School Improvement Grants (84.377)

Program

84.377 School Improvement Grants

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Authorization

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended , Executive Order Section 1003(g), Title I, Public Law 107-110, 115 Stat. 1442, 20 U.S.C 6303(g).

Program Number

84.377

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To strengthen the capacity of States to carry out their program improvement responsibilities required under Sections 1116 and 1117 of Title I of the ESEA by (1) building State capacity to provide leadership in implementing effective school improvement strategies for local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools that have been identified for improvement, are in corrective action, and are in the restructuring process and (2) providing resources to LEAs to support school improvement activities, including the development and implementation of effective restructuring plans.

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants

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. At the LEA level, these funds may be used for any reasonable costs associated with carrying out school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring activities described in Section 1116(b).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

SEAs with approved State plan amendments are eligible to receive funds.

Beneficiary Eligibility

To be eligible to receive Title I School Improvement funds, an LEA must have one or more schools identified for school improvement, corrective action, or restructuring under Section 1116(b) of Title I.

Credentials/Documentation

OMB Circular A-87. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application 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 Procedure

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, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is requiring States to amend their State plans in order to receive Title I accountability funds. The amendment may be brief (less than 10 pages) and must describe: (1) the criteria the State will use to determine which LEAs, among those eligible, will receive funds; (2) the criteria the State will use to determine how much each LEA will receive; and (3) the criteria the State will use to ensure that the funds awarded to LEAs will be used to address one or more short-term outcome measures to improve student academic achievement.

Award Procedure

The Department will allocate funds to any State whose submission meets the Department's application requirements.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Varies with each State.

Appeals

In programs administered by ED, 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 Formula: Under ESEA, ED allocates section 1003(g) School Improvement funds to States through a formula that is based on each State's proportionate share of funds received under ESEA Title I, Part A (Grants to LEAs), Part C (Migrant Education program), and Part D, Subpart 1 (State Agency Neglected and Delinquent program).
Matching requirements 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 are available for obligation by local educational agencies for a maximum of 27 months after funds become available on July 1. Funds become available to the Department on July 1, and will be allocated to States on or after that date. They remain available for obligation by LEA under the initial period of availability for 15 months. Under section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act, any funds that remain unobligated may be carried over for obligation for an additional 12 months. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

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). Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 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 year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with EDGAR in the Appendix to 34 CFR 80, State and local governments that receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. State and local governments that receive between $25,000 and $500,000 within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made in accordance with the Appendix to Part 80, or in accordance with Federal laws and regulations governing the programs in which they participate.

Records

All grantees must maintain and complete records as provided in EDGAR.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0900-0-1-501.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $491,265,000; FY 09 est $545,633,000; FY 10 est $1,545,633,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Fiscal Year 2008: Range: $1,110,155 - $61,808,215. Average: $9,358,891.
Fiscal Year 2009 (est): Range: $1,323,400 - $62,985,358. Average: $10,391,906.
Fiscal Year 2010 (est): Range: $3,771,972 - $178,949,620. Average: $28,875,500.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

ED is in the process of issuing guidance and instructions for States to use in applying for these funds.

Related Programs

84.010 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies; 84.388 School Improvement Grants, Recovery Act; 84.389 Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies, Recovery Act

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Carlas McCauley, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, 3C116, Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: carlas.mccauley@ed.gov Phone: (202) 260-0829.

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/oese .

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.