No 2014 PEP Competition?! What Do We Do Now?
We know from many inquiries and conversations over the last six months that a lot of schools and community-based organizations out there were very eager and have already been preparing to apply for the Carol M. White PEP grant in 2014. No doubt many are disappointed to learn they’ll have to wait until at least next year before that can happen, now that we know PEP will fund down the slate rather than accepting new applications for 2014 awards.
If you are among those who had hoped to apply or re-apply in 2014, you’re probably wondering what you can possibly do to sustain the support and momentum you may have already built between now and next year. The good news is we have a few ideas for you!
1) If you applied for PEP in 2013 but were not selected for an award, dig out your 2013 PEP application and keep it handy. Then ensure you and anyone listed in the application forms as the grant program contact, project director, or Authorized Representative vigilantly watches email this spring and summer. You will not have to re-submit an application to be considered for an award in 2014 if you applied in 2013 but did not win, but the US Department of Education (ED) may contact you with questions about your budget or other application components during the selection process. Such communications are almost always conducted over email, and the time allotted for response is typically quite short. Keep in mind being contacted with questions does not guarantee an award, and not being contacted does not mean you won’t win. The most important thing is that you are accessible and quickly and thoroughly responsive if you are contacted.
2) Keep preparing to apply! It’s not too soon to prepare (or continue to prepare) for a 2015 application. PEP is extremely complex and competitive at this point in its history. Use the extra time to really solidify your case for need and your responding project design and plan for implementation. If you’re looking for assistance with the process, contact us.
3) Watch our blog and apply for other grants! Over the next few weeks, we’ll feature some great opportunities you can consider pursuing this year in lieu of PEP. Some of these will be grants that generally support physical activity and/or nutrition education projects, and others will be for specific types of physical activity projects like biking or running programs, for example. As always, the grants featured will NOT represent an all-inclusive list. There are more great grants out there, and we’d encourage you to watch for and apply for them or contact us to discuss assistance identifying others that may be fits for your organization.
As always, good luck!!
2014 PEP Will Fund Down The Slate
We received confirmation today from the US ED PEP Program Manager, Carlette KyserPegram, that the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) will fund down the slate in 2014, rather than holding a new competition. This means new PEP awardees will be selected in 2014 from 2013 applicants who scored highly but not quite highly enough to win an award in 2013.
Ms. KyserPegram also shared the following important information, “In terms of FY 2015, generally, we can’t be certain of the status of this program until we have a final, Federal budget in place as these grant funds are appropriated by Congress. ED does maintain a Grants Forecast page on our agency’s website (http://www.ed.gov/fund/grants-apply.html ) where anticipated grant opportunities are announced. As such, we recommend they check ED’s forecast page periodically for updates to this and other future grant program opportunities.
Additionally, if you would like weekly e-mail updates related to the work of OSHS, as well as other information related to school safety, substance abuse and violence prevention in education, and the promotion of student health and well-being, they may be interested in subscribing to the OSHS PREVENTION NEWS BULLETIN. We also highlight other federal funding opportunities related to these topics, including grant competitions, in our office and in other federal agencies. We will provide information on upcoming OSHS grant competitions in this news bulletin. Subscription information is available online at: www.ed.gov/news/newsletters/listserv/preventioned.html .”
PEP Grant Funding for 2014
We’ve recently learned that the PEP Grant program will be receiving approximately the same amount of funding in 2014 as it did in 2013, as Congress has completed work on a bill to fund the government for the remainder of FY2014 with $74.5 million dollars allocated for the PEP Grant program.
Multi-year grants funded in 2012 and 2013 will be able to continue their projects and new awards in 2014 are likely.
As we learn new information about PEP we’ll post it here on the Insight blog, as well as on the InsightGrants Twitter account.
