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Competitive Grant
Funding Available |
TO THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: Request for Application # 701-10-119
Texas 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Cycle 7, Year 1
Eligible Applicants:
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is requesting applications under request for application (RFA) # 701-10-119 from local educational agencies (LEAs), including independent school districts (ISDs), open-enrollment charter schools, and regional education service centers (ESCs); community-based organizations (CBOs); and other public or private entities, nonprofit or for-profit organizations, or a consortium of two or more agencies, organizations, or entities to establish or expand community learning centers. Examples of agencies and organizations eligible under the Texas 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Cycle 7, Year 1 (21st CCLC C7Y1),grant program include, but are not limited to, nonprofit agencies, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education (IHEs), and for-profit corporations. A shared services arrangement (SSA) of two or more LEAs is also eligible to apply.
Description of Program:
The purpose of the Texas 21st CCLC C7Y1 program is to provide opportunities beyond the normal school day for communities to establish or expand activities in community learning centers that (1) provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help children, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, meet state and local student academic achievement standards in core academic subjects such as reading and mathematics; (2) offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities such as youth development activities; drug- and violence-prevention programs; counseling programs; art, music, and physical education and fitness programs; and technology education programs that are designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students; and (3) offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
Program activities must be offered only when schools are not in session (before or after school, during holidays, or during summer recess). The program must be carried out in active collaboration with the schools the students attend. Applications must provide for partnerships between an LEA, a CBO, and other public or private organizations, if appropriate.
Project Funding:
The Texas 21st CCLC C7Y1 grant program, also known as Texas Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE), will be implemented during the 2011–2012 school year. Applicants should plan for a starting date of no earlier than July 1, 2011, and an ending date of no later than June 30, 2012. Funding will be provided for approximately 25–30 projects. Each project will receive a minimum of $50,000 for the 2011–2012 project period; the maximum funding amount awarded will be determined by applications received. This project is funded 100% percent from Title IV, Part B, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).
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 need for the proposed project, the quality of the following: project design, management plan, project services and project evaluation, and the appropriateness of the budget. Applications must address each requirement as specified in the RFA to be considered for funding.
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:
RFAs are no longer available in print. The announcement letter and complete RFA will be posted on the TEA 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 RFA from the drop-down list. Scroll down to the “Application and Support Information” to view all documents that pertain to this RFA.
Applicants’ Conference:
An applicants’ conference will be available on Wednesday, January 26, 2011. The entire webinar will be digitally recorded and streamed over the internet. To access the webinar, please visit the TEA website 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 the webinar. Pre-webinar questions should be sent to Candace.Ferguson@tea.state.tx.us prior to Tuesday, January 18, 2011.
For Further Information:
For clarifying information about the RFA, contact Candace Ferguson, Division of School Readiness and Partnerships, TEA, (512) 463-5619. 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 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, February 15, 2011,to be eligible to be considered for funding.
Sincerely,
Barbara S. Knaggs
Associate Commissioner
State Initiatives
