Insight Client New London Public Schools of CT Awarded US ED Full Service Community School (FSCS) Grant
We are thrilled that New London Public Schools of New London, Connecticut was recently awarded a Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) Grant through the U.S. Department of Education! New London originally applied to the FY 2014 program and was awarded funds in FY 2015 when awards were made “down the slate.” The Insight Team worked with key New London staff and administrative members to develop and write the comprehensive proposal. Funding for Year 1 is expected to be $497,307 and the 5-Year projected amount is anticipated to be $2,434,535.
The New London project, titled “Project Connect,” is a five-year service provision and coordination FSCS initiative designed in partnership with multiple community organizations, including: Connecticut College; United States Coast Guard Academy; New England Science and Sailing; Connecticut Science Center; Child and Family Agency of New London; Child Nutrition Program of New London; Appalachian Mountain Club Youth Opportunities Program; and New London Youth Affairs.
Project Connect is strategically designed to address four primary gaps faced by a highly vulnerable, at-risk youth with a primary overarching goal: To provide and ensure access to comprehensive services that improve the academic, health, and social outcomes of students.
Gap 1: The current academic program is insufficiently intense to facilitate academic standards
Gap 2: Lack of student engagement
Gap 3: Lack of parental/family engagement, involvement and parent services
Gap 4: Inadequate awareness/utilization of comprehensive services that support student achievement
The FSCS grant program has a 20% matching requirement and Ed Sweeney, Alison Burdick, and the staff at New London did a great job working to get commitments from community partners. The value of partner donations is $159,000 per year and $795,000 over 5 years! This is an outstanding example of a school engaging community partners to put together a competitive application and ultimately a strong, effective, community-changing project!
Upcoming Speaking Events: June 2015
Insight President and CEO Rosalie Mangino-Crandall will be speaking at two upcoming events:
- The Massachusetts AHPERD Leadership Conference (June 22-23rd in Worcester, MA) The Insight presentation is from 10:20 to 11:50 on Monday, June 22nd.”Grants for Your Program – How to find them and a look at the process!”
- National SAM Leadership Development Conference (June 28th-29th in Greenville, SC) The Insight presentation will take place on Sunday, June 28th in the morning.
We’ll be posting some excerpts from the presentations later this month on the blog.
Grant Opportunity: New York State Pathways in Technology (NYS P-Tech)
NYSED has released information on the New York State Pathways in Technology (P-Tech) program through it’s Pre-Collegiate Preparation program.
“The New York State Pathways in Technology (NYS P-Tech) program is a public-private partnership that will prepare thousands of New York students for high-skills jobs of the future in technology, manufacturing, healthcare and finance.”
Project Scope: The project seeks to fund regional partnerships in economic development regions of the State that are currently under-served by the P-TECH model and that demonstrate the greatest need for enhanced access to post-secondary opportunity. Each partnership will include K-12, higher education, and business/employer partners.
There are five critical benefits to students from the NYS P-TECH model:
1.) A rigorous, relevant, and cost-free grades 9 to 14 education focused on the knowledge and skills students for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers;
2.) Workplace learning that includes ongoing mentoring by professionals in the chosen career sector, worksite visits, speakers and internships;
3.) Intensive, individualized academic support by K-12 and college faculty within an extended academic year or school day that enables students to progress through the program at their own pace;
4.) An Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS), or the two-year degree that is the industry standard for the targeted jobs, in a high-tech field; and
5.) The commitment to be first in line for a job with the participating business/employer partners following completion of the program.
Deadline for Applications: July 15th, 2015.
Award Information: Grants will be for seven years, from September 1, 2015 to June 30, 2022. Up to a total of 7 awards will be made to eligible partnerships. Awards will be eligible to receive up to $3 million for their approved program over the full seven years.
Who Can Apply: A New York State public school district must serve as the fiscal agent/applicant for each application. A BOCES, community college, or other member of the consortium may serve as lead implementing partner.
For complete information and to access the RFP visit nysed.gov
Grant Opportunity: PHIT America Go! Grants
The grant competition for PHIT America Go! Grants is now open. This program funding is designed to “Jumpstart more movement at your elementary school with the Go! Grant.”
Projects Supported: Grants support more minutes on the move before, during, and after school through funds and gear for new classroom and playground programs.
