Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation

Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation

FY18/FY19Competitive Grant Application

Application Deadline: Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Division of Educator Effectiveness and Family Engagement

Office of Educator Development and Support

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Steve Canavero, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation

Information and Competitive Grant Application Instructions

2017-2019(FY18 and FY19)

Contents

I. Background/Overview/General Information

II. Application Requirements and Preparation

III. Application Submission and Review Process

IV. Timeline and Award Administration

Appendix A – Application Cover Page

Appendix B – Program Plan

Appendix C – Research

Appendix D – Budget

Appendix E - Statement of Certification

Appendix F: GENERAL STATE GRANT ASSURANCES

Questions regarding any of the information provided in this document may be addressed to:

Matthew Borek, Education Programs Professional

Nevada Department of Education

702-486-6489

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I. Background/Overview/General Information

The Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation (NITEP) was created from the State General Fund during Nevada’s 79th Legislative Session (2017) via Senate Bill 548 (SB548). The purpose of the NITEP is to: establish a highly selective program for the education and training of teachers; conduct research concerning approaches and methods used to educate and train teachers and to teach pupils; and evaluate, develop and disseminate approaches to teaching.

Funding and Administration

The NITEP is administered by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (Superintendent). Awards are granted by the State Board of Education (SBE) through a competitive application process, to the extent that money is available in the General Fund.

The Superintendent shall:

a)prescribe the form for applications to be submitted;

b)set the deadline for submission of applications;

c)assign a committee to review applications and make award recommendations to the Superintendent; and

d)make award recommendations to the SBE.

Eligibility

Applicants must be a college or university within the Nevada System of Higher Education. Pursuant to SB548, applicants must demonstrate the ability to provide additional money for the establishment and operation of the NITEP that matches the grant of money awarded by the State Board.

Duration of Grants

Fundsfor the establishment of the NITEP may be awarded by the SBE for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 Fiscal Years. The total funds ($1 million) are available for either fiscal year, but no more than $500,000 may be allocated to the first year of the grant. Funds may not be committed for expenditure after June 30, 2019 and appropriated money may not be spent for any purpose after September 20, 2019.

Reporting and Evaluation

The institution that is awarded the NITEP funds shall provide a report no later than June 29, 2018 (the first year of the Grant) AND a report no later than March 30, 2019. Reports are to be submitted to the Superintendent andshall include, without limitation, a description of howfunds were used to support, and measures of effectiveness in, the following areas:

a)Establishment of a highly selective program for the education and training of teachers;

b)Conducting research concerning approaches and methods used to educate and train teachers and to teach pupils; and

c)Evaluating, developing and disseminating approaches to teaching.

II. Application Requirements and Preparation

Listed below are the required components that each application MUST include, in the order they are to appear. Narratives must be double-spaced, with 12-point font. The application shall be limited to 20 total pages, not including appendices or supporting documents. Applicants must adhere to page limits and only include responses for each of the components listed below and any supporting documents necessary for those responses. (Note that portions of applicationsmay be posted on the Nevada Department of Education [NDE] website and be provided to the public as an SBE meeting supporting document.)

1. Applicant Information/Cover Page (Appendix A): This should be the first page of the application.

1. Abstract: (1-page, single-spaced)

Include a brief and concise abstract with the name of the grant program, description of the program plans, and a summary of the intended results.

1. Program Plan(questions available in Appendix B: Program Plan):

a)Recruitment plan

b)Experience with educator preparation, including the current areas of licensure in which the institution operates EPPs and the focus areas that will be supported by grant funds

c)Plan for providing students with increasing professional autonomy and responsibility

d)District partnerships

e)Preparing to teach a diverse population of students

f)Inclusion of contemporary and effective methods

1. Research Capacity (questions available in Appendix C: Research):

a)Plan to conduct innovative and extensive research

b)Plan to evaluate, develop and disseminate relevant research

1. Program Budget: (Appendix D: Budget)

Include a summative budget for each fiscal year, with line items and detailed category narratives. Describe how each line item was calculated, with justification for each item. Also include a clear indication of matching funds and plans for program sustainability.

