Transcript Document
st
21
Century Community
Learning Centers
Technical Assistance
Webcast
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc
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Program Purpose
To establish or expand community learning centers that
provide students with academic enrichment opportunities
along with activities designed to complement the students’
regular academic program.
1) Provide opportunities for academic enrichment,
including providing tutorial services to help
students, particularly students who attend lowperforming schools, to meet State and local
student academic achievement standards in
core academic subjects, such as reading and
mathematics;
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Program Purpose
(Continued)
2) Offer students a broad array of additional services
programs, and activities that are designed
to reinforce and complement the regular academic
program of participating students; and
3) Offer families of students served by community
learning centers opportunities for literacy and
related educational development.
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Project Activities
• Remedial education
• Math and science activities
• Arts and music education
• Tutoring and mentoring services
• Including the use of senior citizen volunteers
• Activities for limited English proficient students
• Entrepreneurial activities
• Technology telecommunications programs
• Recreational activities
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Program Overview
Formula grant program—State Education Agency
(SEA) applies to US Department of ED for funds
Organization can not apply to ED directly
SEA disperses funds by awarding sub-grants
Competition dates will vary by state
Eligible organizations apply to SEA
Applications reviewed by a panel of reviewers
Up to 5% of SEA’s 21st Century funds to be used for
administration and activities (training, monitoring,etc.)
ED’s non-regulatory guidance:
www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/guidance2003.doc
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Program Facts
Minimum award amount: $50,000 annually
Life of the grant award cycle: 3 to 5 years
Applicant may propose to conduct project in
multiple sites
States are urged to fund projects in urban and rural areas
Competition dates will vary by state
Competitive priorities for partnerships between
Local Education Agencies (LEA) and community
based organizations
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Target Population
• Schools with a high concentration of
students from low-income families and high
rates of poverty
• Title I schools designated in need of
improvement
• Students attending charter schools
• Parents and family of eligible students
Adult residents not related to eligible students
are not eligible to receive project services
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Eligible Applicants
• Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
• City or county governments
• Institutions of higher education (IHEs)
• For profit agencies
• Non-profits, including faith-based and
community organizations (FBCOs)
• Partnerships of these organizations
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Competition Priority
States must give priority to applications that propose
to target services to students who attend schools that
have been identified as in need of improvement and
are submitted jointly by eligible entities consisting
of not less than one—
LEA receiving funds under part A of Title I; and
Community-based organization or other public
or private entity.
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Competition Priority
(Special Rule)
The SEA shall provide the same priority to an
application submitted by a LEA if the LEA
demonstrates that it is unable to partner with a
community-based organization in reasonable
geographic proximity and of sufficient quality to
meet the requirements of this part.
States may include other priorities
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Location/Hours of Operation
• Center does not have to be located in
a public school
• Facility is available and convenient
to target population
• Facility operates during non-school hours
• Before or after school
• Weekends
• Summers
Adheres to all safety and health code laws
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Grant Writing Tips
Application should be a road map
Clear, concise, detailed
“Reader Friendly”
Recipe for success: 2/3 Planning & 1/3 writing
Persuasive and informative document
Assemble a writing team
1 to 5 people to address selection criteria
1 person to serve as an editor
At least an extra pair of eyes to review
READ CAREFULLY & FOLLOW DIRECTIONS 12
Application Contents
• An evaluation of the community needs and
available resources for the community learning
center;
• A description of how the project proposed to be
carried out in the center will address those needs
(including the needs of working families);
• An assurance that the project will primarily target
students attending schools where at least 40%
of the children are from low-income families;
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Gathering Community Data
Use recent local data to demonstrate need
Compare target to state, region, and nation
Work with LEAs, state and local governments
Contact Congressional Representative for stats
U.S. Census Bureau—American Fact Finder
Primary tool for stats on:
Population
Education
Income
Census.gov
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Application Contents
(Continued)
• A description of the before and after school or
summer recess activities to be funded, including—
• An assurance that the project will take place
in a safe and easily accessible facility;
• A description of how participating students
in the project will travel safely to and from
the center and home;
• A plan to inform the community about
project site—including its location—in an
understandable manner;
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Application Contents
(Continued)
• A demonstration that the applicant has experience or
promise of success in carrying out its project;
•A description of how the project activities are
expected to improve student academic achievement;
• A description, if applicable, of how the eligible entity
will encourage and use appropriately qualified seniors
to serve as volunteers in the project;
• A description of how activities will meet the
principles of effectiveness;
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Principles of Effectiveness
A project’s activities shall be based on:
• Assessment of objective data for the project’s need;
• Established set of performance measures aimed at
ensuring the availability of high quality academic
enrichment activities; and
• Scientifically based research that provides evidence
that the project will help students meet the state
and local student academic achievement standards.
