School Improvement Grants, Recovery Act
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
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
A State educational agency (SEA) must allocate at least 95 percent of the amount of the funds it receives directly to LEAs for schools that have been identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring to carry out activities under Section 1116(b).
An SEA may retain up to 5 percent of the grant amount received for administration, evaluation, and technical assistance expenses.
LEAs may use these funds for any reasonable costs associated with carrying out school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring activities described in Section 1116(b).
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals): Elementary/Secondary Education
Beneficiary Eligibility
State; Local; Individual/Family; Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans); Education Professional; Student/Trainee; School; Education (0-8); Education (9-12)
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Pursuant to Section 76.140 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations, ED is requiring that States submit an application. ED will issue further guidance soon on the information States are required to include in their application for these funds.
Award Procedures
ED will allocate funds made available under ARRA to any State whose application demonstrates that the criteria it uses to determine which LEAs will receives funds clearly carries out the purpose of carrying out Section 1003(g).
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate for application deadlines.
Authorization
Section 1003(g) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended (Public Law 107-110 )(115 Stat. 1442, 20 USC 6303(g)) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Public Law 111-5.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
ED expects to review State applications in sufficient time to ensure that fiscal year 2009 ARRA funds for School Improvement Grants are available to State by the beginning of school year 2009-10.
Appeals
In programs administered by the Department, Section 432 of the General Education Provisions Act provides LEAs with a right of appeal when there are disagreements between State and local educational agencies, including disagreements over funding decisions. Where an LEA alleges that the denial of funding is “a violation of State or Federal law, rules, regulations, or guidelines governing the applicable program,†it may, within 30 days, request a hearing from the SEA. Once the hearing is held and the SEA issues it written ruling, the LEA may appeal a negative ruling to the Secretary.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Title I School Improvement funds made available under the ARRA are available for obligation by LEAs through September 30, 2011, as provided under section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: No information provided.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantees are subject to the reporting requirements contained in Parts 76 and 80 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).
Grantees under this program may be required to report at the end of each quarter on the amount of grant funds obligated and expended; all activities for which those funds were obligated and expended; the completion status of those activities; the estimated number of jobs created or retained by the project and those activities; and detailed information on any contracts awarded with grant funds.
Specific requirements will be included in the grants award documents.
Cash reports are not applicable.
Progress reports are not applicable.
Expenditure reports are not applicable.
Performance monitoring is not applicable.
Audits
Not Applicable.
Records
All grantees are subject to the provision of the Single Audit Act.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0901-0-1-501.
Obigations
(Formula Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $2,147,483,647; FY 10 est $0
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The Department will allocate Title I School Improvement funds among States in the same proportion as funds are allocated among the States under Title I, Part A, Part C, and Part D, subpart 1. The SEA determines the amount of funds allocated to school districts.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
The Department is in the process of issuing guidance and instructions for States to use in applying for these funds. Contact the program office for more information.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Gary Rutkin 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., 3W214, , Washington 20202-6132 Email: Gary.rutkin@ed.gov Phone: (202) 260-4412
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not Applicable.
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