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Pre-Application Meeting. CSP Non-SEA Planning, Program Design, and Implementation; Dissemination. Meeting logistics. Listen only The webinar will be recorded Utilize chat function for questions or comments We will answer questions throughout the presentation and at the end
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Pre-Application Meeting CSP Non-SEA Planning, Program Design, and Implementation; Dissemination
Meeting logistics • Listen only • The webinar will be recorded • Utilize chat function for questions or comments • We will answer questions throughout the presentation and at the end • If we are not able to respond to your question, please follow up after the webinar
Meeting agenda • Competition Highlights • CSP Purpose and goals • Absolute and Competitive Preference Priorities • Eligibility • Application Requirements and Selection Criteria • Application Package Components • Electronic Application and Submission • Grants.gov (Register and submit early!)
Competition highlights • Absolute Priority: Improving Achievement and High School Graduation Rates [High-Poverty]. Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school graduation rates* and college enrollment rates in high-poverty schools* • Non-SEA Eligible States: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. • 84.282B, Planning, Program Design, and Initial Implementation: 1st three years of the school’s operation, including a planning year • 84.282C, Dissemination: must be in operation for at least three consecutive years • Grants.gov registration can take up to 4 weeks!! REGISTER NOW! *Definition in NIA
Competition highlights Federal register Notice The Federal Register Notice contains important information. We recommend all applicants to read the entire notice in the Federal Register. Applicants must follow the Application Procedures as described in the Federal Register Notice announcing the grant competition.
Competition highlights Peer review of applications • Assessed by knowledgeable persons with charter school experience representing a diversity of disciplines, institutions, regions, and cultures. • Applications assessed according to the Competitive Preference Priorities (points possible), Selection Criteria (points possible) & Application Requirements (no points possible, but information can be used to inform other sections).
Competition highlights Award notices If your application is successful, we will notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally. If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we will notify you.
Competition highlights Conflict of interest CSP grantees must avoid apparent and actual conflicts of interest when administering grants and entering into contracts for equipment or services. Among other things, Federal grant recipients must develop written procurement procedures and conduct all procurement transactions in a manner to provide open and free competition (see 34 CFR 74.42-74.44). Department regulations also prohibit a person from participating in an administrative decision regarding a project if (a) the decision is likely to benefit that person or his or her immediate family member; and (b) the person has a family or business relationship with the grantee (34 CFR 75.525).
Competition highlights Important dates Applications Available: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 11, 2014 (04:30:00 p.m. Washington DC Time) Grant Performance Period Begins: Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Competition highlights Award Information Type of Award: Discretionary grants. Estimated Available Funds: $4,000,000. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of the applications , we may make additional awards in FY 15 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition. Estimated Range of Awards (84.282B): $150,000 - $250,000 per year up to three years. Estimated Range of Awards (84.282C): $100,000 - $300,000 per year up to two years. Estimated Average Size of Awards: $200,000 per year. Estimated Number of Awards: 18-22. Project Period: Up to 36 months for 84.282B and up to 24 months for 84.282C. Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in the Federal Register Notice.
CSp purpose To increase national understanding of the charter schools model and to expand the number of high quality charter schools available to students across the nation by providing financial assistance for: • Planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools; • Evaluation of the effects of charter schools, including their effects on students, student academic achievement, staff, and parents; • Dissemination of information about charter schools and successful practices in charter schools.
CSp performance measures Performance Measures: The goal of the CSP is to support the creation and development of a large number of high-quality charter schools that are free from State or local rules that inhibit flexible operation, are held accountable for enabling students to reach challenging State performance standards, and are open to all students. The Secretary has set two performance indicators to measure this goal: • The number of charter schools in operation around the Nation; and • The percentage of charter school students who are achieving at or above the proficient level on State examinations in mathematics and reading/language arts.
