NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Availability of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers 2019—2024 Request for Applications and 21st Century Community Learning Centers Cohort 10 Grant Paper Application and Instructions
[49 Pa.B. 475]
[Saturday, February 2, 2019]The Department of Education (Department) announces the availability of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) 2019—2024 Request for Applications (RFA) and the 21st CCLC Cohort 10 Grant Paper Application and Instructions. The Department will have approximately $23 million available for Cohort 10 grants.
Program Purpose
The purpose of the 21st CCLC program is to provide opportunities to establish or expand activities in community learning centers that:
1. Provide opportunities for academic enrichment, including providing tutorial services to help students, particularly students who attend low-performing schools, to meet the challenging State academic standards;
2. Offer students a broad array of additional services, programs, and activities.
Examples of student opportunities:
• Academic enrichment
• Tutorial services
• Youth development activities
• Service learning
• Nutrition and health education
• Drug and violence prevention programs
• Counseling programs
• Arts
• Music
• Physical fitness and wellness programs
• Technology education programs
• Financial literacy programs
• Environmental literacy programs
• Math
• Science
• Programs tied to in-demand occupations
• Career and technical programs
• Internship or apprenticeship programs
• Parental engagement
• Family literacy
• Family educational development
3. Offer families of students served by community learning centers opportunities for active and meaningful engagement in their children's education, including opportunities for literacy and related educational development.
Prior to Grant Award
All potential applicants must complete the following steps:
1. Notify the Department by e-mail of the applicant's intent to submit an application. Include the legal name of entity, and either the Administrative Unit Number (school districts/charter schools/intermediate units) or Employer Identification Number (all other organizations) and vendor number for the lead organization. Specify in the letter of intent to apply the target population to be served including grade levels, proposed site locations, district and school names, community based organization partners, and the like. E-mail the letter of intent to N. Craig Scott at nscot@pa.gov. The due date is February 8, 2019. Note this is due prior to the paper application submission deadline. No extensions will be granted.
2. If the agency is not a school district, charter school or intermediate unit, or never received a grant in prior cohorts, the agency will need to register for a vendor number. Nonprocurement entities can apply for a brand new vendor number using www.vendorregistration. state.pa.us. Applicants must have a vendor number at the time they submit an application for funding to do business with the Commonwealth. Once applicants have a vendor number, applicants will provide the vendor number on the Title Page form and grant agreement document. Applicants who already have a vendor number to do business with the Commonwealth will use the previously received vendor number.
3. Include the data universal number system (DUNS) number. DUNS is a unique nine-digit identifier for businesses. In accordance with the Federal Fiscal Accountability Transparency Act (FFATA), all grant recipients must have a valid DUNS number and must also be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM), the successor to the Central Contractor Registration database. DUNS numbers are issued by Dun and Bradstreet and are available for free to all entities required to register under FFATA.
To obtain a DUNS number, go to http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/. To register with the SAM database, go to www.sam.gov.
Applicants are required to submit their DUNS number and expiration date of their SAM registration as part of the Electronic Web Enable Grant system application and must certify that they will ensure that their SAM registration will remain active for the entire grant period.
4. Consult with all eligible nonpublic entities located within the attendance area of the local education agency (LEA) regarding participation in the proposed 21st CCLC program. Complete and submit the Certification of Nonpublic Involvement Form located in the Appendix of the application. Provide eligible nonpublic entities adequate time before the application due date to receive and respond to the Certification of Nonpublic Involvement Form. The equitable participation and nonpublic involvement should be an ongoing process and applicants selected for funding will be required to retain documentation of all dates of verbal, written and oral communication. Charter schools need not complete this process.
5. Register to attend the preproposal webinar. The webinar will be on February 4, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register in advance for this meeting at https://paiu.zoom.us/meeting/register/d973a641782d8351dc2040ba88984b7b. After registering, individuals will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.
6. Review the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (Pub.L. No. 114-95) for changes that will impact the 21st CCLC program implementation effective July 1, 2017.
