FY 09 IMPROVING TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL QUALITY:P-16 EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS

TITLE II, PART A

Friday, September 26, 2008

Technical Assistance Workshop for 2008-2009 grant applications

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, Title II, Part A/Subpart 3 (Public Law 107-110)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

DEADLINES

Letter of Intent to Apply–use Appendix H

Friday, October 17, 2008

Grant Proposal Due by 4:30 p.m.

Friday, November 21, 2008

NCLB Priorities (p1)

Increasing teacher content knowledge through partnerships that offer content institutes, workshops, and graduate courses, particularly in mathematics and science.

Increasing teacher knowledge about data-driven decision-making in the classroom.

Assessment and Accountability (pp3-4)ADE Website: http://Arkansas.govACTAAPADE Website – curriculum-frameworks

EPASExplore, Plan, ACT

ACSIPSchool Improvement Planning

Current Testing Results (p4)

Iowa Test of Basic Skills in grades 3-9 in reading, mathematics and science (07-08)

Arkansas Benchmark Exams in grades 3-8 in mathematics and literacy and grades 5 and 7 in science (07-08)

End-of-Course Examinations in algebra I, geometry, biology and 11th grade literacy (07-09)

FUNDS AVAILABLE

$680,000

INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION IS TO SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT:

1. Provide long-term, sustained high-quality professional learning opportunities,

2. Provide access to teachers statewide, including teachers in high-need local school districts, and

3. Result in change of teacher practice in the classroom that increases student performance in content areas.

PRIORITY FUNDING (p2)

Collaborative professional learning communities that support activities in K-12 science and mathematics to improve teacher quality and student achievement

Professional learning that is sustained, intensive, and long-term

Professional learning that includes graduate course work

EXAMPLES (p2)

Content workshops, institutes, graduate courses in core academic subjects of mathematics, science, social studies, English/language arts, foreign language, and the arts

Use of instructional technology within a content workshop

Use of research-based curriculum Inclusion of data-driven decision-making

opportunities

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS (p2)

FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS WITH TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACCREDITED

ELIGIBLE PARTNERSHIPS (p2)

Eligible partnerships SHALL include:

Institution of higher education College of EducationCollege of Arts and SciencesA high-need local education

agency (LEA)

HIGH-NEED LEA(a) An LEA that serves not fewer than 10,000

children from families with income below the poverty line, OR for which not less than 20 percent of the children served are from families with incomes below the poverty line; AND

(b) An LEA for which there is a high percentage of teachers not teaching in the academic subjects or grade levels that the teachers were trained to teach, OR for which there is a high percentage of teachers on emergency, provisional, or temporary certification. (8% or more)

High-need LEA

Exclusively must use U. S. Census data to determine the high-need LEA

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/saipe/saipe.html

Look for 2005 data which are estimates for census of children 5-17 in poverty for the school districts.

Other partners may include:

University Centers for Mathematics and Science

Community Colleges Education Renewal Zones Education Service Cooperatives Additional local school districts A non-profit organization of demonstrated

effectiveness in improving the quality of teaching

SCHOOL DISTRICT CHARACTERISTICS

http://www.Arkansas.gov information on characteristics of districts, test scores, teacher quality

http://adhe.edu/nclb.html information on census data

Summarize LEA data in a table

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS (p3)Eligible participants SHALL include: Core Content teachers who teach in

Arkansas public schools Private school teachers in Arkansas Pre-service senior students if space

available (they pay undergraduate tuition) Out-of-state teachers who pay all

expenses on their own

SPECIAL CONDITIONS(p3) Results of a current, comprehensive needs

assessment using student and teacher assessment and demographic data

Multiple evaluation components Description of methodology based on

scientifically-based research Pre- and post-testing A minimum of 20 participants 45 content, immersion contact hours and 15

follow-up, implementation hours in learning communities (60 total hours for the same 20 or more teachers)

K-12 faculty, administrators, and other personnel included in the planning

Pre-planning for the proposal

Identify Area of Need-What do the teachers know and what can they do?

Decide from a needs assessment what content area the grant request will support: mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, foreign language, or the arts.

Planning for the proposal

Identify the Desired Results-What do you want the teachers to know and be able to do?

Invite your evaluator to help brainstorm with you and design how you will know when you have the desired results.

Determine acceptable evidence.

Planning for the proposal

Plan Learning Experiences and Instruction-What needs to be done to help teachers learn the required knowledge and skills?

Plan for a minimum of 60 contact hours.

GOAL

Write a goal that states expectations outcomes, number of teachers and timeframe.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES (pp 6-9)

1. Cover sheet – Appendix A

2. Abstract – Appendix B (2 pages)-sent to the Governor

3. Table of Contents

4. Memorandum of Agreement – Appendix C

APPLICATION PROCEDURES cont.

5. Project Narrative – maximum 10 pages, 12-font, double-spaced, numbered pagesa). Document demonstrated need, measurable goals and objectives, demographics of districts and teacher and student datab). Describe the plan of operation scope and sequence

action plan – use Appendix Gadministrative operating proceduresscientifically-based researchfollow-up activities

APPLICATION PROCEDURES cont.

c). Special populations – teacher recruitment strategies, design description that meets needs of ALL students

d). Evaluation plan - describe proposed methods for identifying outcomes, include pre- and post test instruments, evaluation

questions, and/or surveyse). Resources and Cost effectiveness -

institutional resources, matching resources, administrative support, vitae for project staff, institutionalization of project

APPLICATION PROCEDURES cont.

6. Attachments/appendices• Budget and budget justification–Appendix D/E• Vitae - MAXimum 2 pages• Current References-bibliography• Action Plan – Appendix G• Written coordination with off-site locations• Copyright/license release• Certificate of Assurances – Appendix F• Audit report (most recent institution’s A-133)

What Rules Apply to the Use of NCLB funds?

