Reports

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education require Puerto Rico DOE to return the $3.9 million charged to the ARP ESSER grant for the student academic proficiency interim assessments or take other remedial actions as appropriate, such as making accounting adjustments to other valid and allowable obligations incurred during the ARP ESSER grant period of availability.

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education require Puerto Rico DOE to develop and incorporate into its existing contract monitoring and oversight policies and procedures, control activities, or protocols designed to ensure that only qualified personnel are assigned to manage and oversee contracts and those charged with that responsibility verify that the contractually required services are rendered (for example, by reviewing documentation supporting the completion of contract-related work) before paying the contractor.

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education require Puerto Rico DOE to implement its contract amendment procedures, as designed, to ensure that all future changes to the scope of contracted work are documented and approved in writing.

We recommend that the Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education require Puerto Rico DOE to provide sufficient training to its employees, including teachers, who are responsible for implementing initiatives and activities under contracts funded with Federal education funds to help ensure that all contractual obligations and objectives are met and Federal education funds are used as intended.