Application Process
The 2019—2024 21st CCLC application and all attachments are available online on the Department's 21st CCLC web site at www.education.pa.gov (Keywords: 21st CCLC). Applications for the 2019—2024 Cohort 10 21st CCLC grant will be created, submitted, collected and completed by a paper application process. Applications received with all required documents by the 12 p.m. March 5, 2019, due date at the Division of Student Services will proceed to the peer review and will be rated on the criteria contained in this document and in the 2019—2024 Paper Application and Instructions document. The narrative format of the proposal must follow the same order as the application evaluation criteria in application. Applications that do not follow this required format order will not be reviewed and will be disqualified from the competitive process without exception. Applications missing any required attachments will be disqualified. All applicants are encouraged to follow the 2019—2024 RFA Guidelines.
Applicants are required to complete each section of the 21st CCLC paper application explained in the 21st Cohort 10 Grant Paper Application and Instructions for 2019—2024 document and submit the completed application to Maribel Martinez at the Department's Division of Student Services at the address listed as follows by 12 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, 2019. No sections of the paper application are optional. Faxed and e-mailed copies will not be accepted. Originals, paper copies and attachments received after the deadline will not be reviewed. Failure to submit the required number of application copies by the deadline or to include copies of all attachments and narrative sections will result in the disqualification of the grant application and denial to proceed to the peer review. Applicants must submit one original and four copies of the completed narrative application with attachments and required signatory documents to Maribel Martinez, Fiscal Management Specialist, Department of Education, Division of Student Services, 333 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333.
Applications may be hand delivered to the Department at the previous address, or sent by overnight mail or United States Mail. All applications must be postmarked as received by the Department no later than the 12 p.m. March 4, 2019, deadline in order to proceed to the peer review. Note that grant applications received through application overnight mail submission and or travel to the Department is not a reimbursable expense under any cohort.
Preproposal Webinar
The Department will conduct a preproposal webinar on February 4, 2019. It is strongly recommended that all applicants participate in the preproposal webinar, including prior grantees, the Department will provide information about the goals and priorities of the 21st CCLC, application procedures, evaluation criteria and technical assistance. Register in advance for this meeting at https://paiu.zoom.us/meeting/register/d973a641782d8351dc2040ba88984b7b. After registering, individuals will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the meeting.
Federal Funding Priorities
As mandated by the ESSA, highest funding priority will be given to applications:
1. Proposing to target services to:
a. Students who primarily attend schools that:
i. Are implementing comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) activities or additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI) activities under section 1111(d) or other schools determined by the LEA to be in need of intervention and support to improve student academic achievement and other outcomes; and
ii. Enroll students who may be at risk for academic failure, dropping out of school, involvement in criminal or delinquent activities, or who lack strong positive role models; and
b. The families of students described in clause (i).
2. Submitted jointly by eligible entities consisting of not less than:
a. One LEA receiving funds under part A of Title I; and
b. Another eligible entity; and
3. Demonstrating that the activities proposed in the application
a. Are, as of the date of the submission of the application, not accessible to students who would be served; or
b. Would expand accessibility to high-quality services that may be available in the community.
i. Special Rule—The State educational agency (SEA) shall provide the same priority under paragraph (1) to an application submitted by LEA if the LEA demonstrates that it is unable to partner with a community-based organization in reasonable geographic proximity and of sufficient quality to meet the requirements of this part.
ii. Limitation—An SEA may not give a priority or a preference to eligible entities that seek to use funds made available under this part to extend the regular school day.
iii. Renewability of Awards—An SEA may renew a subgrant provided under this part to an eligible entity, based on the eligible entity's performance during the preceding subgrant period.
