JCSD Upgraded to ‘LOW RISK’ on Year 2019-20 Subrecipient Risk Assessment

For Immediate Release

April 15, 2021

JCSD Upgraded to ‘LOW RISK’ on Year 2019-20 Subrecipient Risk Assessment

Jasper County School District has improved the score on the ‘Subrecipient Risk Assessment’ by scoring a 10. As a result, our school district has been upgraded from ‘medium risk’ to ‘low risk.’ The best possible score is a 9. We are pleased to share that JCSD has improved, and we will continue our quest for Excellence!

2017 - 2018 - Risk Assessment Score - 19 Medium Risk

2018 - 2019 - Risk Assessment Score - 19 Medium Risk

2019 - 2020 - Risk Assessment Score - 10 Low Risk

Annually, the South Carolina Department of Education conducts a risk assessment of, and assigns a risk score to, each of its federal grant subrecipients based on overall financial and programmatic performance as demonstrated through ten criteria (see list below):

 
  • Turnover of Key Personnel 
  • Programmatic Compliance 
  • Fiscal Compliance 
  • Performance 
  • Frequency and Need of Technical Assistance 
  • Financial Stability 
  • Quality of Management Information Systems (internal controls) 
  • Timeliness of Annual Financial Audit Submission 
  • Other Material Factors (accreditation and confirmed cheating/test security violations)

Every federal program office submits scores on criteria 1–6 for each of their subrecipients. Financial and internal control assessment scores are assigned based upon the subrecipient’s reimbursement claims patterns and annual independent audit (i.e., criteria 7–9). 

All scores are compiled by criteria and averaged for a criteria score. Criteria scores are totaled for a risk score. The lowest possible risk score is 9, which indicates that the subrecipient received a 1 in each of criteria 1–9 and no other material factors were identified. Subrecipients are assessed annually.

What does this mean for Jasper County School District?

The wonderful professional educators of Jasper County School District (JCSD) continue to work diligently to change the perception of Jasper County School District that some once knew. JCSD has made many significant improvements, and this is just one of the many. The low risk assessment score also validates to our leaders, who continue to press forward, that their hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed. We know we are doing what is right for our scholars. This improved risk assessment score reinforces that. Warren Buffett states, “The investor of today does not profit from yesterday’s growth.” I am appreciative of our team’s efforts and intentional focus exuded every day to ensure that JCSD can profit from their investments of time, talent, and commitment. #OneJasper#Jasper Strong