1. Statement of Certification (Appendix E)

Review, sign, and submit Appendix E as part of your application package.

1. General State Assurances (Appendix F)

Review, sign, and submit Appendix E as part of your application package.

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III. Application Submission and Review Process

To be considered for FY18funding, applications must be received by 5:00 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

Applications may be submitted electronically to Matthew Borek, Education Programs Professional, Office of Educator Development and Support, at , or mailed/hand-delivered to:

NDE – Division of Educator Effectiveness & Family Engagement

Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation Application Submissions

c/o Matthew Borek

9890 S. Maryland Parkway

Las Vegas, NV 89183

As applications are received, they will be reviewed by NDE staff only for completeness and compliance with the requirements set forth to determine applicant eligibility. Any questions about significant omissions from an application or about applicant eligibility will be referred to the designated Program Coordinator. If, in the judgment of the NDE, an application is late, or significantly incomplete, or an institution cannot establish its eligibility, the application will be disqualified from the process and the applicant will be notified in writing. The decision of the NDE is final.

A Review Committee will be convened by the NDE, and efforts will be made to select members who bear no conflict of interest towards any of the applicants. The Committee will use a standardized rubric and levels of alignment to evaluate eligible applications. Committee scores will form the basis for recommendations to be made to the Superintendent, and ultimately by the Superintendent to the SBE for final selection.

Review Criteria and Evaluation Rubric / Points Possible
Abstract / 5
Institute Program Plan: Recruitment / 10
Institute Program Plan: Experience with Educator Preparation / 10
Institute Program Plan: Providing Students with Increasing Autonomy and Responsibility / 10
Institute Program Plan: District Partnerships / 10
Institute Program Plan: Preparation to Teach in Diverse Classrooms / 10
Institute Program Plan: Inclusion of Contemporary and Effective Methods / 10
Research Capacity / 40
Program Budget / Budget Narratives / 30
Total Points Possible / 135

IV. Timeline and Award Administration

October 24, 2017: Application Released

November 7, 2017:Application Submission Deadline

(By 5PM)

November 13, 2017:Review Committee Recommendations to Superintendent

November 16, 2017:Recommendations made to SBE by the Superintendent

November 22, 2017:Application Status Notification to Program Coordinators

December 4, 2017: Funds Disbursed to Grantees

(If awardees identified by SBE on 11/16/17)

June 29, 2018:Year 1 Program Effectiveness Report Due to NDE

Appendix A – Application Cover Page

Name of Institution:

(Applicant MUST be a college or university with the Nevada System of Higher Education)

Name & Title of Program Coordinator:

Address, City & Zip Code:

Email Address & Phone:

Authorized Official Certification/Signature:

The applicant certifies that, to the best of his/her knowledge, the information in this application is correct, that the filing of this application is duly authorized by the governing body of this organization or institution, and that the applicant will comply with all assurances.

______

Typed or Printed Name of Authorized OfficialTitle

______

Signature of Authorized OfficialDate

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Appendix B – Program Plan

In a separate document, submit your answers to the following questions, in the order in which they appear.

1. What is your plan to recruit promising students pursuing teaching degrees from inside and outside this State, and why do you believe this will be considered a “highly selective” program? (Please include any selection criteria you are proposing to use in recruitment)
2. What experience do you have with preparing students to meet Nevada licensure requirements? (Include which licensure areas and grades in which you currently operate EPPs, as well as the focus areas for the Institute)
3. Explain why your proposed program will be considered “thorough and rigorous” and describe how you will provide students with increasing professional autonomy and responsibility.
4. Describe your current and/or pending district partnerships and how you can ensure that students will obtain experience in schools that serve high populations of pupils with disabilities, who are at risk, or who have other significant needs.
5. How will your program provide, in a manner that is aligned to the demographics of pupils in Nevada, the skills and knowledge necessary to teach the diverse population of pupils in this State?
6. How will your program provide instruction concerning the most contemporary and effective pedagogies, curricula, technology, and behavior management techniques for teaching?

Appendix C – Research

In a separate document, submit answers to the following questions, in the order in which they appear.