Congratulations to Insight’s Winning Clients of 2013 PEP Grants
We’d like to congratulate the clients of Insight Grants who were awarded funding under the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). A great amount of hard work went into each of the applications, and the following schools were rewarded with funding:
South Orange-Maplewood School District, NJ ($542,081)
Westport Public Schools, CT ($616,157)
Caledonia-Mumford Central School District, NY ($448,469)
Hononegah Community High School District 207 (Four-District Application), IL ($615,733)
Mexico Academy & Central School District, NY ($640,727)
New London Public Schools, CT ($687,138)
Holland Central School District, NY ($605,957)
Watertown Public Schools, MA ($391,269)
Perry Local Schools, OH ($762,811)
Marion Independent School District, IA ($354,001)
North Brookfield Public Schools, MA ($390,196) (Applicant written, edited by Insight)
Please Note – amounts listed are for first year funding. Many of the awardees will be undertaking 2 or 3 year projects.
For those that didn’t win this year, we’d advise to keep trying! Several winners had to persevere and submit multiple grant applications before they saw the win.
If you are interested in applying for a future PEP grant or would like information on Insight’s PEP Grant Evaluation services please contact us by phone at 716-474-0981 or email info@insightgrants.com
2013 PEP Grant Winners Announced by U.S. Department of Education
Today the U.S. Department of Education announced the award of 60 grants totaling nearly $32 million to Local Education Agencies and community-based organizations through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). You can see the entire U.S. Department of Education 2013 PEP Press Release here. Congratulations to all those awarded, and great job to all who worked hard in putting together a proposal!
FY 2013 Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant Recipients
| Grantee | State | Year 1 Award |
|---|---|---|
| Springdale Public School District | AR | $735,081 |
| Alameda County Office of Education | CA | $661,906 |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation | CA | $565,780 |
| Diego Hills Charter School | CA | $211,023 |
| Desert Sands Public Charter, Inc | CA | $422,942 |
| New London Public Schools | CT | $687,138 |
| Westport Public Schools | CT | $616,157 |
| District of Columbia Public Schools | DC | $570,942 |
| School Board of Pinellas County, FL | FL | $775,179 |
| School Board of Miami-Dade County, FL | FL | $763,761 |
| Brevard Public Schools | FL | $311,955 |
| Cedar Falls Community School District | IA | $605,083 |
| Marshalltown Community School District | IA | $494,201 |
| Iowa City Community School District | IA | $263,408 |
| Marion Independent School District | IA | $354,001 |
| Middleton School District | ID | $441,228 |
| Chicago Public Schools, District 299 | IL | $750,000 |
| Hononegah Community High School District 207 | IL | $615,733 |
| ASPIRA Inc. of Illinois | IL | $373,406 |
| ERLANGER-ELSMERE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT | KY | $725,893 |
| Newport Independent Schools | KY | $478,403 |
| Berkshire Medical Center | MA | $745,513 |
| North Brookfield Public Schools | MA | $390,196 |
| Watertown Public Schools | MA | $391,269 |
| Maine School Administrative District 15 | ME | $465,133 |
| LIVONIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL DISTRCT | MI | $593,365 |
| Stillwater Area Public Schools ISD #834 | MN | $727,030 |
| Winona R-III School District | MO | $190,358 |
| HELP Committee and Boys and Girls Club of the Hi-Line | MT | $145,037 |
| Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | NC | $599,514 |
| Iredell-Statesville Schools | NC | $749,916 |
| Buncombe County Schools | NC | $752,093 |
| Public Schools of Robeson County | NC | $698,129 |
| South Orange-Maplewood School District | NJ | $542,081 |
| The Renaissance Charter School | NY | $471,986 |
| Queensbury Union Free School District | NY | $547,829 |
| City School District of New Rochelle | NY | $675,000 |
| Caledonia- Mumford Central School District | NY | $448,469 |
| South Colonie Central School District | NY | $714,708 |
| Mexico Academy & Central School District | NY | $640,727 |
| Holland Central School District | NY | $605,957 |
| Palmyra-Macedon Central School District | NY | $328,417 |
| Greater Amsterdam School District | NY | $633,071 |
| Watkins Glen Central School District | NY | $592,110 |
| Adelphi University | NY | $326,416 |
| Southern Local Schools | OH | $384,507 |
| Perry Local Schools | OH | $762,811 |
| Wickliffe City Schools | OH | $384,522 |
| Beggs Public School District | OK | $422,176 |
| PAWTUCKET SCHOOL DEPARTMENT | RI | $575,244 |
| Beresford School District 61-2 | SD | $398,590 |
| Crockett Independent School District | TX | $640,012 |
| IDEA Public Schools | TX | $747,092 |
| Ogden City School District | UT | $719,869 |
| Mead School District 354 | WA | $430,409 |
| NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101 | WA | $369,783 |
| Newport Consolidated School District #56-415 | WA | $378,000 |
| Southern Door County School District | WI | $461,590 |
| School District of Monroe | WI | $423,080 |
| School District of Wild Rose | WI | $497,431 |
If you are interested in applying for a future PEP grant or would like information on Insight’s PEP Grant Evaluation services please contact us by phone at 716-474-0981 or email info@insightgrants.com
2013 PEP Winning Notifications Have Started – Applicants Should Check Their Emails
We’ve heard from a few of our clients today that were sent Grant Award Notifications via email through ED’s G5 system. It seems that schools with winning applications are finding out as an auto-award notification hits their email. Applicants should definitely be checking their emails. It is important to identify who your email contact was for the grant application. If it was a superintendent, business manager, and/or a grants consultant, those emails should be checked as well.
