To provide high-quality
professional development to improve the knowledge and skills of early
childhood educators who work in early childhood educator programs located in
urban or rural high-poverty communities, and who serve primarily children from
low-income families. This professional development must primarily provide
training that will improve early childhood pedagogy and will further
children's language and literacy skills to prevent them from encountering
reading difficulties when they enter school.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Successful applicants must use these funds to carry out the activities
described in their approved applications. Grant recipients, must, for example,
use funds for reasonable costs needed to provide high-quality, research-based
professional development opportunities for early childhood educators working
in urban and rural communities with high concentrations of young children
living in poverty, enrolled in programs such as: Title I preschools, Head
Start, Even Start Family Literacy programs, and publicly funded or subsidized
child care. The indirect cost rate is limited to the maximum of eight percent
or the amount permitted by its negotiated indirect cost rate agreement,
whichever is less.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Institutions of higher education, State
agencies for higher education, local educational agencies, State educational
agencies, and other public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions
such as child care consortiums and Head Start programs.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Early childhood educators who work in early
childhood programs located in urban or rural high-poverty communities and who
primarily serve children from low-income families.
This program is eligible for coverage
under E.O. 12372,"Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An
applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point
of contact in his or her 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 Procedure:
Applications must be prepared and submitted in
accordance with the notice published in the Federal Register. By the due date,
eligible applicants must submit to the Department of Education, Application
Control Center, a complete application that addresses the purposes of the
program, the selection criteria, the absolute priority included in the
application notice, and includes all required assurances and signatures.
Required assurances and certifications include: Group Application Certification
(if applicable); Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 422B);
Certification regarding Lobbying, Debarment; Suspension and Other Responsibility
Matter, and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED Form 80-0013); Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities (SF LLL) (if applicable); Response to Notice to All
Applicants (Section 427, GEPA). Applications should also include a Cover Page
(SF424); the required Budget Form (ED Form 524); an itemized budget and other
budget information; proof of eligibility; a project abstract; and a program
narrative that includes responses to selection criteria. Applicants are
encouraged to submit one original and two copies of their application.
Award Procedure:
The Department of Education notifies applicants of
award results. Contact the Program Office for more information.
Deadlines:
Deadlines will be published in the Federal Register. You
may also contact the Program Office for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:
The range of approval/disapproval
time is approximately 60 to 120 days following the application deadline.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
Applicants may apply for a project period of up to 4 years.
Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements:
This program has no statutory
formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:
Projects are funded for a
period of up to 4 years. Renewals are subject to the availability of
appropriations.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Progress reports must be submitted at the end of each budget
period in order to receive continuation awards. Performance reports must be
submitted at the end of the grant period.
Audits:
In accordance with the Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR 80, State and local governments
that receive financial assistance of $100,000 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 $100,000 within the State's fiscal year shall have
an audit made in accordance with the Appendix to EDGAR, Part 80.
Records:
In accordance with the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA)
and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), certain
records must be retained for 3 years.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
91-1000-0-1-501.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $10,000,000; FY 02 est $15,000,000; and FY
03 est $15,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance:
In fiscal year 2001, the
average award was $1,250,000.
Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), Parts 74, 75,
77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office:
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office:
Department of Education, Office of Elementary and
Secondary Education, Compensatory Education Programs, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20202. Contact: Pat McKee. Telephone: (202)260-0991. E-mail:
Pat.McKee@ed.gov.
Web Site Address:
http://www.ed.gov
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
This is a new program; examples are not available.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
The selection criteria contained in EDGAR, 34 CFR 75.209 and 75.210 are used
to evaluate applications.