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Application Contents
(Continued)
• Include an assurance that the project was developed,
and will be carried out, in active collaboration with
the schools the students attend;
• Provide a description of the partnership between
the LEA, a community-based organization, and
another public entity or private entity;
• Include an assurance that the community will be
given notice of an intent to submit an application and
that the application and any waiver request will be
available for public review after submission;
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Application Contents
(Continued)
•Identify federal, state and local programs that will
be combined or coordinated with the project to
maximize the most effective use of public resources;
• Include an assurance that funds under this part will be
used to increase the level of state, local and other
non-federal funds, and in no case supplant federal,
state, local or non-federal funds; and
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Application Contents
(Continued)
• Give a description of a preliminary plan
for how the community learning center will
continue after funding under this grant
program ends:
• Provide a budget for the life of the grant and beyond
• Highlight community buy-in
• Seek out sources to meet any matching requirements
• Reach out to community businesses
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Budgeting Expenditures
$ Allowable -- either permitted or
not specifically prohibited
$ Allocable -- necessary for
project success
$ Reasonable -- costs that would be
incurred by “prudent” person
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Matching/Cost Sharing
• Demonstration of institutional commitment
• Cash
• In-kind contribution such as equipment, supplies,
facilities and staff time
• May be required by the SEA
• Will not exceed grant award amount
• May not be derived from federal or state sources
• Ability to provide match will not affect the
applicant’s score or the funding decision
Partnership grantees should share matching burden
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Matching Tips
• Honor all commitments in application
• Primary grantee (fiscal agent) tracks
matching contributions of all partners
• Read matching requirements carefully
•Total project costs include both the federal
share plus the applicant share
• If the total project costs were $200,000 and
there were a 50% matching requirement, the
federal share would be $100,000 and the
applicant share would be $100,000
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Quality of the Evaluation
“The Clincher Category” strong evaluation
is absolutely critical for successful project
Periodic review throughout life of the grant
Unbiased measurement of project goals and
objectives
Solid understanding of up to date research
on effective instructional practices
For both project design and evaluation
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Developing a Strong
Evaluation Component
Assessment of objective data
Consider the initial need
Effectiveness of activities to achieve goals
Established set of performance measures
aimed at ensuring high-quality academic
enrichment opportunities
If appropriate, scientifically based research
provides evidence project’s activities will
improve student academic performance
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Evaluation Tips
Conduct pre and post tests
Develop individual development plans
for all participants
Communicate with students’ teachers
Measure five components of reading instruction
Phonemic awareness
Phonics
Vocabulary
Reading fluency, including oral reading skills
Reading comprehension strategies
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Winning Reminders
• Plan ahead
• Assess organizational strengths/weaknesses
• ID target population and their need
• Determine what services you can provide
• Be aware of state submission requirements, deadlines, etc
• Develop a partnership with an LEA
• Outline roles and responsibilities
• Select a fiscal agent
• Attend technical assistance workshops
• Identify your state’s 21st Century contact at:
www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/contacts.html
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Resources
21st Century Community Learning Centers
Program Office email address: [email protected]
Center for Faith-based and Community Initiatives:
www.ed.gov/faithandcommunity
www.afterschool.gov
www.afterschoolalliance.org
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Thank you for
ensuring that
No Child Is
Left Behind
1-800-USA LEARN
www.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc
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