Still no FCDLs

With less than 10 days left until the start of the funding year, we still have zero funding commitments. Rumor has it that the delay was caused by a lack of FCC approval for some of the secret rules that the SLD uses to process applications.

You've got to figure that there will be at least one wave of funding before June 30th, so that the FCC and SLD can avoid the embarrassment of starting the program year with no funding approvals.

But I'm not expecting a huge wave. My sense is that the PIA review process is way behind. For the 2003-2004 program year, PIA almost met its target of 80% of FRNs processed by June 30th. Since then, their record has gotten worse. And no wonder: the rules for the Item 21 Attachments have gotten more complex, there's the whole NCES code mess (the code is required, but not requested on the form), and PIA staff were pulled earlier in the year to help clear the backlog of invoices.