CSp performance measures The Secretary has established the following measure to examine the efficiency of the CSP: Federal cost per student in implementing a successful school (defined as a school in operation for three or more years). All grantees are required to submit an annual performance report documenting their contribution in assisting the Department in meeting these performance measures. The standard ED report form (ED 524B) can be found at: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html
Absolute priority Improving Achievement and High School Graduation Rates [High-Poverty]. Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school graduation rates* and college enrollment rates in high-poverty schools*. * Definition can be found in the NIA
Absolute priority Improving Achievement and High School Graduation Rates [High Poverty]. To meet this priority, an applicant for either a dissemination grant (84.282C) or a planning, program design, and initial implementation grant (84.282B) whose charter school has enrolled students must demonstrate that the school is a high-poverty school by providing enrollment data. An applicant for a planning, program design, and initial implementation grant whose charter school has not yet enrolled students must demonstrate, consistent with the definition of high-poverty school, that it will target for enrollment students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches or students who are from low-income families. Applications approved for funding must meet the absolute priority throughout the performance period.
Competitive priorities The notice contains 2 competitive priorities. In order to be eligible to receive points under these competitive preference priorities, the applicant must identify the priority or priorities that it believes it meets, provide a detailed explanation of how the project meets the priority, and provide documentation supporting its claims. Under 34 CFR 75.105 (c)(2)(i) we will award the following: • Competitive Preference Priority 1: up to an additional four points to an application depending on how well the application meets the priority • Competitive Preference Priority 2: up to an additional three points to an application depending on how well the application meets the priority
Competitive priorities Competitive Preference Priority 1: Improving Achievement and High School Graduation Rates (up to 4 points) This priority is for projects designed to address one or more of the following priority areas: • Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school graduation rates* and college enrollment rates for students in rural local educational agencies * • Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school graduation rates* and college enrollment rates for students with disabilities • Accelerating learning and helping to improve high school graduation rates*and college enrollment rates for English learners *Definition can be found in the NIA
Competitive priorities Competitive Preference Priority 1: Improving Achievement and High School Graduation Rates (up to 4 points) Note: This competitive preference priority encourages the applicant to provide a thoughtful, in-depth response to the priority area(s) to which it is well-suited to respond. Applicants will receive up to four points for how well they address priority areas (a) through (c). Applicants may choose to respond to one, two, or three of the priority areas but, in order to receive the maximum available points, it is not necessary for applicants to respond to more than one priority area.
Competitive priorities Competitive Preference Priority 2: Support for Military Families (up to 3 points) This priority is for projects that are designed to address the needs of military-connected students* Note: For purposes of this program, projects meeting this priority must target military-connected students who are current or prospective public charter school students. The applicant’s recruitment and admissions policy must comply with its State charter school law and CSP program requirements (for information on admissions and the lottery under the CSP, see “Charter Schools Program Nonregulatory Guidance” at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/charter/nonregulatory-guidance.html). * Definition can be found in the NIA
Invitational priority Promoting Diversity The Secretary is particularly interested in applications from charter school developers planning schools, or from charter schools, that are designed to attract and serve students from diverse backgrounds, including students from different racial and ethnic groups and educationally disadvantaged students (e.g., economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, migrant students, English learners, neglected or delinquent students, and homeless students), as reflected in the charter school’s (a) mission statement, (b) vision of the charter school, or (c) charter or performance agreement between the charter school and its authorizers.
Invitational priority Note: For information on permissible ways to address this priority, please refer to the joint guidance issued by the Department of Education and the Department of Justice entitled, “Guidance on the Voluntary Use of Race to Achieve Diversity and Avoid Racial Isolation in Elementary and Secondary Schools” at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/guidance-ese-201111.pdf and to Section E of the CSP Nonregulatory Guidance at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/charter/nonregulatory-guidance.html.
Non-SEA eligible applicants CFDA No. 84.282B: Planning, Program Design, and Implementation CFDA No. 84.282C: Dissemination Non-SEA eligible applicants may apply for funding directly from the U.S. Department of Education if the SEA in the State elects not to participate in the CSP or does not have an approved application under the program
Non-SEA eligible applicants The following States currently have approved applications under the CSP:Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. Therefore, the CSP Grant Competitions to Non-State Education Agencies are only open to eligible applicants from States and Territories which have charter legislation in place but are NOT LISTED above.
