ACTION REQUIRED: To be considered for 2010-2011 District Awards for Teacher Excellence (DATE), Cycle 1, Year 3, Continuation grantees must apply by April 13, 2010
February 25, 2010
To the Administrator Addressed:
Subject: Application – 2010-2011 District Awards for Teacher Excellence (DATE) Program, Cycle 1, Year 3.
Eligible Applicants
The Texas Education Agency is requesting applications for 2010-2011 DATE Cycle 1, Year 3 Continuation. Current DATE Cycle 1, Year 2 grantees are eligible to apply for funding.
Deadline to Apply
Current DATE Cycle 1, Year 2 grantees must submit an application by April 13, 2010 by 5:00 pm CDT in order to be eligible for DATE Cycle 1, Year 3 funds.
The Purpose of the DATE Grant
At least 60% of the grant funds must be used to reward teachers and principals who positively impact student academic improvement, growth, and/or achievement. The remaining percent of funds may be used for other allowable activities including stipends and awards for identified teachers, principals, mentors, instructional coaches, and master teachers. In addition, these funds may be used for professional development, increasing local data capabilities to support instruction and accountability, and implementing elements of the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP). Statutory changes allow districts to use DATE funds to provide stipends to National Board Certified Teachers.
Districts will be submitting an abbreviated application. For districts who would like to make significant changes to their plans, district-level planning committees composed of teachers and administrators must establish goals consistent with and motivated by their district improvement strategic plan.
An amendment will be required to make significant program changes.
Grant awards will be the same as Year 2.
Project Funding
Funding is authorized by Texas Education Code, Chapter 21.703. The project period will begin no earlier than August 2010. Consideration for grant awards will only be given to districts that submit the required application as directed in this notice.
The 2010 District Awards for Teacher Excellence Cycle 1, Year 3 Grant Application Program will be administered by the TEA Division of Discretionary Grants and will be available on February 24, 2010 at the following link:
http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms/GrantProgramSearch.aspx
TEA is not obligated to approve a completed application, or provide funds submitted in response to this solicitation. The issuance of this solicitation does not obligate TEA to award a grant or pay any costs incurred in preparing a response.
For questions regarding the DATE application, please contact Mike Vriesenga at (512) 463-8911 or e-mail at michael.vriesenga@tea.state.tx.us or Mary Gawron at (512) 936-8222 or e-mail at mary.gawron@tea.state.tx.us.