In determining whether an application has been ''submitted jointly,'' the Department will look for evidence of:
1. Collaboration in the planning and design of the program;
2. Substantial roles for each partner in the delivery of services and management and oversight of the program;
3. Shared grant resources to carry out roles;
4. One partner serving as the fiscal agent; and
5. Integration with the regular school day program.
Only one contract will be issued for each application selected for funding, even for joint proposals. Communities or organizations may apply together to share resources, so long as statutory requirements are met. The Department has determined that for the purpose of the 21st CCLC grant, the following constitute an eligible consortium: two or more individual companies, comm- unity-based organizations, service related organizations, or educational entities that partner together to benefit the students at the educational site locations targeted for program implementation for the purpose of the grant and who actively contribute to and collaborate on the 21st CCLC-funded project.
Only one partner will be named as the grantee if selected for funding and will have the fiduciary and fiscal responsibilities for the grant. Consequently, every joint application must identify only one organization to be designated as the grantee and the fiscal agent on behalf of all members of the consortium. That entity will have fiscal and contractual responsibility for carrying out the proposed grant program. The Department strongly encourages joint collaborators to identify a grantee that has expertise in managing the fiscal and contractual obligations required by 21st CCLC. Members seeking payment for services will be considered providers rather than partners.
Letters of endorsement are not by themselves sufficient evidence that organizations or school districts have substantially been involved in the design of a program. Letters of support of applications received will not be reviewed as part of the peer review process. Refrain from submitting letters of support.
The Commonwealth's Funding Requirements and Priorities
For the purposes of this application the Commonwealth's highest funding priority will be given to qualified applicants proposing to provide before school, afterschool, summer, and holiday services to academically struggling students attending schools designated for CSI or ATSI. All applicants must meet this Commonwealth requirement to receive highest funding priority consideration.
The following defines CSI and ATSI schools:
CSI schools: Schools designated under the Commonwealth's ESSA accountability indicators for comprehensive support and improvement. States are required to identify the bottom 5% of Title I schools for CSI.
ATSI schools: Schools designated under the Commonwealth's ESSA accountability indicators for additional targeted support and improvement based upon performance of student subgroups.
To identify CSI and ATSI school eligibility, go to https://education.pa.gov/ (Keywords CSI or ATSI schools).
Target Population Focus
The Department will consider target populations that propose to serve students who attend a school site that is eligible for designation as a Title I schoolwide program. To be eligible for this designation at least 40% or more of the students must qualify to receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program.
Requirements and Eligibility
Eligible entities include but are not limited to: LEAs, private schools, nonprofit agencies, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and for-profit corporations.
Non-LEA applicants must provide documentation that they have the full support of the LEA to which services are targeted. Likewise, LEA applicants must clearly demonstrate cross-collaboration with relevant school and community groups, agencies and entities. This cross-collaboration should occur through every stage of the 21st CCLC program development, including proposal creation, program implementation and process, and outcome evaluation.
A local applicant or organization does not have to demonstrate prior afterschool programming experience to be eligible to apply for a grant; however, an organization must demonstrate promise of success in providing educational and related activities that will enhance the academic performance, achievement and positive youth development of the students. Such applicants must, however, describe the likelihood of successful implementation and capability to provide activities and services outlined in the proposal.
The Federal legislation contains several provisions about the importance of collaboration in section 4204(b)(2)(H) of Title IV, Part B. The Commonwealth requires districts applying for local grants to provide a description of the partnership between a local educational agency, a community-based organization and other public or private organizations, if appropriate.
If the local applicant is another public or private organization, it must provide an assurance that its program was developed and will be carried out in active collaboration with the schools the students attend. In addition, section 4204(i)(1)(B) of Title IV, Part B of the ESSA requires that the Commonwealth give priority to applications submitted jointly by an LEA receiving Title I funds and a community-based organization or other agency proposing to serve students in schools in need of improvement under section 1116 of the ESSA.
In addition to the focus areas highlighted in the Funding Guidelines and Priorities, the Commonwealth has the following priorities:
1. Literacy and Mathematics: Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants with demonstrated prior experience and success in providing services to elementary students in grades 2—5 who propose offering programs that increase literacy or math skills, or both, through a blended approach using researched-based curriculums and materials. Applicants could be eligible for up to 10 extra priority points based on the quality of their proposal.
