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

Competitive Grant Funding Available

TO THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT: Request for Application # 701-11-103
                    Secondary Mathematics Teacher Support  

Eligible Applicants:

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is requesting applications under Request for Applications (RFA) # 701-11-103 from an eligible high-need local educational agency (LEA), a mathematics department of a Texas institution of higher education (IHE), or a Regional Education Service Center (ESC).  The applicant must form a partnership that must include at a minimum, a high-need LEA and a mathematics department of an IHE.   Eligible partnership arrangements may also include additional high-need LEAs, other LEAs, open-enrollment charter schools, private nonprofit schools, nonprofit organizations, and/or an ESC.  High-need LEAs are defined as LEAs in which at least 40% of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch (based on the Texas Department of Agriculture 2010-2011 school year data).  An eligibility list will be published with the RFA.

Description of Program:

The purpose of the Secondary Mathematics Teacher SupportProgram grant is to promote college and career readiness at eligible districts by providing assistance in implementing programs that provide high-need districts and their campuses with strategies and models to improve the content knowledge and instructional expertise of their mathematics teachers who instruct students in mathematics at the middle, junior high, or high school levels.  The goals of the grant program are to plan, design, and implement programs to support the improvement of secondary mathematics teachers’ content knowledge and instructional expertise; implement a research-based program with a strong emphasis on improving mathematics teachers’ abilities to increase at-risk student performance in mathematics; institute a rigorous and engaging professional development and support program that redesigns structural and collaborative practices for mathematics teachers; develop the skills and knowledge of school leaders in the area of mathematics instruction; and provide models of excellence in coaching secondary mathematics teachers to improve their knowledge and expertise. Grant recipients must design a Secondary Mathematics Teacher SupportProgram which includes, at a minimum, a required partnership between a high-need LEA and an IHE.  Any other qualified partners may be added.

Project Funding:

The Mathematics Professional Development and Support Program will be implemented before, during, and after the 2011-2012 school year. Applicants should plan for a starting date of no earlier than June 1, 2011, and an ending date of no later than July 31, 2012.  Funding will be provided for approximately 20 projects totaling approximately $2,800,000. Each applicant may apply for a maximum possible grant award of $250,000 for the 2011-2012 grant period.  Continuation and expansion funding may be made available based on evaluation results of the pilot program and budget approval by the commissioner of education and the state legislature. This project is funded 100% from federal funds.

Selection Criteria:

Applications will be selected based on the ability of each applicant 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.
Special consideration (or priority) will be given to applicants with a high dropout rate, as determined by TEA.
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” section to view all documents that pertain to this RFA.
An applicants’ conference will be held by webinar on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. To reserve a webinar seat, go to
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/345285491
The system requirements for PC-based attendees are Windows 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, or Vista. The requirements for Macintosh-based attendees are Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or later. Each person attending will be required to sign a register setting out the representative’s name and the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant organization.
Questions relevant to the RFA may be sent to Dale Fowler at dale.fowler@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to (512) 463-4246 prior to February 8, 2011. 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 download the presentation to their computer desktop.

For Further Information:

For clarifying information about the RFA, contact Dale Fowler, Division of State Initiatives, TEA, (512) 463-3282.
In order to assure that no prospective applicant may obtain a competitive advantage because of acquisition of information unknown to other prospective applicants, any and all questions pertaining to the RFA must be submitted in writing to the TEA contact person.
Copies of the questions 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, March 1, 2011, to be eligible to be considered for funding.

Sincerely,

Barbara Knaggs
Associate Commissioner
State Initiatives