Oregon Department of Education Office of Educational Improvement
255 Capitol Street NE and Innovation
Salem, OR 97310
2009-10
Title I-A School Improvement Grant
This packet includes:
· Grant Information
· Intent to Apply (Part 1)
· Primary Grant Application (Part 2)
· Forms and Grant Process Descriptions
Title I-A School Improvement Grant
Part 1: Intent to Apply and Signed Assurances Due:
by September 25, 2009
Part 2: Primary Application for School Improvement Grants Due:
no later than January 29, 2010—Districts may submit Grant Applications when plans are revised and peer reviewed.
2
2009-10 Title I-A School Improvement Grant Information and Application for Funding
2009-10 Title I-A School Improvement
Grant Information
What is Title I-A School Improvement Status?
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended in 2001, requires that a state must have a single accountability system and that states must hold schools and districts accountable for the academic achievement of their students. As a result, all schools, districts, and the state are accountable for meeting adequate yearly progress (AYP) each year. Title I-A funded schools that do not make AYP for two consecutive years in the same content area or other indicator, are identified as being in Title I-A School Improvement status. In addition, schools in Title I Improvement status are required to implement mandatory consequences contained in the federal law.
Among other requirements, schools in Title I-A Improvement status must create or revise their school improvement plans to cover the two-year minimum period of time during which the improvement status will remain. The purpose of the Title I-A School Improvement Grant is to assist districts and schools in revising and carrying out a plan that will be successful in achieving academic gains for all students and result in the school meeting Adequate Yearly Progress.
All of the “sanctions” or consequences for improvement status are outlined in Section 1116 of ESEA, Title I-A. For complete information regarding requirements for districts and schools related to schools in Title I-A Improvement status, please refer to the 2009-10 Title I-A School Improvement Resource Manual, available at: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1942.
Does the school have to be Title I-A funded to be identified for Title I-A School Improvement?
Yes. A school must have received Title I-A funding during both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years and have not met AYP for two consecutive years in the same content area or other indicator (i.e., attendance or graduation) to be in Title I-A School Improvement status, and continue to be funded with Title I in the 2009-10 school year to be required to implement consequences of Title I-A School Improvement status outlined in ESEA.
It is the responsibility of the district to notify the Oregon Department of Education in writing if a school identified for Title I-A Improvement status or Corrective Action status will not be funded in 2009-10. Of note, districts are required to fund Title I-A eligible schools in rank order based on free/reduced meal percentages and, generally, eligible schools cannot be “skipped.” Therefore, if Title I-A funding is removed from a school, it may have inadvertent consequences for other Title I-A funded schools in the district.
Which districts are eligible to apply for the Title I-A School Improvement Grant?
Districts with schools in Title I-A School Improvement status are eligible to apply for a non-competitive Title I-A School Improvement Grant to support the implementation of ESEA requirements and sanctions. It should be noted that these funds are in addition to the regular district Title I-A allocation, and may only be used to provide support to schools in Title I-A School Improvement.
Are eligible districts required to apply for Title I-A School Improvement funds?
No. However, all districts with schools in Title I-A School Improvement status must implement all requirements in the law with or without additional Title I-A School Improvement Grant funds. Therefore, all districts with schools in improvement status are encouraged to apply.
How may the Title I-A School Improvement Grant funds be used?
In discussing the allowable uses of funds, it is necessary to state that the school improvement plan is the fundamental gauge for determining what is allowable and not allowable under this program. When developing plans it is important to consult with the LEA and School Improvement Non-Regulatory Guidance (July 21, 2006) issued by the US Department of Education. You can find the guidance at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/schoolimprovementguid.pdf
The purpose of Title I-A School Improvement grant funds is to help districts and schools correct the problems or situation that caused them to be identified for Title I-A School Improvement. Funds may be used by the district to assist the school in improvement status as it develops or revises and implements its School Improvement Plan. Allowable district uses of Title I-A School Improvement Grant funds include:
· Professional development (including stipends for extended hours)
· Planning time
· Costs associated with any new research-based instructional strategy/program designed to improve academic achievement
· Costs associated with research-based strategies to address other barriers to achievement such as poor attendance or drop out prevention (so long as these costs augment a focus on academic improvement, or if the school is identified for improvement status due to the “other indicator”)
Why is this grant a district – not a school grant?
It is a district responsibility to ensure that all schools are making AYP. ESEA requires that districts provide ongoing support to identified schools while they are developing or revising their school improvement plan, and during the implementation and evaluation of that plan. The district, as the fiscal agent for the grant, is expected to work closely with the school to determine how those funds should be used in order to achieve the goals outlined in the school improvement plan.
What is the amount of each Title I-A School Improvement Grant?
Oregon has received Title I-A School Improvement grant funds for the 2009-10 SY for distribution to districts. After districts submit their Intent to Apply applications due no later than September 25, 2009, the number of schools in improvement represented by the district applications will be known and then these grant funds can be divided among eligible participating districts. Until that time, the ODE is unable to determine exactly how many schools will be funded and how much each grantee will receive.
Districts with more than one school in Title I-A School Improvement will receive a grant amount based on all eligible schools in the district. Those districts will determine how to distribute the grant funding among their eligible schools, based on the funding otherwise available and on the severity of need in each individual school. Districts may also choose to reserve grant funding for district-level support activities for all schools in Title I-A School Improvement status.
How do eligible districts apply for 2009-10 School Improvement Grant Funds?
1. On or before September 25, 2009, submit the completed Intent to Apply (Part 1) Application including:
a. The completed Intent to Apply cover page,
b. The list of Title I-A funded schools in improvement and/or corrective action status,
c. Completed and signed district assurances documents (three in total)
i. General Title I-A School Improvement Assurances*
ii. Parent Notification Assurances*, with sample parent notification letters for each identified school
iii. Title I-A School Improvement Grant Assurances
When will the grant be approved and when will grant funds be available?