Non-SEA eligible applicants Defined as: • A developer that has applied to an authorized public chartering authority to operate a charter school; • Has provided to that authority adequate and timely notice, and a copy of its CSP grant application (may be waived in the case of a pre-charter planning grant if the authorized public chartering authority to which a charter school proposal will be submitted has not been determined at the time the grant is submitted (Sec. 5203(d)(3)); and • In a State that has a statute specifically authorizing charter schools.
Non-SEA eligible applicants Defined as: Note: Section 5210 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7221i(2)) defines “developer” as an individual or group of individuals (including a public or private nonprofit organization), which may include teachers, administrators and other school staff, parents, or other members of the local community in which a charter school project will be carried out. Additionally, the charter school must be located in a State with a State statute specifically authorizing the establishment of charter schools and in which the SEA does not have an application approved under the CSP.
84.282B Planning, Program Design, and Implementation: 36 Month limit Post-award planning the design of the educational program (18 month limit): • Refinement of the desired educational results and of the methods for measuring progress toward achieving those results; and • Professional development of teachers and other staff who will work in the charter school.
84.282B Planning, Program Design, and Implementation: 36 Month limit Initial implementation of the charter school (24 month limit): • Informing the community about the school; • Acquiring necessary equipment and educational materials and supplies; • Acquiring or developing curriculum materials; and • Other initial operating costs that cannot be met from State or local sources.
84.282B Planning, Program Design, and Implementation: 36 Month Limit cont. Continuation awards are conditional upon grants receiving charter approval within 12 months, and being ready to move into implementation
84.282B: Funding Restrictions CSP funds awarded under CFDA number 84.282B may be used only for the planning and initial implementation of a charter school. As a general matter, the Secretary considers charter schools that have been in operation for more than three years to be past the initial implementation phase and, therefore, ineligible to receive CSP funds to support the initial implementation of a charter school.
84.282c: Funding Restrictions A charter school may use grant funds to assist other schools in adapting the charter school’s program (or certain aspects of the charter school’s program), or to disseminate information about the charter school, through such activities as: • Assisting other individuals with the planning and start-up of one or more new public schools, including charter schools,, that are independent of the assisting charter school and the assisting charter school’s developers, and that agree to be held to at least as high a level of accountability as the assisting charter school; • Developing partnerships with other public schools, including charter schools, designed to improve student academic achievement in each of the schools participating in the partnership;
84.282c: Funding Restrictions A charter school may use grant funds to assist other schools in adapting the charter school’s program (or certain aspects of the charter school’s program), or to disseminate information about the charter school, through such activities as: • Developing curriculum materials, assessments, and other materials that promote increased student achievement and are based on successful practices within the assisting charter school; and • Conducting evaluations and developing materials that document the successful practices of the assisting charter school and that are deigned to improve student performance in other schools.
84.282c: Funding Restrictions Note: Consistent with section 5204 (f) (6) of the ESEA, a charter school may apply for funds to carry out dissemination activities, whether or not the charter school previously applied for or received funds under the CSP for planning, program design, or implementation, if the charter school has been in operation for at least three consecutive years and has demonstrated overall success, including: • Substantial progress in improving student academic achievement; • High levels of parent satisfaction; and • The management and leadership necessary to overcome initial start-up problems and establish a thriving, financially viable charter school.
