Competitive Grant Funding Available

December 2, 2011

TO THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT:         Request for Application (RFA) # 701-12-102

                                    Online College and Career Preparation

Technical Assistance Program grant, Cycle 2

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is requesting applications under request for application (RFA) # 701-12-102.

Eligible Applicants

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is requesting applications under 701-12-102 for the Online College and Career Preparation Technical Assistance Program grant, Cycle 2, from school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas on behalf of campuses that meet the following criteria:  (1) the campus must serve students in Grades 9-12;  (2) the campus must be evaluated under standard procedures in the state accountability system; (3) the percentage of campus student population identified as at-risk is greater than or equal to 75%; (4) the percentage of campus student population identified as economically disadvantaged is greater than or equal to 60%; (5) the campus serves no fewer than 100 students; or (6) the campus participated in the Online College Preparation Assistance Pilot Program starting March 15, 2010, and ending August 31, 2011. 

A list of eligible campuses and funding amount is published with the RFA. The list of eligible campuses was established using 2010-2011 data from the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). Campuses that are participating in the Online College and Career Preparation Technical Assistance Program grant, Cycle 1, that began on March 1, 2011, and ends on August 31, 2012, are not eligible for participation in this grant program.

A separate grant application must be submitted for each eligible campus that chooses to participate in the grant program.

Applications must be submitted by the deadline to be eligible for consideration for funding.

Purpose of Program

This purpose of this competitive RFA is to solicit applications from districts with an eligible campus to contract with a TEA-approved service provider to implement an online college and career preparation program.  The Online College and Career Preparation Technical Assistance Program, Cycle 2 will be designed to assist students in grades 9-12 in preparing for postsecondary success.  A second purpose is to provide TEA with evaluation data on best/promising practices related to increasing postsecondary success for Texas high school students.

The program will provide robust, engaging, and informative college and career assistance to students, parents, counselors, and teachers through an online program.  Campus-wide use of the program will foster a college-going culture and increase transition to successful postsecondary college and career experiences for participating students.

 

Project Funding

A total of $3,000,000 is available for funding the Online College and Career Preparation Technical Assistance Program, Cycle 2 grants during the March 15, 2012 through May 31, 2014 project period. Funding will be provided for approximately 30-40 projects. The maximum award per campus is $75,000 per year for each of the two years. This project is 100% state funded by the General Appropriations Act, Article III, Rider 62, Online College and Career Preparation Technical Assistance Program, 82^nd Legislature, 2011.

Project Period

The Online College and Career Preparation Technical Assistance Program grant, Cycle 2 will be implemented during the 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 school years.  Applicants should plan for a starting date of no earlier than March 15, 2012, and an ending date of no later than May 31, 2014.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be selected based on the independent reviewers' assessment of each applicant's ability to carry out all requirements contained in the RFA. Reviewers will evaluate applications based on the overall quality and validity of the proposed grant programs and the extent to which the applications address the primary objectives and intent of the project. Applications must address each requirement as specified in the RFA to be considered for funding. Only applications that receive at least 70 percent of Review Criteria points established by TEA will be considered for funding.

TEA reserves the right to select from the highest-ranking applications those that address all requirements in the RFA and that are most advantageous to the project.

TEA is not obligated to approve an application, provide funds, or endorse any application submitted in response to this RFA. This RFA does not commit TEA to pay any costs before an application is approved. The issuance of this RFA does not obligate TEA to award a grant or pay any costs incurred in preparing a response.

How to Apply

This RFA is in paper format. It must be downloaded, completed on the applicant’s computer desktop, printed, and submitted by mail or hand delivery. The complete RFA is posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities page at http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms/GrantProgramSearch.aspx for viewing and downloading.

In the “Select Search Options” box, select the name of the RFA from the drop-down list. Scroll down to the “Application and Support Information” section to view all documents that pertain to this RFA.

Applicants’ Conference

An applicants’ conference will be held by webinar on Wednesday, January 11, 2012, from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm. To reserve a webinar seat, go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/798558514.

The system requirements for PC-based attendees are Windows 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, or Vista. The requirements for Macintosh-based attendees are Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or later. Each person attending will be required to register the representative’s name and the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant organization.

The entire applicants’ conference will be digitally recorded. Prospective applicants who are not able to attend the applicants’ conference may download the presentation to their computer desktop.

Questions relevant to the RFA may be sent to Nicole Chupka at nicole.chupka@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to (512) 463-4246 prior to Friday, December 23, 2011.  These questions along with other information will be addressed in the presentation. The conference will be open to all potential applicants and will provide prospective applicants an opportunity to receive general and clarifying information about the program and RFA.

Reporting Requirements

LEAs that are awarded grants are responsible for meeting all required deadlines. Failure to meet deadlines may result in loss of funds and could cause the LEA to be identified as “high risk.”

The reporting requirements for this grant are posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities website at http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms/GrantProgramSearch.aspx. In the “Select Search Options” box, select the name of the RFA from the drop-down list. Scroll down to “Critical Events” to view all reporting deadlines that pertain to this grant.

For Further Information

In order to assure that no prospective applicant may obtain a competitive advantage because of acquisition of information unknown to other prospective applicants, any and all questions pertaining to the RFA must be submitted in writing to the TEA contact person listed on the TEA Grant Opportunities website. In the “Select Search Options” box, select the name of the program/RFA from the drop-down list. Scroll down to “Contact Information.”

Copies of the questions and the written answers thereto will be posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities website in the format of frequently asked questions (FAQs) at http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms. In the “Select Search Options” box, select the name of the program/RFA from the drop-down list. Scroll down to “Application and Support Information” to view all documents that pertain to this RFA.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications

Three  copies of the application, with an original signature on Schedule #1—General Information on three of the copies (blue ink preferred), must be received 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Thursday, January 26, 2012 to be eligible to be considered for funding. Send the application to the following address:

Document Control Center

Division of Grants Administration

Texas Education Agency, William B. Travis Building

1701 North Congress Avenue

Austin TX 78701-1494

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Anita Givens

Associate Commissioner

Standards & Programs