We haven’t seen a full list of awards announced, but as soon as it is we will be posting the winning list as well as a link to the U.S. Department of Education’s press release.
2013 PEP Opens Tomorrow
The 2013 Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant competition is officially opening tomorrow, Tuesday, 2/26/2013. Applications will be due on Friday, 4/12/2013. The announcement will be posted in tomorrow’s Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/02/26/2013-04414/carol-m-white-physical-education-program-applications-for-new-awards.
2013 PEP information
According to the US Department of Education’s Forecast of Funding Opportunities (http://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html#chart3), the RFP for the 2013 Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant competition is expected to be released on or around 2/7/2013. Applications are expected to be due on or around 3/22/2013. While dates may still change, this is the official estimate. This is a super competitive program, so you’ll want to start working right away if you plan to apply this year.
I have written 18 and edited an additional 37 winning PEP grants since 2003, and served as Chief Evaluator for 21 PEP grants since 2008. As this track record shows, my team and I have the successful experience needed to help you develop a strong PEP application. If you’d like our assistance with PEP grant writing or editing this year, please contact us at info@insightgrants.com or 716-474-0981 ASAP.
Good luck!
-Rosalie Mangino-Crandall
2012 PEP Grant Winners Announced by U.S. Department of Education
Today the U.S. Department of Education announced the award of 56 grants totaling $27 million to school districts and community organizations through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP). You can see the entire U.S. Department of Education 2012 PEP Press Release here. Congratulations to all those awarded, and great job to all who worked hard in putting together a proposal!
FY2012 Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant Recipients
| State | Applicant Name | Amount |
| AK | Yukon-Koyukuk School District | $401,525 |
| AR | Hoxie School District #46 | $291,387 |
| AZ | Pima Prevention Partnership | $225,527 |
| AZ | Santa Cruz Regional School District | $740,073 |
| AZ | Sunnyside Unified School District — Student Services | $631,464 |
| CA | Alvord Unified School District — Special Projects | $664,686 |
| CA | Anderson Valley Unified School District | $239,344 |
| CA | Chico Unified School District | $731,215 |
| CA | Dinuba Unified School District | $748,184 |
| CA | Four Winds of Indian Education, Inc. | $655,288 |
| CA | Los Angeles County Office of Education — SHaPE | $880,266 |
| CA | Sanger Unified School District | $461,756 |
| CT | Consolidated School District of New Britain | $663,050 |
| CT | Education Connection, Litchfield | $345,477 |
| GA | Newton County Board of Education — Curriculum | $408,951 |
| IA | Clear Creek Amana Community School District | $297,552 |
| IN | Liberty-Perry School Corporation | $412,984 |
| IN | YMCA of Southern Indiana | $548,467 |
| KS | Unified School District #498 Marshall County | $349,217 |
| MD | United Way of the National Capital Area | $761,182 |
| MI | Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District | $452,392 |
| MN | Fridley Public School District 14 | $431,611 |
| MN | Warren-Alvarado-Oslo ISD 2176 – School District | $625,476 |
| MO | Board of Education of the City of St. Louis | $744,987 |
| MS | Corinth School District | $409,066 |
| NC | Camden County Board of Education – Camden | $726,295 |
| NC | Genesis Project Family Wellness Center | $428,951 |
| NC | Rockingham County Schools | $688,728 |
| NC | Young Men’s Christian Association of Northwest North Carolina | $273,662 |
| ND | Circle of Nations Wahpeton Indian School | $530,274 |
| NE | Papillion-La Vista School District | $251,825 |
| NY | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District | $507,624 |
| NY | Great Neck Public Schools | $483,390 |
