TEA Correspondence Item

A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

March 6, 2009

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT: Status of State and Federal Formula Grant Awards

This letter provides local education agencies (LEAs) with the latest information, including important deadlines, on state and federal formula-funded grant programs administered by the Division of Formula Funding at the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Grant programs are listed below, along with their respective status as of March 6, 2009.

Deadlines – 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.” (34 CFR, Subtitle A, Subpart B, Section 74.14 and 80.12)

Resources – The following links are provided as additional resources:

TEA Grant Opportunities – Link to http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms/GrantProgramSearch.aspx to access the Formula Funding Toolbox (near bottom of page) and the Two-Month Calendar of Due Dates. Additionally, you can search for grant opportunities, including application availability and program guidelines.

Texas Education Agency Secure Environment (TEA SE) – Both the eGrants and the TEA expenditure reporting (ER) system can be accessed at https://seguin.tea.state.tx.us/apps/logon.asp. Also, be sure to take advantage of the TEA Grantee Profile feature in eGrants, which can be accessed from the upper left column on your main eGrants page.
Formula Funding Listserv – If you have not yet subscribed to the Division of Formula Funding Listserv, please sign up now at http://miller.tea.state.tx.us/list/. You can also join other listservs through the website.
Program Entitlements – Allocations/reallocations will be posted at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/opge/formfund/generalinformation/entitlementsbyprogram.html when they become available.

Structure of this Document – The content of this letter is organized into two main sections: state-funded grants and federally funded grants. As applicable, grant programs within each section provide the following: 2008-2009 grant year information, reporting requirements, and 2009-2010 grant year information. Additionally, Attachment A provides critical date information per grant program.

STATE-FUNDED GRANTS
Accelerated Reading Instruction & Accelerated Math Instruction (ARI/AMI) Grant
2008-2009 Grant Year: Notices of Grant Award (NOGAs) for the 2008-2009 ARI/AMI grant program were issued through eGrants in fall 2008.

The ARI/AMI guide is posted at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/reading/200809ARIAMIGuide090808.pdf.

Reporting Requirements: TEA will place 10% of the LEA’s grant amount in reserve pending completion of the Consolidated Reading Initiative (CRI) report. The LEA is responsible for meeting all deadlines and for drawing down all reimbursements for its ARI/AMI grant through ER, including the 10% reserve (if owed).

2009-2010 Grant Year: Pending appropriations by the 81st Texas Legislative Session, the ARI/AMI grant application is scheduled to become available in eGrants in August 2009, with an expected application due date in September 2009.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Reimbursement Grant
2008-2009 Grant Year: The 80th Texas Legislature appropriated a total of $9 million in the 2008-2009 biennium to reimburse school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and private schools for the costs associated with the purchase of AEDs. Senate Bill 7, Section 38.017 requires that each school district and open-enrollment charter school shall make available at each campus at least one AED. In late February 2009, TEA announced a third and final round of funding for AED reimbursement requests from school districts, open-enrollment charter schools and private schools for documented invoice purchases dated on or after September 1, 2008, not previously reimbursed by TEA. This round of funding provides an opportunity to request reimbursement for purchases to meet the Senate Bill 7 mandate and/or for any additional purchases made by a campus to meet University Interscholastic League (UIL) availability standards.
Grants for Student Clubs
2008-2009 Grant Year: The 2008-2009 Grants for Student Clubs application will continue to be administered through the traditional paper method as follows:

1) Grants for Student Clubs Continuation Grant – LEAs that had a 2007-2008 Grants for Student Clubs grant will be eligible for continuation funding in 2008-2009.
2) Grants for Student Clubs, Cycle 2 – LEAs that meet the eligibility requirements will be considered for funding in 2008-2009.

It is anticipated that the Grants for Student Clubs Continuation Grant application will become available in early to mid March 2009. The Grants for Student Clubs, Cycle 2 Grant application is expected to become available in mid March 2009, with an expected due date in May 2009.

Intensive Reading Initiative and Intensive Math Initiative Programs (IRI/IMI)
2008-2009 Grant Year: The 80th Texas Legislature allocated funds for the IRI and IMI programs. Campuses were eligible for funds based on their passing rates on the 2007 Grade 5 Reading and Math sections of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). NOGAs for the 2008-2009 IRI/IMI grant program were issued through eGrants in fall 2008.
Life Skills Program for Student Parents Grant
2008-2009 Grant Year: NOGAs for the 2008-2009 Life Skills Program for Student Parents grant program were issued through eGrants in fall 2008.

Important Note: Due to recent agency budget cuts, there will be no reallocation for the 2008-2009 Life Skills Program for Student Parents grant program. Please do not anticipate additional funding for the 2008-2009 school year.