Who Can Apply: Public or charter schools enrolled or willing to enroll in Let’s Move! Active Schools with little to no organized physical activity offered to students at present. Projects must serve students age 5-12. A list of complete project guidelines is available here.
Awards: Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Deadline: Applications are due June 1, 2015.
Please note that while some information sources refer to these grants as “mini PEP grants,” this grant program is NOT the Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant–or PEP grant–program. Go! Grants are an entirely separate opportunity being offered by PHIT America, NOT the US Department of Education.
To get the application and see complete program information including resources and tools, visit the grant page at the Kids in the Game website.
Grant Opportunity: U.S. ED First in the World Grant Competition
The U.S. Department of Education has announced the availability of $60 million in FY 2015 in the First in the World (FITW) grant program.
Program description from ED:
The First in the World (FITW) Program will provide grants to institutions of higher education to spur the development of innovations that improve educational outcomes and make college more affordable for students and families, and to develop an evidence base of effective practices. Institutions of higher education or consortia of such institutions are eligible applicants for FITW grants. We encourage applicants to partner with public and private institutions and agencies that can assist the applicant to achieve the goals of the project.
Who is Eligible to Apply: An institution of higher education, combinations of such institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions, and other public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies.
Awards: Awards are through two FITW components: Validation and Development. Funding for Validation Grants is expected to be $40 million with up to 5 new awards made, funding for development grants is expected to be $20 million with 6 to 8 awards made. Of the $60 million, $16 million has been set-aside for institutions designated as minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Deadline: June 30, 2015
View the First in the World Press Release here and access all program information here.
Grant Opportunities: US Department of Justice Mentoring Funding
The U.S. Department of Education’s Prevention News Digest for 5/1/2015 stated:
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention has reposted the following fiscal year 2015 funding solicitations with a new deadline of June 23, 2015:
- Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative. This solicitation supports organizations as they strengthen and/or expand their existing mentoring activities with local subawardees and/or other mentoring organizations. Mentoring activities include direct one-on-one, group, peer, or a combination of these types of mentoring services for at-risk and undeserved youth populations. Applications are due by June 23, 2015.
- Mentoring for Youth: Underserved Populations. This solicitation will support mentoring services for underserved populations, including youth with disabilities, youth in foster care, and lesbian gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth (LGBTQ). Applications are due by June 23, 2015.
Visit OJJDP’s funding page for more information about these solicitations.
Sign up to receive the ED prevention news digest by email here.
Grant Opportunity: Best Buy Looking for National Partners for Out-of-School-Time Program Technology Grants
Best Buy is seeking national nonprofit organizations as partners that create hands-on learning opportunities for underserved teens to engage them in learning, experimenting, and interacting with the latest technologies to build 21st century skills.
“The goal of the program is to provide youth with access to new technologies and help them become interested and fluent in digital learning while developing skills to help better prepare them for future education and career success.”
Who Can Apply: Out-of-school-time programs that have a fundamental commitment to youth, ages 13-18, are invited to apply for funding. Minimum eligibility criteria is available at the Best Buy grant page under eligibility criteria.
Programs Supported: Programs should help teens build 21st century skills by utilizing cutting-edge technology such as computers, digital cameras, video cameras and professional software in a wide range of areas. To see specifics on suggested areas see the list from Best Buy under National Partner Overview here.
Awards: Program grants typically range from $100,000 to $200,000.
Deadline: Proposals must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday November 1st, 2015.
Get Complete Information on this exciting Program at the Best Buy Foundation Page.
Grant Opportunity: The Colorado Health Foundation’s Out-of-School-Time Physical Activity Grant
Who is offering this grant? The Colorado Health Foundation
What is the purpose? Provide high quality, structured physical activity in out-of-school-time settings. Specifically, the foundation is interested in receiving proposals for: implementation or enhancement of quality, structured physical activity opportunities in out-of-school-time settings (school- or community-based programs).
What types of activities might be supported? Funds can be used to start new or to maintain/expand existing effective physical activity programs in established out of school time settings (out-of-school-time includes before school, after school, school breaks and summer programs). The Foundation will fund the following: Purchase of curriculum, Equipment for structured activity time, Staff development/training costs, Personnel costs for staff directly implementing the program, Sport specific activities if embedded in existing out-of-school time program, Evaluation costs.