No Child Left Behind Act EDGAR (Education Dept. General

Administrative Regulations) OMB Circulars (Office of

Management & Budget) The FY08-09 Request for

Proposals State financial guidelines

What are the basic cost criteria?Allowable to the purposes

of the act

Necessary and reasonable

Not for general purposes

FUNDING GUIDELINES Tuition support up to $600 per teacher for a 3-

hour graduate course and additional $200 in stipends for the 15 hours of follow-up OR

If no tuition support is given, then $800 per teacher can be awarded for the 60 hours (priority is given to those who also award graduate credit at no cost to the grant; faculty costs are allowed)

Teacher pays for all fees and graduate admission costs (the grant should charge a registration fee to cover these)

Tuition may not be used as matching funds

FUNDING GUIDELINES No major equipment purchases allowed 8% indirect costs allowed on modified

direct costs Maximum $150 for participant materials Maximum consultant fee - $500 per day Project director cost - $2,500 Internal evaluator – at most 8% of the

grant External evaluator - $1,000 for fee and

travel

What types of costs can generally be considered eligible? Personnel Services Operating Expense (look out for

supplanting) Instructional Materials (watch for

supplanting) Travel-mileage Instructional equipment (ex. calculators) Consultants Tuition and stipends as described

previously

What types of costs are not eligible? Student Expenses or direct assistance to

K-12 students Entertainment or door prizes Awards and memorabilia Individual memberships Memberships with organizations that

lobby College fees Fines and penalties Insurance/self-insurance Travel out of the United States-48 states

What types of costs are not eligible? Expenses that supplant Audits except single audit Contributions and donations Contingencies Facilities and furniture General advertising Alcohol Fundraising General administration

When can funds be obligated? EDGAR says that a sub-grantee of the

state may not obligate funds until the later of:– The date the state may obligate

funds

OR– The date that the sub-grantee

submits its application to the state in substantially approvable form.

When are funds considered obligated?

Type of Cost Obligation occursEquip. & supplies PO dateWork of employees When work is doneContracted services Date agreement

signedUtilities When usedRental When usedTravel When travel is taken(Time sheets and contracts must be used for

work done by staff or consultants; This includes matching components.)

Questions and Answers

May Federal funds be used to support a program that was supported last year with non-federal funds?

NO. This would be supplanting— Exception:

– Must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis

– If it would be impossible to continue the activity without the federal funds, then it may not be supplanting.

Questions and Answers

Can NCLB funds be co-mingled with other funds to offer professional development programs?

Funds may not be co-mingled so that they lose their identity. Expenditures must be traceable to the source of funding. However, programs can be co-funded to maximize the available funds.

LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Local school districts have over $26,000,000 in No Child Left Behind Funds.

Partnerships must include some monetary support from the local school districts.

(examples-travel, materials, stipends…)

SPECIAL RULE

“No single partner in an eligible partnership receiving a grant under NCLB may use more than 50% of the grant funds made available to the partnership.”

EDGAR REGULATIONSJune 23, 2005

HTTP://www.ed.gov/offices/ocfo/grants/edgar.html

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Demographics/project data January 31 and July 31

Expenditure reports February 15 August 15

Final Project Director’s report October 30

Evaluator’s report October 1

NCLB Non-Regulatory GuidanceTitle II, Part A

Access the Non-Regulatory Guidance at

www.ed.gov/programs/teacherqual/legislation.html

Current as of October 5, 2006

Definitions and explanations (See sections B, C and D)

SCIENTIFICALLY-BASED RESEARCH

Scientifically-based teacher quality research is research that applies rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to improving student academic achievement.

REVIEW PROCESS Reviewed in the Department of Higher

Education for completion of all application materials (high-need LEA definition)

Reviewed competitively by an expert panel widely representative of state agencies, higher education institutions, K-12 schools, professional organizations, and business

Reviewed using a rubric – Appendix J DO NOT ATTACH THE RUBRIC TO YOUR

PROPOSAL.

AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

Awards will be announced around March 15, 2009, subject to availability of federal funds

Grant Awards

First installment-25% of award amount Additional payments-cost-

reimbursement only-detailed financial report must be submitted as well as ALL narrative, demographic, and evaluator reports

ADMINISTRATION OF GRANT Each grant must have an internal

evaluator and an evaluation plan Each grant must plan for an external

evaluator provided by ADHE All records must be kept for 5 years No-cost extensions and budget

transfers may be granted with a written request

POINT OF CONTACT

The point of contact for the grant is the project director. The project director must assume ALL responsibility for program administration, financial details, completion of forms and reports, and following all requirements and guidelines. The project director must attend all meetings called by the funding agency.

CREDIT AND DISCLAIMER

This phrase must be included on all flyers, brochures, notices, and workshop materials:

“This project is funded in part by a federal grant under Title II of the No Child Left Behind Act (P.L. 107-110) administered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. $ ____ (__%) of the cost of the project was financed with federal funds. $____ (__%) was provided by non-federal sources.”

PROPOSAL CHECKLIST

See Appendix K for proposal checklist.

DO NOT SEND APPENDIX K WITH YOUR PROPOSAL

ELECTRONIC GRANT SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Written narrative, proposed budget, appendix A, B, and G and attachments

4:30 P.M. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2008

U.S. Mail portion of GRANT SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Appendix C with summary from each partner, Appendix F with signature and A-133 audit.

4:30 P.M. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2008

NCLB Title II, Part A PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Dr. Suzanne Mitchell

114 East Capitol Avenue

Little Rock, AR 72201

501-371-2062

susannem@adhe.edu