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

UPDATE: Funding Available – TEA is reopening the competitive grant process for the Beginning Teacher Induction and Mentoring Grant program to allow additional applicants the opportunity to participate. The new competitive deadline is Tuesday, June 19, 2007.

May 21, 2007

TO THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT:                    Request for Application (RFA) #701-07-107 - 2007-2009 Beginning Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program Grant

Eligible Applicants:

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is requesting applications under Request for Application (RFA) #701-07-107 from public school districts and open enrollment charter schools in Texas to assign a mentor teach to each classroom teacher with less than two years of teaching experience.  Each district or charter school may submit only one application.   Education Service centers (ESCs) are not eligible to apply as fiscal agent of a shared services arrangement.

Description of Program:

The purpose of this program is to provide funding to school districts and open enrollment charter schools to assign a mentor teacher to each classroom teacher with less than two years teaching experience. Teacher mentors must (1) teach in the same school as the teacher being mentored; (2) teach the same subject or grade level, as applicable, as the teacher being mentored (to the extent practicable); and (3) meet qualifications as determined by the commissioner of education.
A beginning teacher induction and mentoring program must be based on a research-based mentoring program that, through external evaluation, has demonstrated success in improving new teacher quality. 
Funds may be used for the following activities:
(1)        mentor teacher stipends;
(2)        scheduled time for mentor teachers to provide mentoring to assigned classroom teachers; and,
(3)        mentoring support through providers of mentor training.

Project Funding:

The Beginning Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program will be implemented during the 2007 - 2009 school years. Applicants should plan for a starting date of no earlier than August 1, 2007, and an ending date of no later than May 31, 2009. Funding will be provided for approximately 30 projects. Each project will receive a maximum of $500,000 for the 2007- 2009 school years. This project is funded 100% from state funds.

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.  The 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.

The 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 # 701-07-107 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 website for viewing and downloading at http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms . 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” to view all documents that pertain to this RFA.
Applicant’s Conference:
An applicant’s conference will be held on April 11, 2007 from 1:30 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on the Texas Educational Telecommunication Network (TETN) available at each regional Education Service Center (ESC) (TETN Event #25003). 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 Carlos Garza at carlos.garza@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to 512-463-9811 prior to April 9, 2007. 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.
Each person attending will be required to sign a register and provide the representative's name, the applicant organization represented, its name, address and telephone number. The entire eGrants Training will be digitally recorded. Prospective applicants who are not able to attend the Applicant's Conference may request a password to download the video stream that is viewable on your computer desktop at no charge from the Division of Discretionary Grants of the Texas Education Agency at DiscretionaryGrants@tea.state.tx.us .

For Further Information:

For clarifying information about the RFA, contact Carlos Garza, Division of  Discretionary Grants, TEA, (512) 463-9269. 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 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 TEA Document Control Center of TEA by 5:00 PM (Central Time), Tuesday, June 19, 2007, to be eligible to be considered for funding.

Sincerely,

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