Harold Johnson

4/24/99

Grant Update: Budget & Selection Clarifications

In response to a number of phone calls and e-mail message, I will use this grant update to share the grant request for proposals (i.e., RFP) information concerning "Budget" and "Selection Criteria." Please note that I would encourage everyone to download/print off a copy of the grant RFP. A copy of the RFP can be found at: www.ed.gov/teachtech/99app.html I would also welcome my colleagues to use the listserv to share their "reading" of the grant's goals, selection, budget, etc. The more we share our expertise's and insights, the more likely we will be successful in this endavor.

A. Grant Purpose – i.e., what are the Feds looking for in particular with this grant RFP:

    1. not simply a planing grant
    2. $$$ provided to:
    1. access needs
    2. provide an opportunity for significant (read "comprehensive") restructuring of teacher prep by develop innovative strategies and resources for use by teacher prep faculty with their students (focus upon UG education - does not exclude G education) via use of a comprehensive, consortium based design
    1. grant work is to lay the foundation for the future implementation of the designed and piloted activities/resources
    2. should be designed to respond to changes/trends in teacher preparation
    3. grant activities could be designed to include:
    1. faculty development
    2. curriculum redesign
    3. formation of cross-disciplinary partnerships of institutions, depts, org. and K-12 schools
    1. encourage the use of grant funds to:
    1. leverage additional support from consortium members
    2. develop new consortium members seek support from foundations and corporate sponsors

B. Grant Budget:

General Information:

    1. "Federal funds shall provide not more than 50% of the total cost of any project funded by a grant under this program."
    2. "The non-Federal share of project costs may be in cash or in kind, fairly valued, including services, supplies, or equipment."
    3. "The grant encourages the leveraging of resources among consortium members and investments and contributions from private sector partners."
    4. "The total of non-Federal commitments made by all consortium members and the value of private sector investments and donations may be included in the match."
    5. "It is particularly important that these matching commitments have the potential to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the project after the grant's funding ends."
    6. …"funds from other federal sources may not be commingled with [these] grant funds, or counted as matching dollars in the budget section of the application. Participation in these complementary federal efforts may make a significant contribution to the success of the proposed initiative, and this potential impact should be described in the grant application, but the budget for each federally funded effort or activity must be administered separately."

Purchase of Equipment:
    1. In recognition of the "…inadequacy of equipment in many teacher preparation programs. To overcome equipment deficiencies that are significant obstacles to program innovations….grant funds [may be used] to make limited equipment acquisitions."
    2. "Investments of grant funds in equipment should be treated as seed money, which can be used to generated additional matching equipment support from the lead organization and its consortium members."
    3. "Acquired equipment should have a clear role to play in the applicant's plan for improving the teaching and learning process."
    4. "Applications proposing the use of grant funds to acquire equipment should include a "Learning Technology Plan" in Section 3 of the Appendix of their application."
    5. "Teacher preparation programs are strongly encouraged to form partnerships with technology-rich K-12 schools that can provide postsecondary faculty and prospective teachers with hands-on learning opportunities in well-equipped classrooms."
    6. "The acquisition of new equipment through donations from consortium members, corporate sponsors, or foundations may be counted as matching commitments to the grant."
    7. "Legacy equipment that can not support current learning resources, e-mail, or text-based Internet access should not be included as matching equipment."
    8. "No preexisting equipment or communications network (equipment and networks in the hands of the applicant prior to the grant's start date) may be counted as part of the match. However, this equipment could form a valuable infrastructure platform for the proposed initiative and it should be described in the application."

Purchase of Learning Resources:
    1. "Grantees may also purchase commercially produced learning resources and other widely used content applications."
    2. "The acquisitions should be supported by substantial faculty development so support the infusion of these new learning resources into the curriculum."

Participate in Conferences:

    1. Up to three individuals from each funded project will be required to attend three conferences, i.e., one regional and two national. These conferences will be used to disseminate information between the funded projects.
    2. "Grantees may also make prudent use of grant funds to participate in other conferences during the year, if these activities will contribute to their efforts to infuse new learning technologies into the curriculum and to the improve teaching and learning process."

C. Selection Criteria:

    1. Need for the Project
    1. extent to which specific gaps/weaknesses, infrastructure or opportunities have been identified
    2. extent to which the identified problems will be addressed
    3. the nature & magnitude with which the problems will be addressed
    1. Quality of the Project Design
    1. extent to which the identified goals, objectives and outcomes are clearly specified and measurable
    2. extent to which the proposed project is comprehensive and will yield:
      1. improved teaching
      2. improved learning
      3. rigorous academic standards for all students
    1. Adequacy of Resources
    1. resources provided by consortium members
    2. relevance and commitment of each consortium member to the project’s implementation and success
    1. Quality of the Project Evaluation Design
    1. extent to which eval plan will provide performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress