Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2010

MEMORANDUM

Electronic Requests for Proposals

I am pleased to provide you with the web links to the Electronic Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and applications for the ARRA-Title I and ARRA-IDEA grant programs. http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/Grants/ The RFP and application for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF) will be posted later in May. The RFP and application for the ARRA preschool special education funds will be posted by the Department of Early Education and Care later this spring.

Recommended Use of the One-Time ARRA Funds

The U.S. Department of Education (USED) is encouraging school districts to help meet the commitment that Governors have made in their state Stabilization applications by using their ARRA grants in ways most likely to lead to improved results for students, long-term gains in school system capacity, and increased efficiency and effectiveness, in addition to saving jobs and other recovery activities. Further, the USED will require states to document, as part of the process for applying for the second installment of ARRA funds, the progress they are making toward promoting college- and career-readiness for all students, including those with disabilities, effective teaching, turnaround of low-performing schools, and data-driven decision making.

Therefore, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) is strongly encouraging districts to use 50% or more of ARRA-Title I and ARRA-IDEA grant funds for strategic investment -- that is, for program improvements that will provide enhanced educational opportunities and/or cost savings that will extend beyond the limited two-year life of this unprecedented grant program. Districts may propose to use up to 50% of the funds for recovery purposes.

In addition, the Department encourages districts to consider using their ARRA grants to support and strengthen regional and collaborative approaches in order to achieve efficiencies and economies of scale that will last beyond the life of ARRA funding. This could include partnering with other districts, educational collaboratives, non-profit organizations, colleges and universities, and professional associations in making strategic investments.

Due to the historic opportunity that these grants offer in driving education forward throughout the Commonwealth, the Department is working to ensure that these funds are invested in ways that do not result in unsustainable continuing commitments after the funding expires. Accordingly, we will provide a series of Guidance Documents to assist districts in planning for the strategic use of 50% of their ARRA-Title I and ARRA-IDEA funds. These include:

1. two sample applications for the strategic investment portions of ARRA-IDEA and ARRA-Title I grants to be used as guidance tools;

2. suggestions for how to use ARRA grant funds to make strategic investments for school improvement; and

3. a rubric that will be used in our review of the strategic investment portions of the ARRA-IDEA and ARRA-Title I grant applications.

Please note: There will be an ARRA Proposal Summary form for districts to complete that will describe the district's overall strategic thinking around use of its ARRA IDEA, Title I, and Stabilization funds. The completed summary documents for all districts will be made public on our website as part of our commitment to accountability and transparency. In addition, districts in Corrective Action will be receiving further guidance on uses of ARRA funds due to the Department's obligation under federal law to ensure that federal resource utilization patterns and practices address these districts' performance needs.

Upcoming ARRA Competitive Grants

The ARRA-Title I and ARRA-IDEA RFPs and applications being posted now are formula, or entitlement, grants. In addition, in late summer/early fall more than $50 million will be available to Massachusetts districts through ARRA competitive grants. In awarding these upcoming competitive grants, the Department will give priority to districts that demonstrate strategic use of their ARRA-IDEA and ARRA-Title I funds.

Grant Allocations

ARRA-Title I and ARRA-IDEA entitlement grant allocations can be found at
http://finance1.doe.mass.edu/SchFin/grants/ARRA10.aspx

Rolling Submission Period

We recognize that some districts will not have had sufficient time to plan their strategic investments. For this reason we have established a rolling submission period for the grants. Districts are not required to apply for the full amount of these grants immediately. However, districts are encouraged to submit applications by Monday June 1, 2009 if they wish to have the funds approved by July 1, 2009. Applications submitted or approved after July 1, 2009 can legally claim expenses to the grant only from the date of final Department approval. Therefore, it is important to have district program staff who can be reached in June and over the summer to respond to questions, as needed.

District Grant Coordinator(s)

In FY2009, superintendents and charter school leaders identified the individual(s) who is responsible for submitting the electronic budget workbooks and other required forms to the Department's security web portal. If the individual(s) will be different for FY2010, superintendents and charter school leaders should email the name(s) and contact information for:

ARRA--Title I grants to dbartlett-wilcox@doe.mass.edu; and

ARRA-IDEA grants to gwillis@doe.mass.edu

District program directors who generally prepare grant applications should check with their superintendent or charter school leader regarding the local grant contact person and grant submission plans.

Regional Recovery and Reinvestment Technical Assistance and Networking Meetings

Over the next month the Department is scheduling regional meetings with superintendents and their staff to prepare for the expenditure of ARRA funds, including IDEA and Title I funds. These meetings are being organized through the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.) Roundtables. Below are the dates of each of the Technical Assistance Meetings. Please contact dbeck@doe.mass.edu for more information.

South Shore Roundtable - Monday, May 4
Tri-County Roundtable - Tuesday, May 5
North Shore Roundtable - Thursday, May 7
Urban Superintendents Roundtable - Friday, May 8
Charter Schools (West) - Monday, May 11
Charter Schools (Boston Area) - Tuesday, May 12
Merrimack Valley Roundtable - Thursday, May 14
Connecticut Valley Roundtable - Friday, May 15
Worcester County Roundtable - Thursday, May 28
Old Colony Roundtable - TBD
Berkshire County Roundtable - TBD