Definition of a charter school ESEA section 5210(1) The term “charter school” means a public school that: • In accordance with a specific State statute authorizing the granting of charters to schools, is exempt from significant State or local rules that inhibit the flexible operation and management of public schools, but not from any rules relating to the requirements in paragraphs 1 through 12 of this definition; • Is created by a developer as a public school, or is adapted by a developer from an existing public school, and is operated under public supervision and direction; • Operates in pursuit of a specific set of educational objectives determined by the school’s developer and agreed to by the authorized public chartering agency; • Provides a program of elementary or secondary education, or both; • Is nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies, employment practices, and all other operations, and is not affiliated with a sectarian school or religious institution; • Does not charge tuition;
Definition of a charter school ESEA section 5210(1) The term “charter school” means a public school that: • Complies with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; • Is a school to which parents choose to send their children, and that admits students on the basis of a lottery, if more students apply for admission than can be accommodated; • Agrees to comply with the same Federal and State audit requirements as do other elementary schools and secondary schools in the State, unless such requirements are specifically waived for the purpose of this program; • Meets all applicable Federal, State, and local health and safety requirements; • Operates in accordance with State law; and • Has a written performance contract with the authorized public chartering agency in the State that includes a description of how student performance will be measured in charter schools pursuant to State assessments that are required of other schools and pursuant to any other assessments mutually agreeable to the authorized public chartering agency and the charter school. 20 U.S.C. 7221i(1)
Definition of a charter school Lottery and enrollment Charter schools that are oversubscribed must admit students via a lottery. Under the Federal guidance, the only allowable exemptions to a lottery are: • Students who are enrolled in a public school at the time it is converted into a public charter school; • Students who are eligible to attend, and are living in the attendance area of, a public school at the time it is converted into a public charter school; • Siblings of students already admitted to or attending the same charter school; • Children of a charter school's founders, teachers, and staff (so long as the total number of students allowed under this exemption constitutes only a small percentage of the school's total enrollment); and • Children of employees in a work-site charter school, (so long as the total number of students allowed under this exemption constitutes only a small percentage of the school's total enrollment).
Charter schools program Applicable Statute and Regulations: The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, and 99; and Title V, Part B, Subpart 1 (formerly Title X, Part C) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), 20 U.S.C. 7221-7221j. Additional information about the Charter Schools Program including laws, regulations, guidance and resources can be reviewed at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/charternonsea/index.html
Application requirements All non-SEA applicants applying for CSP grant funds must address both the APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS and the SELECTION CRITERIA. • Application requirements apply to applicants for both 84.282B and 84.282C. Each non-SEA applicant applying for CSP grant funds may choose to respond to the application requirements in the context of the applicant’s response to the selection criteria.
Application requirements • Describe the educational program to be implemented by the proposed charter school, including how the program will enable all students to meet challenging State student academic achievement standards, the grade levels or ages of students to be served, and the curriculum and instructional practices to be used.
Application requirements Single-sex charter schools Note: An applicant proposing to create a single-sex charter school should include in its application a detailed description of how it is complying with applicable nondiscrimination laws, including the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution (as interpreted in the United States v. Virginia, 518 U.S. 515 (1996) and other cases) and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) and its regulations, including 34 CFR 106.34(c). Specifically, the applicant should provide a written justification for a proposed single-sex charter school that explains (1) how the single-sex charter school is based on an important governmental objective(s); and (2) how the single-sex nature of the charter school is substantially related to the stated objective(s).
Application requirements Single-sex charter schools An applicant proposing to operate a single-sex charter school that is part of an LEA and not a single-school LEA under State law, should also provide (1) information about whether there is a substantially equal single-sex school(s) for students of the excluded sex, and if so, a detailed description of both the proposed single-sex charter school and the substantially equal single-sex school(s) based on the factors in 34 CFR 106.34(c)(3); and (2) information about whether there is a substantially equal coeducational school(s) for students of the excluded sex, and if so, a detailed description of both the proposed single-sex charter school and the substantially equal coeducational school(s) based on the factors in 34 CFR 106.34(c)(3).
Application requirements • Describe how the charter school will be managed. • Describe the objectives of the charter school and the methods by which the charter school will determine its progress toward achieving those objectives. Note: The applicant should review the Performance Measures section of the Federal Register Notice for information on the requirements for developing project-specific performance measures and targets consistent with the objectives of the proposed project. The applicant may choose to include a discussion of the project-specific performance measures and targets it develops in response to the Performance Measures requirement as part of its response to this application requirement.
Application requirements • Describe the administrative relationship between the charter school and the authorized public chartering agency. • Describe how parents and other members of the community will be involved in the planning, program design, and implementation of the charter school. • Describe how the authorized public chartering agency will provide for continued operation of the charter school once the Federal grant has expired, if that agency determines that the charter school has met its objectives as described in paragraph (iii).