1.0       PURPOSE

This Circular is being issued to provide supplemental provisions to DECS, DBM and DILG Joint Circular No. 01 s. 1998 dated 14 April 1998 entitled: "Prescribing the Rules and Regulations on the Utilization of the Special Education Funds (SEF) by the Local School Boards (LSB) for the Operation and Maintenance of Elementary and Secondary Public Schools".

2.0       PRIORITIZATION OF EXPENSES CHARGEABLE TO SEF

2.1    The SEF may be used to fund the establishment of new classes as extensions of existing public elementary or secondary schools as approved by the DECS Secretary upon the recommendation of the DECS Regional Director and the certification of the Division Superintendent concerned of the necessity and urgency of establishing extension classes in the province, city or municipality as the case may be, provided that no extension class shall be established unless the number of pupils/students in such extension class shall at least be fifteen (15).

2.2    DECS shall be responsible for the assignment of teaching personnel to handle newly established extension classes.

2.3    In instances where there are no teaching positions available in DECS to handle these classes, a portion of the SEF may be utilized for the payment of compensation of those teaching personnel who will be hired to temporarily handle such DECS - approved extension classes, provided that such hiring shall only be for the period covered by a particular SEF budget.

2.4    To temporarily handle these extension classes, as provided for in the SEF budget, only those who have successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers shall be hired. Such hiring shall be approved by the Local Chief Executive in accordance with pertinent CSC and DBM guidelines on hiring and compensation.

2.5    Nothing in this provision shall be construed to mean an obligation on the part of the national government to convert such positions chargeable against SEF into regular positions to be funded from the national funds.

2.6    Subsequently, should new/additional positions be provided for DECS in a budget year, DECS shall give priority in the deployment/assignment of such teaching positions or items to these extension classes.

2.7    It is, however, understood that qualified personnel handling these classes temporarily, may be considered by DECS to fill vacant teaching positions as authorized in the DECS staffing pattern and funded in its budget.

3.0       REPORTING REQUIREMENT

The SEF Budget and a quarterly report of its utilization (using the form as per Annex "A") shall be prepared and submitted by the Local School Board to the DECS ROs, copy furnished the DBM ROs and DILG ROs. The aforesaid quarterly report shall be submitted one week after the end of the quarter.

4.0       EFFECTIVITY

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 14 March 2000

(SGD.) ANDREW B. GONZALEZ, FSC Secretary Department of Education, Culture	(SGD.) BENJAMIN E. DIOKNO Secretary Department of Budget and Management and Sports
(SGD.) ALFREDO S. LIM Secretary Department of Interior and Local Government"