If you are not a subscriber to the Pregnancy Programs listserv, please sign up now at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/pep/. Listserv information is located towards the bottom of the web page.

2009-2010 Grant Year: Pending appropriations by the 81st Texas Legislative Session, the Life Skills Program for Student Parents grant application is scheduled to become available in eGrants in May 2009, with an expected application due date in July 2009.
Limited English Proficient (LEP) Summer School Program
2007-2008 Grant Year: Payments to LEAs for the 2007-2008 LEP Summer School program were processed in November 2008.

2008-2009 Grant Year: Payments to LEAs for the 2008-2009 LEP Summer School program will be processed in November 2009.
Master Reading/Master Math/Master Science Teacher Grant Programs
2008-2009 Grant Year: The online application for the Master Teacher Grant Program opened October 1, 2008 to accept data from LEAs with eligible campuses. LEAs may access the application through the TEA SE system between October 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. LEA approvers must submit the application through the TEA SE system by June 30, 2009. LEAs should enter the number of months taught by eligible teachers and must designate master teachers by May 1, 2009. Program information is available at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/edex/masterteacher.html.
Optional Extended Year Program (OEYP)
2008-2009 Grant Year: NOGAs for the 2008-2009 OEYP grant program were issued through eGrants in fall 2008. A reallocation for the 2008-2009 OEYP grantees was completed in early March 2009. Grantees did not need to amend their application to add the increase. The NOGA and the BS6010 – Program Budget Summary were revised by TEA; the primary and secondary contacts as listed in the grant application were notified by email when the revised NOGA was issued.

Reporting Requirements: The following reports are required for LEAs that receive OEYP NOGAs:

2008-2009 OEYP Final Evaluation Report: TEA will place 10% of the LEA’s grant amount in reserve pending completion of the OEYP Final Evaluation Report.
2007-2008 PEIMS Submission 4 OEYP Participation Data via PEIMS EDIT +: Failure to submit the PEIMS report will require a full refund of all OEYP grant funds. Grantees that do not serve the required number of students may be required to refund money to TEA.

The LEA is responsible for meeting all deadlines and tracking successful submission of all required reports. TEA will release the 10% reserve after receipt of the required report. Grantees are responsible for drawing down all of their reimbursements for their OEYP grants through ER, including the 10% reserve (if owed).

2009-2010 Grant Year: Pending appropriations by the 81st Texas Legislative Session, the OEYP grant application is scheduled to become available in eGrants in July 2009, with an expected application due date in October 2009.
Prekindergarten Expansion Grant Program/Prekindergarten Early Start (PKES) Tier 2, Year 1
2007-2008 Grant Year: The reconciliation for the Cycle 13 Prekindergarten Expansion Grant occurred in November 2008. All grantees were mailed a reconciliation letter stating whether the LEA earned the funding they were paid or if a refund is due. TEA is requesting that all outstanding refunds be paid as soon as possible, but no later than March 20, 2009.

2008-2009 Grant Year: The Cycle 14 Prekindergarten Expansion Grant NOGAs will remain on hold until all refunds have been received.

2009-2010 Grant Year: Pending appropriations by the 81st Texas Legislative Session, the Prekindergarten Early Start, Tier 2, Year 1 grant application is currently available, with a due date of March 13, 2009.
Texas Fitness Now Grant Program
2008-2009 Grant Year: NOGAs for the 2008-2009 Texas Fitness Now grant program were issued through the traditional paper method in November and December 2008.

Important Note: Due to recent agency budget cuts, there will be no reallocation for the 2008-2009 Texas Fitness Now grant program. Please do not anticipate additional funding for the 2008-2009 school year.

Texas Summer Ninth-Grade Transition (TSNGT) – (NEW)
2008-2009 Grant Year: The goal of the TSNGT program is to ease the transition from middle to high school for students identified as at risk of dropping out of school. The TSNGT program implements research-based strategies and interventions during the summer transitional period; during students’ first semester of ninth grade, it tracks student grades, attendance, and other progress.

The 2008-2009 TSNGT application will be administered through the traditional paper method. The grant application is currently available for download. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 3, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

State-funded grants related to special education, deaf, and visually impaired services are addressed in the following section, under “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Services for the Deaf.”

FEDERALLY FUNDED GRANTS
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
When guidance and allocation information relevant to the economic stimulus bill is received from USDE, TEA will notify LEAs of additional funding available and the timeline and process for applying for the funds.
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins)
2008-2009 Grant Year:NOGAs for the 2008-2009 school year were issued through eGrants in fall 2008. A reallocation for the 2008-2009 Carl D. Perkins grantees is scheduled in mid March 2009. Grantees do not need to amend their application to add the increase. The NOGA and the BS6003 – Program Budget Summary will be revised by TEA; the primary and secondary contacts as listed in the grant application will be notified by email once the revised NOGA has been issued.

