Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT)

Mission

The mission of the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team is to help California’s local educational agencies fulfill their financial and management responsibilities by providing fiscal advice, management assistance, training and other related school business services.

The Kern County Superintendent of Schools office exists as the administrative and fiscal agent for FCMAT which currently operates within the context of several areas of the California Education Code, primarily those sections having to do with AB 1200 and AB 2756 oversight (EC 42127.1-.8, EC 41326, EC 41327). FCMAT reports to a board of directors comprised of one county superintendent and one district superintendent from each of the state’s 11 service regions. A representative of the California Department of Education also is on the board. Assembly Bill 1200 (AB1200) created FCMAT in 1991.

The team can assist county offices of education in understanding their fiscal monitoring duties as required by AB1200, sometimes suggesting specific methods of carrying out the oversight responsibilities. FCMAT also provides management studies for school districts, county offices of education, charter schools and community colleges that request them. FCMAT coordinates statewide professional development efforts for school business officials. For more information on any of these services, go to www.fcmat.org or call (661) 636-4611.

The Role of FCMAT

Those who contributed to the formation of AB1200 recognized that expanding the responsibility and authority of monitoring agencies was not enough. A statewide resource focusing on fiscal and management guidance was needed to assist monitoring agencies in the performance of their tasks and to assist educational agencies that request help in school business management and related areas. Therefore, AB1200 called for the creation of a Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT).

This can occur under several different circumstances. For example, if a county office reviews and disapproves a school district’s annual budget, that county office may call upon FCMAT to examine the district’s financial records, develop an approvable budget and/or provide other operational recommendations that will ensure fiscal stability. In addition, FCMAT can respond directly at the request of a school district or county office that may seek advice to improve management practices, business policies and procedures or organizational structure. The state, in its monitoring role, also could ask for FCMAT’s assistance.

To learn more about FCMAT, visit them at www.fcmat.org. 

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