Q&A Webinar i3 Development Pre-Application

1. Q&A Webinar i3 Development Pre-Application Overview Slides April 2013 Note: These slides are intended as guidance only. Pleaserefer to the official documents published in the Federal Register.

2. Two Parts of Today’s Webinar These slides are intended as guidance only. Keep in mind that the overview covers only part of the information that prospective applicants should review from the Federal Register and the i3 website. • An overview of the 2013 i3 Development Competition, with a focus on the pre-application process. • A Q&A period with a discussion organized by specific topic.

3. A Few Notes on Q&A We have allowed substantial time after each discussion topic for Q&A • Webinar participants should submit their questions via the webinar chat function We cannot answer questions that are applicant-specific • “Am I eligible to apply?” • “Does this sound like a good idea?” • “Does this idea address the absolute priority?” We may not be able to answer all questions received If you have additional questions, please send them to the i3 mailbox: i3@ed.gov

4. Overview of the i3 Grant Program To generate and validate solutions to persistent educational challenges and to support the expansion of effective solutions across the country and to serve substantially larger numbers of students. Purpose Funding $135 million (est.) to be obligated by December 31, 2013.

5. Types of Awards Available Under i3 i3 Development Validation Scale-up *$135M (est.) to be obligated by December 31, 2013

6. Overview of the i3 Grant Program • Eligible applicants are: • Local educational agencies (LEAs) • non-profit organizations in partnership with (a) one or more LEAs or (b) a consortium of schools • To provide competitive grants to applicants with a record of improving student achievement, attainment or retention in order to expand the implementation of, and investment in, innovative practices that are demonstrated to have an impact on: • Improving student achievement or student growth; • Closing achievement gaps; • Decreasing dropout rates; • Increasing high school graduation rates; or • Increasing college enrollment and completion rates Applicants Eligibility Requirements

7. Order of Q&A Discussion Topics • Eligibility • Evidence • Priorities • Selection Criteria & Review Process • Other Topics

8. i3 Has Two Types of Eligible Applicants A local educational agency (LEA) and A non-profit organization in partnership with (a) one or more LEAs or (b) a consortium of schools There is no competitive advantage to applying as one type of applicant or the other, but an applicant must meet the relevant eligibility requirements.

9. Some Eligibility Requirements Differ Based on Type of Applicant An LEA must: A partnership must: Demonstrate that the non-profit organization has a record of significantly improving student achievement, attainment, or retention through its record of work with an LEA or schools. Demonstrate that it: • (1) Significantly closed achievement gaps between groups of students; or (2) demonstrated success in significantly increasing academic achievement for all groups of students; and • Made significant improvement in other areas; and • Establish partnerships with private sector.

10. Some Eligibility Requirements Apply to Both Types of Applicants All applicants must: • Address one absolute priority. • Meet the evidence requirement – for Development grantees: evidence of promise or strong theory. • Secure commitment for required private sector match – for Development grantees: 15% of the federal award.

11. Q&A: Eligibility

12. Order of Q&A Discussion Topics • Eligibility • Evidence • Priorities • Selection Criteria & Review Process • Other Topics

13. i3 Evidence Requirements • All applications for Development grantsmust meetthe evidence requirement : evidence of promise or strong theory. • Applications that do not meet the evidence requirement will notbe eligible for a grant award, regardless of scores on the selection criteria. • If an application does not meet the “evidence standard” of the grant type under which it was submitted, it will notbe considered for a different type of i3 grant.

14. i3 Development Grant Evidence Standards Option 2 Option 3 Option 1 Strong Theory Evidence of Promise Note: Greyed-out/shaded cells indicate criteria on which the updated standards are silent. See What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 2.1, September 2011), which can currently be found at the following link:  http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/DocumentSum.aspx?sid=19. 

15. Development Grant Evidence Requirements • Applicants are not required to address the evidence eligibility requirement in their pre-applications. • However, applicants may find it valuable to discuss the evidence in support of their proposed projects in connection with or as justification of the claimed significance or impact. • Applicants should provide information addressing the evidence standards in their full applications. • Applicants either should ensure that all supporting evidence is available from publicly available sources and provide links or other guidance indicating where it is available; or should include copies of evidence with the full application. • IMPORTANT: Applicants that do not sufficiently address the evidence requirements in their full applications will not be able to supplement their original applications with additional information to meet the requirements if they are deemed ineligible. Pre-Application FullApplication

16. Q&A: Evidence

17. Order of Q&A Discussion Topics • Eligibility • Evidence • Priorities • Selection Criteria & Review Process • Other Topics

18. i3 Development Priorities Teacher or Principal Effectiveness English Learners Low Performing Schools Parent and Family Engagement Improve Achievementfor High-Need Students Improving STEM Education Effective Use of Technology Students with Disabilities Improving Rural Achievement Must address oneabsolute priority Required forall applications

19. i3 2013 Priority Structure and Subparts • The i3 Development Notice Inviting Applications (the NIA) was published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2013. • An applicant for a Development grant must choose one of the eight absolute priorities and one of the subparts under the chosen priority to address in their pre-application. • Applicants who choose to submit an application under the absolute priority for Serving Rural Communities must identify an additional absolute priority and subpart.

