COMPETITIVE
GRANT FUNDING
AVAILABLE
TO THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT ADDRESSED:
DATE: Friday, March 28, 2008
SUBJECT: Request for Application #701-08-110 Intensive Technology-Based Academic Intervention Pilot Program
Eligible Applicants:
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is requesting applications under Request for Application (RFA) #701-08-110 from school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, or shared services arrangements of school districts and/or open-enrollment charter schools to provide intensive technology-based supplementary instruction to students in grades 9-12 identified as being at risk of dropping out of school.
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC) §39.358, a school district is eligible to apply for funding if the district exhibited during each of the three preceding school years characteristics that strongly correlate with high dropout rates. A school district or open enrollment charter school that has not been serving students for the three preceding school years is not eligible to apply for funding under this grant program. A school district or open enrollment charter school is eligible to apply for funding if 1) 50% or more of students enrolled in the school district are identified as being economically disadvantaged for each of the three preceding school years, and 2) 50% or more of its grade 9-12 students were identified as being at-risk of dropping out of school for the 2006-2007 school year. The eligibility list will be provided along with the RFA on the TEA Grant Opportunities website at http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms.
Description of Program:
The purpose of this program is to establish pilot programs to provide intensive technology-based supplementary instruction in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, or social studies to students in grades 9-12 identified as being at risk of dropping out of school. Instructional techniques and technology must be based on the best available research regarding college and workforce readiness as determined by the High School Completion and Success Initiative Council established under TEC, Chapter 39, Subchapter L.
Project Funding:
The Intensive Technology-Based Academic Intervention Pilot Program will be implemented during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school year(s). Applicants should plan for a starting date of no earlier than September 1, 2008, and an ending date of no later than May 31, 2010. Funding will be provided for approximately 24-30 project(s). Each project will receive a maximum of $50 for each participating student in an eligible grade level served through the program for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. As a condition of receiving a state grant, a district must contribute other federal, state, or local matching funds, including private donations, of at least $50 for each participating student in an eligible grade level served through the program. Project funding in any subsequent grant period will be based on satisfactory progress during the grant period and on budget approval by the commissioner of education and the state legislature.
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. 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.
Requesting the Application:
A complete copy of RFA #701-08-110 may be obtained by writing the Document Control Center, Room 6-108, Texas Education Agency, William B. Travis Building, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701; by calling (512) 463-9304; by faxing (512) 463-9811; or by e-mailing dcc@tea.state.tx.us. Please refer to the RFA number and title in your request. Provide your name, complete mailing address, and telephone number including area code. The RFA will also be posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities website at http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms for viewing and downloading. In the “Select Search Options” box, select the name of the program/RFA from the drop-down list. Once you have selected the name of the grant program, scroll down to the “Application and Support Information” to view all documents that pertain to this RFA.
Applicants’ Conference:
An applicants’ conference will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, from 9:30 am – 11:00 am Central Time on the Texas Educational Telecommunication Network (TETN) available at each regional Education Service Center (ESC) (TETN Event # 30859). In order to locate the nearest TETN facility, please contact the TETN site manager at your regional ESC. Questions relevant to the RFA may be sent to Dale Fowler, Program Specialist, at dale.fowler@tea.state.tx.us 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.
The entire Applicants’ Conference will be digitally recorded. Prospective applicants who are not able to attend the Applicants’ Conference may request a password to download the video stream that is viewable on their computer desktop. Applicants should contact the TETN Site Manager at their local educational service center (ESC) to request the procedures to download the video stream. To locate the nearest TETN facility, the following webpage has links and contact information for each ESC in Texas: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/ESC/.
For Further Information:
For clarifying information about the RFA, please contact Rebecca Schroeder, Division of Discretionary Grants, TEA, (512) 463-4845. In order to assure that no prospective applicant may obtain a competitive advantage because of acquisition of information unknown to other prospective applicants, any additional information, that is different from or in addition to, information provided in the RFA will be provided only in response to written inquiries. Copies of all such inquiries and the written answers thereto will be posted on the TEA 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 the “Application and Support Information” to view all documents that pertain to this RFA
Deadline for Receipt of Applications:
Applications must be received in the Document Control Center of TEA by 5:00 PM Central Time, Tuesday, May 20, 2008, to be eligible to be considered for funding.
Sincerely,
Nora Ibáñez Hancock, Ed.D.
Associate Commissioner
Office for Planning, Grants and Evaluation
