CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

BUREAU OF CHOICE PROGRAMS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

INTERDISTRICT COOPERATIVE GRANT PROGRAM 2017 - 2018

**UPDATED VERSION INCLUDES NEW REQUIREMENTS AND VARIOUS LANGUAGE CHANGES.

PURPOSE To maintain a competitive grant program for the purpose of assisting local and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers and nonsectarian, nonprofit organizations with the establishment of interdistrict cooperative programs that increase student achievement and reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation. The Connecticut State Department of Education reserves the right to make necessary policy changes after the proposals are submitted.

Section 10-74d of the Connecticut General Statutes Applications Due: Friday, February 3, 2017 Published: September 2016 RFP #001

CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Dr. Dianna R. Wentzell Commissioner of Education

The State of Connecticut Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons. The Department of Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability (including, but not limited to, intellectual disability, past or present history of mental disorder, physical disability or learning disability), genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by Connecticut state and/or federal nondiscrimination laws. The Connecticut State Department of Education does not unlawfully discriminate in employment and licensing against qualified persons with a prior criminal conviction. Inquiries regarding the Connecticut State Department of Education's nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Levy Gillespie, Equal Employment Opportunity Director/American with Disabilities Act Coordinator, State of Connecticut Department of Education, 25 Industrial Park Road, Middletown, CT 06457, 860-807-2071, Levy.Gillespie@.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

ii

Table of Contents

Purpose and Background Application Format Eligibility Funding Options Allowable Costs Grant Period Submission Requirements Review of Proposals and Grant Awards Accountability Plan Freedom of Information Act Management Control of the Program and Grant Consultation Role of CSDE Personnel Acknowledgement of Cooperation Obligation of Grantees Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Timelines

Appendix A ? Application Packet Cover Page Participating Superintendent or his/her designee, RESC Director Signature Page Abstract and Program Description Planned Student Enrollment Planned Program Data for Staff Race and Ethnicity Outline of Program Goals, Objectives, Activities and Evaluation Definition and Examples of Program Goals, Objectives, Activities and Evaluation IDCG Program Cost Effectiveness

ED 114 Fiscal Year 2018 Certification that a Current Affirmative Action Plan is on File Statement of Assurances Final Online Report Information Appendix B ? SAMPLE Scoring Rubric

Page

iv v v vi vii viii viii ix ix ix

ix

ix x x

1 3

4 6 6 7

10

11 12 15 16 21 22

iii

NOTE: Prospective and current Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Program (IDCG) grantees are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review the IDCG :

Go to the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) at

"Request for Proposals" Click on Interdistrict Cooperative Grants

Purpose and Background

For many years, Connecticut has enjoyed a reputation as an outstanding place to educate children. The state has long led the nation in many measures of educational achievement. However, Connecticut also has a large achievement gap between white students and students of color. In addition, all students must be prepared to enter a global workforce. The education of students must prepare them to compete for jobs in the global economy. Becoming aware of one's own culture and developing awareness of a variety of other cultures is one of the steps to becoming a world-class citizen.

Many students in Connecticut grow up attending school with students of the same race, ethnicity and social class. They have limited exposure to students who are different. IDCG programs should provide innovative opportunities for students to gain exposure to other students from different backgrounds in meaningful ways.

The CSDE is seeking applicants to establish interdistrict cooperative programs, particularly those serving Hartford elementary and secondary students. All programs must focus on two critical themes:

1. Reducing Racial, Ethnic and Economic Isolation ? significant, meaningful, wellarticulated programs and activities based on sound research.

2. Increasing High Academic Achievement of All Students in Reading, Writing, Mathematics or Science - Programs that are aligned with current CT Core standards, in particular the CT Core Standards in K-12 English Language Arts and Mathematics, with academically sound enrichment activities as a significant component. Programs and activities must be designed to lead to observable and measurable improvement in student learning and academic achievement.

These programs should support urban, suburban and rural districts working voluntary together to reduce the racial, ethnic and economic isolation of students and create settings where students can assemble, interact and learn. These programs should also promote a greater understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity and must advance student achievement.

iv

Application Format

The grant application must be single-spaced on white paper and stapled, not bound and with no insertions. The size of the font must be set at 12 point. The total proposal must not exceed 35 pages and must include the following completed grant sections in order to be considered:

signed Application Cover Page (Appendix A); participating Superintendent or his/her designee, Regional Educational Service Center

(RESC) Director Signature Page(s); abstract and Program Description (two pages); completed Planned Student Enrollment and Planned Staff Race Ethnicity Data; completed Outline of Program Goals, Objectives, Activities and Evaluation; completed Program Cost Effectiveness; budget ED114 and Budget Narratives (FY18); signed and Dated Certification That A Current Affirmative Action Plan Is On File; and signed and Dated Statement of Assurances.

