SUBJECT: 2007-2008 Grants for Student Clubs

March 11, 2008

SUBJECT: 2007-2008 Grants for Student Clubs

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

The 2007-2008 Grants for Student Clubsformula grant application is now available for downloading from the TEA Grant Opportunities page at: In the "Select Search Options" boxunder “Application Name”, select “2007-2008 Grants for Student Clubs Grant Application” from the drop-down list. Once you have selected the name of the grant program, scroll down to the "Application and Support Information" to obtain the application and other support information.

Eligible Applicants

A complete eligibility list and formula allocation amounts are available in the “Application and Support Information” section referenced above. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools exhibiting, during each of the three preceding school years, characteristics that strongly correlate with high dropout ratesareeligible for a grant. School districts an open-enrollment charter schools are eligible to apply if 75 percent or more of students enrolled in the district have been identified as being economically disadvantaged. Award amounts are based on the number of students in grades 9-12 that have been identified as being at risk of dropping out of school.

Description of Program

Grants for Student Clubs is a pilot program to provide grants to school districts and open-enrollment charters to fund high school academic or co-curricular student club activities for students at risk of dropping out of school. Theprogram requires that adesign plan for each student club be approved by the appropriate campus-planning committee and school board. In addition, any grant awarded under this program must be matched by other federal, state, or local funds, including donations, in an amount equal to the amount of the grant.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications

Grants for Student Club applications must be received in the Division of Formula Funding of TEA by 5:00 PM (Central Time), Friday, April 25, 2008, to be eligible to be considered for funding. No exceptions to the deadline date will be granted.

Mail application to: Texas Education Agency

Division of Formula Funding

Room 6.112

1701 North Congress Avenue

Austin, TX 78701-1494

Reporting Deadlines

Reporting deadlines for the Grants for Student Clubs grant are listed in the table below. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools that are awarded grants are responsible for meeting all required deadlines. Failure to meet deadlines may result in loss of funds.

Information and Assistance

For clarifying program information, contact Chris Caesar in the Division of State Initiatives at (512) 936-6434. For clarifying funding information, contact Dina Hernandez in the Division of Formula Funding at (512) 463-8525.

Sincerely,

Ellsworth Schave

Senior Director, Division of Formula Funding