1. What is your plan to conduct innovative and extensive research concerning approaches and methods used to educate and train teachers and to teach pupils, including, without limitation, pupils with disabilities or pupils who are at risk or have other significant needs?
2. How will you continually evaluate, develop and disseminate approaches to teaching that address the variety of settings in which pupils in Nevada are educated?

Appendix D –Budget

The application must include an itemization of the budget, as well as a budget narrative justification explaining how each line item was calculated.

Applicants must submit a budget that includes FY18 and FY 19. Use BOTH of the templates below, one for FY18 and one for FY19. Total projected costs may not exceed $1 million, and FY18 projected costs are not to exceed $500,000. However, a portion of FY18 funds may be carried over and added to the $500,000 FY19 expenditures.

Proposed budgets should be divided into the following categories:

a)Personnel

b)Operating costs

c)Marketing

d)Other expenses

The Personnel sectionof the budget must include:

a)identification of proposed personnel;

b)proposed rates of compensation/benefits; and

c)explanation of the services expected to be provided.

In the budget and budget narrative, applicants must explain their source for, amount of, and use of, matching funds.

Appendix E- Statement of Certification

Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation

Return to:

Nevada Department of Education

Matthew Borek

9890 Maryland Pkwy

Las Vegas, NV 89183

SECTION A: APPLICATION FOR A SUBGRANT CERTIFICATION

I HEREBY CERTIFY that, to the best of my knowledge, the information in this application is correct.

The applicant designated below hereby applies for a subgrant of state funds for the Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation. The local Organization has authorized me to file this application and such action is recorded in the minutes of the board meeting held on ______(Date).

Signature: ______Date: ______Authorized Representative

PART I – APPLICANT

Applicant: (Legal Name of Institution):______

Mailing Address (Street, P. O. Box, City/ Zip):______

______

Name, title and phone number Authorized Program Contact person:______

______

Fiscal Contact person:______

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PART II – NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION USE ONLY

Date Received:______

Reviewer’s Signature:______

Date: ______

Appendix F: GENERAL STATE GRANT ASSURANCES

NAME OF DISTRICT/AGENCY: Department of Education

FISCAL YEAR: 2018

PROGRAM NAME: Nevada Institute on Teaching and Educator Preparation

I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the information in this application is correct. The applicant designated hereby applies for a grant of State funds. The local Board of Trustees/Organization has authorized me to file this application and such action is recorded in the minutes of the agency’s meeting.

The RECIPIENT assures, if awarded a grant or contract:

The State Agency shall hold all RECIPIENTS to the provisions within the applicable Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) that govern the funds passed through the STATE AGENCY to the RECIPIENT.

STATE REGULATIONS

Shall hold the RECIPIENT to the provisions established by the STATE AGENCY which govern the funds and program:

1. The RECIPIENT assumes full responsibility for the overall program which includes: fiscal administration, timely submission of required reports, program management including personnel, and meeting the goals and objectives in the approved grant application.

1. The RECIPIENT agrees to fully comply with the evaluation team that will evaluate the effectiveness of this grant. Noncompliance may affect the RECIPIENT’S eligibility in future sub-awards from NDE or result in forfeiture of remaining funds.

1. The RECIPIENT agrees that any funds not committed for expenditures by the end of the grant cycle will be de-obligated to State general fund with the Annual Financial Report

1. The RECIPIENT will submit the Final Financials to the Nevada Department of Education (NDE) within 45 calendar days (August 14, 2018) or less from the end of the grant cycle. Noncompliance will result in ineligibility for future sub-grant cycles.

1. All requests for budget amendments must be made in writing and approved prior to expenditure of funds.

1. Monthly requests for reimbursement are due to the NDE by the 15th of the month for the previous month of services.

1. The RECIPIENT agrees to comply with NDE’s requirement to submit supporting source documentation with reimbursement requests which will ensure that all costs charged to state grants are allowable.

1. The documentation for all transactions, controls and other significant events must be clear and readily available for examination upon request. All documentation such as invoices or contracts, etc. should be maintained at the RECIPIENT’s principal place of business. If they are not, the RECIPIENT must bear the cost of making original documents available for examination by the State.