Eligibility

This is a competitive grant program. ONE APPLICATION WILL BE ALLOWED PER APPLICANT. The CSDE shall base its grant awards on the strength of the project proposal in meeting the two critical goals, detailed under "Purpose and Background" and reserves the right not to award all grants, to negotiate specific grant amounts, and to select certain grantees, regardless of points awarded, as part of the evaluation process to meet the State Board of Education's priorities. The IDCG established under section 10-74d of the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) provides state funding to local and regional school districts, Regional Educational Service Centers (RESC) and nonsectarian nonprofit organizations approved by the Commissioner of Education.

Such programs may include programs funded pursuant to section 10-266bb and interdistrict magnet school programs that meet the following criteria. Such programs: 1) must be conducted at the magnet school; 2) must serve primarily children who are not enrolled in the magnet school; and 3) cannot be programs for which a local or regional board of education or a RESC receives funds pursuant to section 10-264h or 10-2641.

Programs may operate during the regular school year, during the summer or a combination of both. Summer residential programs are also an option.

Programs shall be no less than 45 operating hours, of which at least 30 hours must be faceto-face contact time among students from the cooperating districts. The CSDE will not consider time spent transporting the students as face-to-face contact time. NOTE: Applicants are encouraged to seek assistance of district-level curriculum professionals when writing the application.

First time nonsectarian nonprofit applicant must provide evidence of the organization's nonsectarian nonprofit status to the Commissioner of Education for approval prior to the Request for Proposal submission deadline. Such evidence may include the organization's charter and filings with the Office of the Secretary of State.

v

Below is the CSDE's stance on liability insurance for the IDCG Program:

If a nonprofit corporation does not hold insurance liability coverage for an IDCG program and believes the district sending students to its program is obligated for such coverage, the nonprofit entity should request such documentation from the district. Otherwise, the nonprofit should hold such coverage.

To be funded under this grant, the program requires the participation of two or more local or regional school districts, RESCs solely or pursuant to a cooperative arrangement with one or more local or regional boards of education, a nonsectarian, nonprofit organization approved by the Commissioner serving two or more local or regional school districts that together provide a program to a diverse student body, or in the case of a lighthouse school, by a local or regional board of education or regional educational service center.

Funding Options

Tables 1, 2 and 3 provide IDCG 2016-17 data. When preparing the budget, review the general guidelines in Table 1 through Table 3. These general guidelines are designed to assist applicants in determining the appropriate amount of funding to request.

Table 1 ? Summer Only Program Data ? 2016-2017

Number of funded programs Number of students served (total) Average number of students per program Average cost per student Range of grant awards

15 3,095

206 $376 $20,490-$180,000

Table 2 ? Academic Year Only Program Data ? 2016-2017

Number of funded programs Number of students served (total) Average number of students per program Average cost per student Range of grant awards

63 23,249

369 $244 $30,658-$180,000

vi

Table 3 ? Summer and Academic Year Program Data ? 2016-2017

Number of funded programs Number of students served (total) Average number of students per program Average cost per student Range of grant awards

9 3,027

336 $260 $67,029-$117,870

Proposals for IDCG programs that exceed the average costs per student as defined in the guidelines above should provide detailed justification in the information provided under IDCG Program Cost Effectiveness (page 11).

Summer Programs - To be eligible for classification as a summer program, 90 percent of the program's costs must be incurred during July and August.

Residential Summer Programs ? The CSDE encourages the submission of summer residential program applications. These programs should include a minimum of four weeks of residence for a minimum of 40 students from more than one school district.

Allowable Costs (see ED 114 - pages 12 to 14)

Allowable costs for this grant include:

teachers/providers; school social workers, counselors, psychologists; clerical assistance; recruitment and admission procedures; instructional supplies, materials and equipment; staff development appropriate to the project (up to five percent of the award); pupil transportation; up to 10 percent of the award to defray the costs of administering and evaluating the

program impact and outcomes, and preparing the final report; development of instructional units; parent activities (up to $1,000); food that is part of the program (cooking classes, overnight stays, etc.); food for snacks; and food that is necessary as meals for residential programs, weekend academies and all

day field trips.

vii

Grant Period The CSDE shall award grants annually beginning on July 1, 2017, and concluding on June 30, 2018. Submission Requirements 1. An original completed application plus two copies, the content and format of which appears

in Appendix A, IRRESPECTIVE OF POSTMARK DATE AND MEANS OF TRANSMITTAL, must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2017. EXTENSIONS WILL NOT BE GRANTED. The CSDE will not accept facsimile copies of the application. 2. Applicants must also submit an electronic version of the Abstract in Microsoft Word to Yolanda.medina@ by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 3, 2017. 3. Mail or hand deliver applications to:

Janet Foster Bureau of Choice Programs Connecticut State Department of Education

165 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106

viii

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download