LEAs can locate additional information about the Perkins grant at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/opge/formfund/carlperkins/index_2.html.

Reporting Requirements: TEA reminds grantees that 10% of their NOGA amount will be held in reserve until all reporting requirements and any special requirements, such as Performance Based Monitoring Intervention (PBMI) requirements, are satisfied. TEA staff will release the 10% reserve when a grantee meets all reporting requirements. Grantees are responsible for drawing down their full reimbursement amounts through ER, including the 10% reserve (if owed).

2009-2010 Grant Year: It is anticipated that the Perkins Applicant Designation and Certification form will be available in eGrants in May 2009. The grant application should open in June 2009.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Services for the Deaf
2008-2009 Grant Year: The Special Education/Services for the Deaf consolidated grant application includes the following grant programs:

IDEA-B Formula	IDEA-C Early Childhood Intervention (Deaf)
IDEA-B Formula (Deaf)	IDEA-D Deaf Blind
IDEA-B Preschool	State Deaf
IDEA-B Preschool (Deaf)	SSVI

It is currently anticipated that the 2008-2009 maximum entitlements will become available in eGrants in mid March 2009. TEA will notify the Education Service Centers (ESCs) when maximum entitlements have been released.

Information regarding new and/or revised SSAs procedures can be found at
http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/opge/formfund/specialed/072006SSAproceduresforspecialeducation.doc.

2009-2010 Grant Year: It is anticipated that the Special Education/Services for the Deaf Consolidated Grant Application will become available in eGrants in May 2009, with an expected application due date in September 2009. Allocations for the various types of special education discretionary grants will be made available via discretionary award letters as determined by the Division of IDEA Coordination.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act
2008-2009 Grant Year: The NCLB Consolidated Application for Federal Funding includes the following grant programs:

Title I, Part A	Title II, Part D
Title I, Part C—Migrant	Title III, Part A—Immigrant
Title I, Part D, Subpart 1	Title III, Part A—LEP
Title I, Part D, Subpart 2	Title IV, Part A
Title II, Part A	Title V, Part A (roll forward only)

Maximum entitlements have been calculated. TEA staff are adjusting budgets to incorporate the maximum entitlement amounts. LEAs began receiving email notifications of revised NOGAs, adjusted budgets, and maximum entitlements during the first week in March 2009.

NCLB Compliance Report
The NCLB compliance report PR7000 – Private Nonprofit School Participation for the 2008-2009 school year will be made available in eGrants in the LEA’s Grantee Profile in March 2009, with a submission deadline date of April 30, 2009. This compliance report collects from school districts the following: number of private nonprofit schools, number of students enrolled in those private nonprofit schools, and number of low-income students enrolled in those private nonprofit schools. These data are required in order to determine eligibility and funding for the Title IV, Part A program for 2009-2010. School districts that miss the deadline will not be funded for private nonprofit student enrollments for Title IV, Part A for the 2009-2010 school year.

2009-2010 Grant Year: The U. S. Department of Education (USDE) will allocate Title I, Part A funds using the Census Bureau’s 2007 school district estimates of low-income school-age children, and the annual update of neglected and foster home children. The estimated funding level for Title I, Part A for Texas, currently shown on USDE’s website, reflects a slight increase for the 2009-2010 school year. Please be mindful that the estimated funding level is subject to change as all source data to be used in USDE’s allocation process are not yet available.

The SC5010 – Data Request Form for Federal Funding for school year 2009-2010 for charter schools, South Texas ISD, and specific state schools will become available in eGrants in March 2009, with a submission deadline of April 30, 2009. A detailed letter concerning the NCLB funding process will be mailed to charter schools, South Texas ISD, and specific state schools in February 2009.

Charter schools will be notified of eligibility and planning amounts via certified mail. A specific date of notification cannot be provided at this time, as it will depend on TEA’s receipt of the 2009-2010 Title I, Part A allocations for the state from the USDE.

New charter schools that are opening for the first time have an alternate deadline of November 3, 2009, for submitting the SC5010 – NCLB Data Request Form for Federal Funding. If you have questions, contact Liz Garrett in the Division of Formula Funding at (512) 463-8525 or e-mail your questions to formulafunds@tea.state.tx.us.

The 2009-2010 NCLB Title I – School Improvement Grant application is anticipated to become available in eGrants in September 2009.

The 2009-2010 Title VI, Part B Rural and Low-Income Schools Program is anticipated to become available in eGrants in September 2009.

If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Formula Funding at (512) 463-8525.

Sincerely,

Nora Ibáñez Hancock, Ed.D.
Associate Commissioner
Office for Planning, Grants and Evaluation

cc: ESC Executive Directors

Attachment A

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