Payment Summary
  • Program Information

Links to more Information about Grants-in-Aid

• Beginning Teacher Mentoring and Induction
• Beginning Administrator Mentoring and Induction - Discontinued program
• Nonpublic Textbook Services

Links to more Information about Levies and Funds

• Levies and Funds