20. Q&A: Priorities

21. Order of Q&A Discussion Topics • Eligibility • Evidence • Priorities • Selection Criteria & Review Process • Other Topics

22. Notes on i3 Selection Criteria and Points • The selection criteria are the criteria against which the peer reviewers score each application. • The Department selects grantees based on peer reviewer scores, so clearly addressing the selection criteria is critical. • There are different selection criteria for the pre-application and the full application. • Detailed wording for each selection criterion may be found in the Notices at the i3 website: http://www.ed.gov/programs/innovation/index.html.

23. i3 Selection Criteria and Points Selection Criteria Development Pre-Application Development Full Application

24. Q&A: Selection Criteria & Review Process

25. Order of Q&A Discussion Topics • Eligibility • Evidence • Priorities • Selection Criteria & Review Process • Other Topics

26. Parts of a Complete Pre-Application Part A Part B • Project Narrative Form • Responses to the Selection Criteria • Significance • Quality of the Project Design • Budget Narrative Form • ED 524 Section C • Eligible applicants must also provide a detailed budget narrative that describes their proposed multi-year project activities and the costs associated with those activities as well as all costs associated with carrying out the project. • Other Attachments Form • Upload appendices here • ED Standard Forms • Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424) • Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424 • Department of Education Budget Summary Form (ED 524) Sections A & B • Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) • Assurances/Certifications • GEPA Section 427 • Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B) • Grants.gov Lobby Form (formerly ED 80-0013 form) • i3 Applicant Information Sheet • (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/applicant.html)

27. Completing the Applicant Information Sheet Applicants must download this form, which provides information that is crucial for the peer review process, from the i3 website and submit it with their pre-application. In previous years, applicants have failed to submit this form or have submitted it in an unusable format, which impedes peer review. To complete this form: • Download it from the i3 website:http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/applicant.html • Complete the form in Adobe Acrobat • Save the form in Adobe Acrobat as a PDF • Upload the PDF to the Other Attachments Form of the application DO NOT:Print the form, complete it, and scan it as a PDF; Save the form in any format other than PDF; Forget to include this form; Merge it with other appendices.

28. Full i3 Development Cycle Pre-AppPeriod • Department published pre-application package. • Applicants register early on Grants.gov and SAM. • Applicants develop pre-application (7 pages). • Applicants submit pre-application through Grants.gov. • Pre-application peer review • Department announces highly rated pre-applications Full AppPeriod • Department publishes full application package. • Highly-rated pre-applicants invited to submit full application (25 pages) and other pre-applicants who choose to submit a full application, including project partners and evaluation plans. • Highly-rated pre-applicants submit full application through Grants.gov. • Full application peer review • Department eligibility review, incl. evidence and prior record of improvement • Department announces highest-rated full applications MatchingPeriod • Highest-rated full applicants secure evidence of at least 50% of required private-sector match. • Highest-rated full applicants submit evidence to the Department for approval and confirmation. • Department announces awardees.

29. Q&A: Other Topics

30. Other Important Resources Investing in Innovation Fund Website: (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/index.html) • Notice Final Priorities, Requirements, Definitions, and Selection Criteria • Notice Inviting Applications • Application Package (includes the Notice Inviting Applications) • posted shortly after NIA publication • i3 Applicant Information Sheet • Frequently Asked Questions Note: These slides are intended as guidance only. Please refer to the official Notice in the Federal Register. All questions about i3 should be sent to i3@ed.gov

31. Closing Thoughts • If you applied previously, make sure you understand the changes to the program– especially to the pre-application process • Write clearly to the selection criteria: they are what the peer reviewers will use to judge your application, so consider explaining what you’re going to do and what the impact will be if you are successful • Consider discussing how you will do what you claim you will do – do not just state that you will do it • Keep in mind that Development grants in particular aim to address problems of national importance – think about whether and how your idea is of broader than local importance • Register for grants.gov early, make sure you understand how to use it, and leave yourself plenty of time to submit your application on time (the deadline of 4:30:00PM DC Time on April 26 applies to the completion of the submission, not the beginning)