Who can apply? Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and public agencies that currently implement an out-of-school-time program targeting youth in kindergarten through eighth grade. Proposals to support establishment of entirely new out-of-school-time programs will not be funded. Applicants must demonstrate that they serve a high proportion of youth from low-income families; percentage of children eligible for free and reduced school meals, average family income or other indicators of low income will be considered to determine low-income status.
When is the application due? June 15, 2015.
How much can I request? Award range not specified; but past grant awards have ranged from $30,000-$300,000.
Do I have to offer a match of any kind? No.
How long is the project period? They will consider proposals for up to two years of funding. Programs must be at least six weeks in length.
Is there anything else I should know? Associated Measurable Results: Applicants will be asked to indicate how their work will numerically: Increase number of children and adults who engage in moderate or vigorous physical activity.
- Preference will be given to proposals serving children from families living on low incomes in the top 10 regions with high rates of childhood obesity (as defined by CDPHE’sHealth Statistics Regions). These regions have rates of childhood obesity ranging from 13.6 to 26.2 percent and include the following regions: Region 4 (El Paso County); Region 6 (Huerfano, Las Animas, Crowley, Otero, Bent, Kiowa, Prowers and Baca counties); Region 7 (Pueblo County); Region 9 (Dolores, Montezuma, San Juan, La Plata and Archuleta counties); Region 12 (Garfield, Eagle, Pitkin, Grand, and Summit counties); Region 13 (Lake, Chaffee, Fremont and Custer counties); Region 14 (Adams County); Region 15 (Arapahoe County); Region 20 (Denver County); Region 21 (Jefferson County).
- Program must dedicate at least 20 percent or at least 30 minutes of program time to structured physical activity for a part-day program (60 minutes for a full-day program), most days of the week. Children must be engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) a minimum of 50 percent of the structured physical activity time.
How can I find out more? Visit the Colorado Health Foundation’s website to view application guidelines and online application at http://www.coloradohealth.org/yellow.aspx?id=6803.
Grant Opportunity: Opportunities for Students With Disabilities (NY)
NYSED is offering a grant program for New York Schools to assist students with disabilities. The Program Development Grant to Prepare Students with Disabilities to Exit School with Work Readiness Skills is now open.
“The Program Development Grant program is a competitive grant program to provide funding for schools to enhance their instructional programs to increase students with disabilities’ access to and participation in career and technical education (CTE) coursework, instruction in the Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) learning standards, and work-based learning opportunities to fulfill requirements for the award of the NYS CDOS Commencement Credential.”
Who Can Apply: NYS School Districts, approved private schools, special art school districts, state supported schools and boards of cooperative educational services (BOCES) are eligible to apply.
Award Information: Estimated funds available are $10 million annually. The anticipated project period is 9/1/15 to 6/30/18. Maximum annual award amounts: NYC $500,000 – Syracuse, Rochester, Boston, Yonkers $400,000 – rest of state $300,000 – a consortium of eligible applications $300,000.
Deadline: Applications must be postmarked by May 29th, 2015.
For complete information and to access the RFP, visit the NYSED website.
Grant Opportunity: Military-Connected LEA for Academic and Support Programs
Through the Department of Defense, the Military-Connected Local Educational Agencies for Academic and Support Programs (MCASP) grant opportunity is now open.
“The DoDEA Partnership Grant Program supports research-based programs to increase student achievement and ease the challenges that military children face due to their parents’ military service. The grant program provides resources to military-connected local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop and implement projects that are designed to:
– Enhance and expand instructional supports to help students meet the requirements of rigorous curriculum
– Provide structures to support the social and emotional needs of military students
– Increase advanced placement and virtual learning communities, improve educator knowledge and skills through professional development, increase opportunities for students to study strategic languages, provide enhanced services for students with disabilities, enhance and integrate technology into the classroom, and engage parents in supporting students’ college and career readiness.”
Who Can Apply: Independent school districts that have at least one participating school with twenty-five percent or greater military dependent student enrollment, at least fifty percent of participating schools have a military dependent student enrollment of twenty-five percent or above, and the remaining percentage of participating schools may have between ten and twenty-five percent military dependent student enrollment.
Awards: An estimated total of $30,000,000 dollars is available, with 35 awards ranging between $250,000 and $1,500,000 expected to be made.
Application Due Date: May 5th, 2015
To get complete information and access the RFP, visit the grant opportunity page on grants.gov .