2. Drug and Alcohol Prevention: Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants with demonstrated prior experience and success in providing services to students in grades 2—12 who propose offering programs that provide innovative and varied instructional approaches that will be used to incorporate drug and alcohol prevention programming that will add to the academic enrichment activities, provide for additional classroom materials and other resources. Applicants could be eligible for up to 10 extra priority points based on the quality of their proposal.
3. STEM: Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants with demonstrated prior experience and success in providing services to students in grades 2—12 who propose offering programs that build skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, including computer science, and that foster innovation in learning by supporting nontraditional STEM education teaching methods. Applicants could be eligible for up to 10 extra priority points based on the quality of their proposal.
4. Workforce/Career Readiness/College Readiness: Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants with demonstrated prior experience and success in providing services to middle and high school students in grades 6—12 that partner with in-demand fields of the local workforce or build career competencies and career readiness and ensure that local workforce and career readiness skills are aligned with the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Pub.L. No. 109-270) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C.A. §§ 3101—3361), assist students in preparing for meaningful engagement in preparing for postsecondary education, workforce training, career pathways and increase college and career readiness. Grant funds cannot be used to pay for job shadowing or internships for students and must occur in an out-of-school time setting. Certification towards apprenticeship can be covered only if the certification is not part of the regular course of school programming as this would be supplanting. Any entity that wishes to use grant funds towards certification must submit a detailed description of the program and certification to the Department for prior approval.
Applicants must document evidence of expanding career connections for students while promoting career-technical and college routes. Career and college readiness programming must offer the following: alignment with realistic college attendance aspirations; academic planning for college and career readiness; academic enrichment opportunities to improve grades and college or technical school eligibility; offer assistance in paper and online applications; helping students to prepare for careers and technical school or college; provide structured homework help, college counseling services and afterschool and summer learning programs; and provide engaging learning opportunities for youth by connecting learning to careers, college and other future plans. Applicants could be eligible for up to 10 extra priority points based on the quality of their proposal.
5. Transitional Vocational/Technical Services Planning: Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants who have demonstrated prior experience and success in providing transitional planning services to middle/high school students in grades 6—12. Transitional services planning will involve sustainable processes and exploring means to identify student's talents and interests. Through these services students will be assisted in identifying post-secondary careers, career acquisition, career retention/advancement and entrepreneurial development.
Applicants who provide these additional resources will be reinforcing, through interaction with local business and industry partners, the importance of specific career clusters and vocational/technical skills that are achieved when pursuing career and technical education. Applicants could be eligible for up to 10 extra priority points based on the quality of their proposal.
6. High School Credit Recovery: Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants offering credit recovery to high school students in grades 9—12 through a blended approach. An applicant may propose to use 21st CCLC program funds for a before or afterschool program or activity for which participants may receive credit toward high school graduation requirements if: (1) such a program or activity is an expansion of the options for receiving high school credit in a particular area that would not have been provided without the 21st CCLC program; and (2) the program or activity does not replace or reduce the courses and programs normally provided by a local school district or private school (for example, there is no reduction in the course offerings or costs in that particular academic area). Drop-in programs are unallowable, credit recovery students must attend the program for all portions of the program, and credit recovery must include a blended approach of face-to-face instructor-led components and online programming. The online component cannot be 100% of the teaching methodology. Applicants could be eligible for up to 5 extra priority points based on the quality of their proposal.
The entity or district is responsible for recording the credit. The application must include a letter of agreement between the LEA and the grantee clarifying the responsibility of recording the credits.
7. Community Poverty Levels: Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants who reside in communities where poverty percentages are above the state average poverty percentage rate of 16.81%. Census poverty data information can be found through the Department's link at https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Federal%20Programs/Pages/Federal%20Programs.aspx. Applicants could be eligible for up to 15 extra priority points.
Period of Availability
The grant period will range from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2024.