During the 2009-2010 school year, schools will be receiving school improvement grants from three different funding source. The three funding sources will be:
· School Improvement 1003 “G” Funds (remaining funds from ODE’s 2008 allocation)
· Title I-A ARRA School Improvement Funds (ODE’s 2009 allocation)
· Title I-A Regular School Improvement Funds (ODE’s 2009 allocation)
Federal reporting regulations require that we track each of these funds separately, so each school will receive three separate grants for school improvement this year. However, schools will only be required to submit one completed application/school improvement plan. The release of funds will be as follows:
Phase 1 Funding (correlates to the submission of the Intent to Apply Section of the Grant Application, which was due September 25, 2009). Schools will receive TWO new school improvement grants.
· School Improvement 1003 “G” Funds
· Title I-A ARRA School Improvement Funds
NOTE on Phase 1 Funding: Schools that have submitted the Intent to Apply materials will receive 100% access to funds through EGMS. Other schools will see the grant on EGMS, but will have no access to funds until materials have been submitted. These grants are in process and will become available soon.
Phase 2 Funding (correlates to submission of Part 2 of the grant application/school improvement plan which is due January 29, 2010). Schools will receive ONE new school improvement grant.
· Title I-A Regular School Improvement Funds Grant (projections will be made once we have completed computations based on Phase 1 submission information)
NOTE on Phase 2 Funding: Schools may also receive supplements to the Title I-A ARRA grant at this time as well. The Oregon Department of Education is not planning to release any School Improvement ARRA “G” funds (those discussed in the recent federal proposal) during the 2009-2010 school year. ODE will be applying for those funds in late December 2009 and we do not expect a response from USDOE until later.
Schools that were in school improvement during the previous school year may have unexpended funds still remaining. Schools with these grants must expend those funds first, before using funds that are awarded during the current school year. In addition, the budget narrative must include plans to expend funds previously awarded under this program.
Who do we contact if we have questions or need assistance?
· Russ Sweet, Education Specialist (for Technical assistance related to this grant), 503-947-5638, e-mail
· Jan McCoy, Education Specialist (for Technical Assistance related to this grant), 503-947-5704, e-mail
2009-10
Title I-A School Improvement Grant
Part I:
Intent to Apply Application
Includes:
Intent to Apply
List of Qualifying Schools
Assurances
DUE September 25, 2009
2009-10 Title I-A School Improvement Grant
Part I: Initial Application
DUE SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
This Form Constitutes the Intent to Apply for:
District Information
Name of District: ______
District Address: ______
City, State, Zip: ______
Superintendent: ______
Telephone number: ______
E-mail address: ______
FAX number: ______
Superintendent (or designee) Signature Date
Title I-A Coordinator ______
Telephone number:
E-mail address:
FAX number:
Title I-A Coordinator Signature Date
School Information:
On page 8, list all schools in Title I-A School Improvement and/or Corrective Action Status in 2009-10.
Mail all forms to:
Stacie Ankrum, Office Specialist
Oregon Department of Education
255 Capitol Street N.E.
Salem, OR 97310
FAX and E-mail forms will not be accepted
List all schools in Title I-A Improvement Status and/or Corrective Action in
2009-10.
School / Principal / Year of Title I School Improvement / Most Recent Annual Total ADM as reported to ODE
General Assurances to the Oregon Department of Education
Required for ALL districts with schools in School Improvement Status
Due September 25, 2009
Read and initial each statement below regarding district responsibilities for assisting schools identified for Title I-A School Improvement as they develop or revise their school improvement plan, and as they implement the plan.
1. ____ The district will provide ongoing technical assistance to schools identified for Title I-A School Improvement as they develop or revise their school improvement plan, and throughout the implementation of that plan.
2. ____ The district will coordinate the technical assistance that is provided to school(s) in Title I-A School Improvement. Assistance to schools may be provided by district staff, Oregon School Improvement Facilitators, external consultants such as ODE, ESD or university staff or by private consultants with experience and expertise in helping schools improve academic achievement. Indicate name/position of individual who will coordinate this assistance:
Name______Position______
3. ____ The district will help the school analyze results from the state assessment system and other relevant examples of student work to set measurable goals. Technical assistance will be provided to school staff to enable them to use data to identify and solve problems in instruction, to strengthen parental involvement and professional development, and to fulfill other responsibilities that are defined in the school improvement plan.
4. ____ The district will ensure that the school improvement plan includes provisions for teacher mentoring as a part of its professional development plan. Mentor programs pair novice teachers with more experienced teachers to provide practical support and guidance.
5. ____ The district will help the school choose and sustain effective instructional strategies and methods and ensure that the school staff receives high quality professional development relevant to the implementation of instructional strategies. The chosen strategies must be grounded in scientifically based research and address the specific instructional or other issues, such as attendance or graduation rate, that caused the school to be identified for school improvement.
6. ____ The district will help the school analyze and revise its school budget to fund activities most likely to increase student achievement and remove it from school improvement status.
7. ____ The district will ensure that at least 10% of the school’s regular Title I-A allocation will be expended for high quality professional development for the school’s teachers, principal, and as appropriate, other instructional staff.
8. ___The Oregon Department of Education may, as it deems necessary, supervise, evaluate and provide guidance and direction to the local school system and local school in the conduct of the activities performed under this plan.
9. ___The schools and district shall adhere to Oregon Department of Education reporting and evaluation requirements. This includes project reports that address the progress toward meeting the established, measurable goals, and any other reports requested by ODE to measure the project effectiveness.
Superintendent’s Signature ______Date ______
Title I-A Coordinator Signature ______Date ______