1. Personnel employed as teachers and instructional aides by the RECIPIENT or personnel contracted to provide such service to the RECIPIENT shall be certified pursuant to the provisions of NRS 386.590 (as amended by Senate Bill 509 of the 2015 Session of the Nevada Legislature, Chapter 238, Statutes of Nevada (2015).

1. The RECIPIENT shall maintain effective control and accountability for all grant funds, property, and other assets. Good internal control necessitates that fiscal responsibilities be clearly established. Accounting functions should be separated to the fullest extent possible so that no one person authorizes, executes, and approves the same transactions. Policies covering personnel and accounting procedures and separation of duties must be documented in a policies and procedures manual or other similar document.

1. The RECIPIENT must maintain continuing responsibility for the overall program. This includes the establishment of written policies and procedures for program operations. The following areas must not be delegated to Recipients or persons who are not employees or officials of the RECIPIENT organization:
2. Being informed of and accountable for all program income and expenditures;
3. Performance of timely written evaluations of the program, and monitoring of established goals and objectives as written in the program’s grant award;
4. Financial reports and all other reports required by NDE including monthly Requests for Funds, required quarterly progress reports and final program reports (as applicable);
5. Administration of the program in accordance with each agency’s administrative practice.

1. If the RECIPIENT decides to establish a policy-making body (or is required either by law or by funding source to establish such a body), its roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined. This must be approved by the Program Director.

1. Any activities that deviate from the scope of work/goals and objectives identified in the grant agreement must receive prior written approval from the Education Programs Professional and may require an amendment to the grant agreement.

1. RECIPIENTS must notify the Education Programs Professional immediately regarding any legal action or negative publicity related to grant-funded events, activities, services, purchases, or outreach.

1. All instructions, requirements, rules and regulations for grants administered through the RECIPIENT are applicable to Recipients, contracts or other mechanisms passing on these funds. It is the responsibility of the RECIPIENT to ensure compliance of Recipients through monitoring, reporting, site visits, fiscal reviews or other means. NDE may implement probationary measures with the RECIPIENT for noncompliance.

1. Indirect costs are not allowed on State grants or contracts to school districts, charter schools, non-profit organization, NSHE or other entities, which are funded in whole or in any part with State funds.

1. No organization may participate in the grant-funded project in any capacity or be a recipient of state funds designated for this project if the organization has been debarred or suspended or otherwise found to be ineligible for participation in federal assistance programs under Executive Order 12549, “Debarment and Suspension” (se 45 CFR 92.35). Prior to issuing sub-awards or contracts under this grant, the RECIPIENT must consult the Excluded Parties List System to ensure that organizations under funding consideration are not ineligible. The list may be accessed online through the System for Award Management (SAM) at

1. Decisions made by Education Program Professionals must be based on the grant agreements, approved budgets, grant assurance, written program policies and procedures, and written fiscal policies and procedures including those in the State Administrative Manual (SAM) and in any Nevada Revised Statute or state regulations and guidance that apply to the funding source. If a RECIPIENT disagrees with a decision, the RECIPIENT has the option to dispute the decision by taking the following steps:

1. Request in writing that the Education Programs Professional provide:

1. Documentation upon which a decision is based. Written response will be made within seven (7) working days.

1. If the disagreement is still unresolved, request in writing that the matter be reviewed by the NDE Program Director, whose decision will be final and will not be open to further discussion or challenge.

1. All interactions will be conducted with honesty, courtesy, and respect. It is essential that a professional relationship be maintained in order to properly administer the grant and provide effective services in the community.

1. Conduct that interferes with the administration of the grant or negatively impacts the ability to provide effective program services may result in termination of the grant after NDE carefully reviews the circumstances.

1. Timeliness of report submission will be tracked and noted in the grant file. Any extensions or exceptions to requirements must also be noted in the grant file.

Failure to comply with the terms and conditions detailed above may result in the loss of state funds and may be considered grounds for the suspension or termination of this grant.