| NY | Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District | $233,615 |
| NY | Maryvale High School | $564,961 |
| NY | North Babylon School District | $495,424 |
| NY | North Tonawanda City Schools | $724,362 |
| NY | Portville Central School District | $318,670 |
| NY | Sodus Central School District | $235,296 |
| NY | The After-School Corporation | $479,414 |
| OH | Logan Hocking Local Schools | $383,322 |
| OH | Meigs Local School District | $360,282 |
| OK | Boys and Girls Club of Ada | $202,748 |
| OK | Newcastle Public Schools | $644,711 |
| OR | Rainier School District 13 | $269,899 |
| TN | Maury County Board of Education | $557,893 |
| TX | Alief Independent School District | $308,855 |
| TX | McAllen Independent School District | $715,495 |
| TX | Northside Independent School District | $1,108,873 |
| VA | Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg | $276,665 |
| WI | Chequamegon School District | $369,350 |
| WI | Milwaukee Public Schools | $692,001 |
| WI | North Crawford School District | $323,553 |
| WI | School District of Mishicot | $376,953 |
| WI | Wautoma Area School District | $755,202 |
| WY | Sweetwater County School District #2 | $417,409 |
Congratulations to Insight’s 2012 PEP Winners, Liberty-Perry and Maryvale!
Kenston School District Play Blue in Motion Community Day!
Back in 2010, the Insight Team had the privilege of working with the folks at Kenston Local School District in Ohio to complete a needs assessment for, write, and submit a Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant. We were thrilled when Kenston’s grant was awarded for the full requested amount of $677,706 for Year 1, and $53,894 per year for Years 2 and 3!
Kenston’s program is known as Play Blue (Promoting Learning for Active Youth). The district has put the funds to great use through district-wide programming that includes an ongoing process for involving district staff and community members and partners in decision-making, implementation of wide-spread physical activity and healthy eating policy changes, and brand new age-appropriate fitness centers at each of their five school buildings.
Policy changes include instituting use of uniform assessments for Physical Education district wide, implementing “Brain Breaks” (breaks for physical activity during core academic classes) for all grades, and numerous changes in Food Service. Impressively, Kenston’s Food Service participates in the Farm to School program and purchases primarily locally grown produce, makes available and clearly labels foods for students with special dietary needs (including but not limited to Gluten-Free and Vegetarian options), and has ensured all beverage and food vending options are in compliance with recommendations made by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
The fitness centers serve all 3,100 students in the district in grades K through 12. Centers include a mix of standard cardiovascular fitness equipment (treadmills, stationary bikes, ellipticals, etc.), exergaming equipment (physically active video games), and strength training equipment (sand bells, climbing walls, obstacle course elements, Railyard, etc.) appropriate to the grades of the students served by each.
As part of the Play Blue initiative, Kenston held the 1st Annual Play Blue in Motion community wellness day on April 15, 2012. The event was planned as a way for local community residents and families to see all of the new fitness equipment, learn more about the program, and pick up some healthy tips for themselves. Kenston even had a special appearance by 1996 US Olympic Gold Medal gymnast Dominique Moceanu. The event brought together members of the community, families, students, and local businesses and turned out to be a great success!
Kenston put together a nice slideshow from the Play Blue in Motion community day, which had over 1300 attendees! Watch it here:
You may be wondering, “But does it work?” The answer is a resounding yes! Kenston is reporting a tremendous increase in the percentage of students who are active for at least 60 minutes every day.
Great job, Kenston!
