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.

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

PROJECT 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

State Educational Agencies 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

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

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 Department 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

The Department is developing the application process for FY 2009 funds.

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.

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

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. All grantees are subject to the provision of the Single Audit Act.

Records

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

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: to be provided. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: 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

The Department 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

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.