The total grant period is 5 years, which is anticipated to begin July 1, 2019, and to end June 30, 2024, subject to availability of funds from the United States Department of Education and satisfactory performance of the grantee in the previous year. Following the initial award, subsequent award years will be contingent upon: (1) availability of funding from the specific funding authority; (2) satisfactory performance by the grantee as evaluated by the Department; and (3) compliance with all grant requirements and meeting all conditions set forth within the 21st CCLC 2019—2024 RFA and Guidance and the 21st Cohort 10 Grant Paper Application and Instructions for 2019—2024 for which funding was provided.
Any public or private organization that meets the eligibility requirements can apply for the 21st CCLC funding. This includes public school districts, charter schools, private schools, nonprofit agencies, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, Indian tribes or tribal organizations and for-profit corporations.
All applicants must target students in the lowest 5% to 10% of Title I schools or those identified by the Department as low-performing schools. To be eligible for this grant, at least 85% of the students an applicant is proposing to serve must be in:
1. Grades in schools not currently served by the 21st CCLC;
2. Attend schools implementing CSI activities or ATSI activities under section 1111(d) of the ESSA or other schools determined by the LEA to be in need of intervention and support to improve student academic achievement and other outcomes;
3. Schools servicing students who may be at risk for academic failure, dropping out, involvement in criminal or delinquent activities, or who lack strong positive role models;
4. Other schools determined by the LEA to be in need of intervention and support;
5. Schools that offer family services;
6. LEAs proposing to serve students that are eligible for schoolwide programs: under Title I, section 1114 of the ESSA and the families of these students (for the purposes of this RFA, ''local educational agencies'' are defined as public schools and districts, private schools and charter school); and
7. Schools where students are a recipient of a school intervention grant. A complete list of eligible schools, as of June 19, 2018, can be located at https://www.education. pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Federal%20 Programs/Pages/2018-2019-School-Buildings.aspx.
All programs must be implemented through a partnership that includes at least one LEA receiving funds under Part A of Title I of the ESSA and at least one nonprofit agency, city or county government agency, faith-based organization, institution of higher education, Indian tribe or tribal organization, or for-profit corporation with a demonstrated record of success in designing and implementing before school, afterschool, summer learning or expanded learning time activities.
Application Information
Detailed information outlining grant terms, conditions and additional program requirements, program eligibility, pertinent regulations including expenditure guidelines, evaluation and program accountability requirements, and additional resources are contained in the complete 21st CCLCs Grant RFA and Guidance for Fiscal Years 2019—2024 and in the 21st CCLCs Cohort 10 Grant Paper Application and Instructions for 2019—2024 which can be accessed by:
• Visiting the Department's web site at www.education. pa.gov (Keywords: 21st CCLC).
• E-mail additional questions to RA-21stCCLC@pa.gov.
Due Process for Unsuccessful Applicants
Under 34 CFR 76.401 (relating to disapproval of an application—opportunity for a hearing), the Department must provide an opportunity for a hearing if the applicant alleges that the ''[d] approval or failure to approve the application or project'' violates a Federal statute or regulation.
• Applicants not selected for funding may submit a request on agency letterhead to the Department within 4 weeks of award notification requesting information on the ranking and scoring of their application to nscot@pa.gov. Include the name of the applicant agency in the request.
• Applicants have 30 days from the time they are informed of their right to a hearing to request such a hearing.
• The Department will conduct that hearing within 30 days of the request for a hearing. The Department will issue a final written ruling within 10 days from the date of the hearing, including findings and reasons for the final ruling.
• If the Department does not rescind its ruling, the applicant may apply to the Secretary of the United States Department of Education within 20 days of the applicant receiving a written notification of the results of the hearing.
• The Department will make available records pertaining to the review or appeal process, including the records of other applicants.
For additional program information contact the Department of Education, N. Craig Scot, 21st CCLC Program Supervisor, 333 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333, (717) 346-3251, fax (717) 783-4392, nscot@pa.gov.
PEDRO A. RIVERA,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 19-146. Filed for public inspection February 1, 2019, 9:00 a.m.]
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