Funding Opportunities for Newly Identified Priority Schools

ESEA Directors InstituteOctober 2014

2014-15 School Improvement Grant (SIG) Application

Tentative Timeline and Proposed USED Changes

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Current SIG Applications

SIG Cohort 2 • Three year grant (SY 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-

15) • 3 LEAs, 20 schools

Cohort 3 • Three year grant (SY 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-

16)• 5 LEAs, 18 schools

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Cohort 4School Improvement Grant Application

Timeline• Period of public comment – Sept. 8 to Oct. 8,

2014• Release of SIG application to states –

December/January• Approval of state’s grant – January/February• Award of SIG funds to states - February• Release of application draft to local education

agencies (LEAs) – January• Tentative application submission date –

March/April• Tentative award date – April/May

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Proposed Changes

Proposed changes are based on lessons learned from the four years of SIG implementation and are an effort to strengthen program implementation.

1. Allowing five-year awards instead of three.2. Adding evidenced-based whole-school reform strategies.3. Allowing flexibility for rural LEAs to modify one SIG intervention

model element.4. Increased focus on outcomes in preschool and early grades.5. Increased involvement of families and community in model

selection. 6. Increased responsibility placed on LEAs to monitor and support

grant implementation including monitoring and holding external providers accountable for outcomes.

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Priority Schools Planning Grant

A Head-Start on School Turnaround

Overview

Purpose: to provide significant resources to local education agencies (LEAs) to begin to plan efforts to turnaround its newly identified Priority Schools.

Eligible districts: Achievement School District Jackson – Madison Schools Knox County Schools Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Shelby County Schools

The plan should be the foundation for the 2015-16 School Improvement Grant (SIG) application for the state’s fourth cohort of schools.

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Fiscal Information

Planning Grant Awards • Minimum award - $300,000 per year • Maximum award - $2,000,000 per year

Applications may be funded at a lesser amount if the application does not fully justify the budget expenditures.

Funds must be obligated by Sept. 30, 2015 and liquidated by December 30, 2015.

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Prioritize Turnaround Principles

Strong leadership Effective teachers On-going, job-embedded professional development tied to

teacher and student needs Additional time for student learning and teacher

collaboration; Strong instructional program based on student needs Data to inform instruction and continuous improvement, by

providing time for collaboration on use of data School environment that improves school safety and

discipline, including students’ social, emotional, and health needs

Family and community engagement

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Potential Uses

Recruitment of effective leadership and school staff Signing bonuses Intensive examination of school needs Research and selection of a “whole school reform”

model Development and piloting of plans for extended

learning time Development of school and community partnerships Development and piloting of programs to address

students’ non-academic needs.

Funding for activities must meet Title I requirements.

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Scoring Criteria

LEA Capacity History of significant gains in reading/language arts and

math and minimum TVAAS 3 in SIG schools Description of how the district will provide a different

approach to school turnaround if significant gains have not occurred

Districts with no previous SIG schools • A detailed explanation of stronger district support and

response to Priority schools than what is provided to non-Priority schools.

Turnaround Plan Prioritized principles, allocation of funds, planning activities Monitoring and support External providers’ selection process

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Timeline

Submission Date – November 5, 2014• Application - ePlan Document Library, Priority Schools Planning

Grant folder • Budget and detailed budget narrative - ePlan Priority Schools’

Planning Grant

Grant Evaluation – November 5-19, 2014 Award Date – November 21, 2014 Fund Obligation Date – September 30, 2015 Liquidation Date – December 30, 2015

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Questions

Rita Fentress – Rita.Fentress@tn.gov

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FRAUD, WASTE or ABUSE

Citizens and agencies are encouraged to report fraud, waste or abuse in State and Local government.

NOTICE: This agency is a recipient of taxpayer funding. If you observe an agency director or employee engaging in any activity which you consider to be illegal, improper or wasteful, please call the state Comptroller’s toll-free

Hotline:

1-800-232-5454

Notifications can also be submitted electronically at:

http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/hotline