Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants
Funds are used to carry out reforms in the way teachers are recruited and prepared with a view toward developing improved clinical experiences; adopting reforms in licensing and certification requirements; developing improved recruitment and hiring procedures for new teachers; and conducting professional development in the use of technology to improve education.
- Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program CFDA Number 84.336S
- Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program CFDA Number 84.336S
- Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program CFDA Number 84.336S
- Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program CFDA Number 84.336S
- Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program
The Department of Education ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through coordination, management and accountability in Federal education programs. The Department works to supplement and complement educational efforts on all levels, encouraging increased involvement by the public, parents and students.
Program Accomplishments
In FY 2008, approximately 58 awards were made -- 49 partnerships, and 9 teacher recruitment grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Awards may be used to reform teacher preparation programs, reform certification and licensure requirements, provide alternatives to traditional preparation for teaching, create alternative routes to State certification, develop and implement effective mechanisms for recruitment, pay, and removal of teachers, address the problem of social promotion, and to recruit teachers.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
States and partnerships that consist of at least one institution of higher education with a teacher preparation program, one school of arts and sciences, and one high-need local educational agency.
A high-need local educational agency; is an agency that serves an elementary school or secondary school located in an area containing: (1) A high percentage of individuals or families with incomes below the poverty line, (2) a high percentage of secondary teachers not teaching in the content area that they were trained to teach, or (3) a high teacher turnover rate.
An accredited institution of higher education, with a teacher training program must demonstrate the following: (A) A graduate from the teacher training program exhibits strong performance on State-determined qualifying assessments for new teachers through demonstrating that 80 percent or more of the graduates of the program intending to enter the field of teaching have passed all of the applicable State qualification assessments for new teachers including an assessment of each prospective teacher's subject matter knowledge in the content area or areas in which the teacher intends to teach; (B) be ranked among the highest-performing teacher preparation programs in the State as determined by the State; (C) the teacher training program requires all the students of the program to participate in intensive clinical experience that meets high academic standards in the case of secondary candidates to successfully complete an academic major in the subject area in which the candidate intends to teach; (D) competence through a high level of performance in relevant content area; (F) successful completion of an academic major in the arts and sciences in the case of elementary school candidates, or (G) competence through a high level of performance in core academic subjects areas.
(Note: Entities that may constitute a partnership are specifically listed in the Law.)
Beneficiary Eligibility
Benefiting are students and school communities in high-need schools and school districts.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible under Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact their State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedures
In any fiscal year in which funds are available for new awards, the Department of Education publishes a notice in the Federal Register inviting applications and establishing a deadline date. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedures
Peer review panels composed of representatives from public and private higher education, State and local educational agencies with expertise in teacher education are designated to review applications.
Deadlines
The deadline date is published in the Federal Register.
Authorization
Higher Education Act of 1965, Title II, Part A, Public Law 105-244.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Notification usually is made within four months of the deadline for submission of applicants.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
Applications for renewal of multi-year projects are processed and funded before those for new projects. Renewals are subject to the availability of funds.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has statutory requirements as follows: State applicants are required to match 50 percent of the grant. Partnership applicants are required to match at 25 percent the first year of the grants, 35 percent in the second year of grant, and 50 percent in the third through fifth years of the grant.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants may be awarded for up to 3 years for State applicants and for up to five years for partnership applicants, subject to the availability of funds.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
A final performance report is required.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a hear in Federal awards are exempt from Federal Audit requirements for that year, except as noted in circular No. A-133.
Records
Records supporting claims under a grant must be maintained for five years after termination of the awards.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0201-0-1-502.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 $59,896,960; FY 08 est $33,662,460; and FY 09 est $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In FY 2008, the average continuation award: for partnership grants $1,124,000, and for teacher recruitment grants $800,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Contact the Program Office for additional information.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Teacher Quality Programs, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Kathy Price. E-mail: kathy.price@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 502-7878.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Contact the Program Office for this information.
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