California Department of Education

21st Century High School

After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens Program

Cohort 9

Fiscal Year 2014–15

Request for Applications

For Programs Proposing to Serve High School Students

Title 20 United States Code sections 7171–7176 and

California Education Code sections 8420–8428and8484.7–8484.9

October 2013

After School Division

California Department of Education

1430 N Street, Suite 3400

Sacramento, CA 95814-5901

916-319-0923

1

Inquiries

Direct all RFA inquiries and correspondence to:

ASSETs Grant Application

After School Division––ASSETs RFA Helpdesk

California Department of Education

1430 N Street, Suite 3400

Sacramento, CA 95814-5901

916-319-0923 Telephone––Ask for ASSETs RFA Helpdesk

916-319-0221 Fax––Attention ASSETs RFA Helpdesk

Submit all RFA questions online through the ASSETs RFA Helpdesk at

OVERVIEW OF THE

21st CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS PROGRAM

Background

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21stCCLC) program, authorized under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), received its first appropriation in 1996. The 21st CCLC program funding has supported thedevelopment of community learning centers established by public schools, community-based organizations (CBOs), and private schools, with the assistance of community partners.

Federal and state laws guide the implementation of the 21stCCLC program. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 established the 21st CCLCprogram and gave administrative responsibility to the states. Federal funds are appropriated through the annualCalifornia Budget Act. The NCLB expanded state and local accountability for student academic achievement and emphasizes the importance of adopting scientifically-based research practices.

Purpose

The purpose of the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) program is to provide local flexibility in the establishment or expansion ofcommunity learning centers that provide students in grades 9–12 with academic enrichment opportunities. Activitiesare designed to complement students’ regular academic program,assistance in passing the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE),career exploration,literacy and related educational development services forthe families of these students, and a safe environment for students participatingin the programs.

Funding

An estimated $19 million in federal funding has been allocated for ASSETs program Cohort 9, fiscal year (FY)2014-15. Applicants awarded an ASSETs grant may receive five one-year grants, subject to semiannual attendance reporting (California Education Code [EC] Section 8426[a] [1]) and other reporting requirements. Each year’s grant award will depend on the availabilityof 21st CCLC program federal funds received by the California Department of Education (CDE).

In FY 2013-14 (Cohort 8),applicants requested over $92 million in ASSETs program funding with a total of $24 millionbeingawarded. Of the136 applications submitted,26 applications were funded (383 sites applied,104sites were funded). Twenty-six percent of the total funds requested were awarded, indicating the highly competitive nature of the process.

TheASSETsCohort 6 grants, which are due to expire on June 30, 2014, amount to approximately $19million. The CDE anticipatesreceiving new applicationsfrom the 44grantees represented in Cohort 6. New funding is not guaranteed to expiring grantees.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I.KEY TERMS

II.CRITICAL DATES FOR THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

III.ELIGIBILITY AND PRIORITIES

A.Who May Apply

B.Priority For Funding......

C.Point Reductions

D.Disqualifications

E.Funding

F.Core Grant Awards

G.Optional Grants

H.Good Standing

I.Reading and Scoring

IV.THE APPLICATION

A.Application Submission

B.Public Notice

C.Collaborative Signatures

D.Core Application Narrative

1.Community Needs Assessment

2.Program Elements

3.Collaboration and Partnerships

4.Sustainability Plan

5.Youth Involvement and Leadership

6.Program Administration

7.Program Evaluation

8.Budget and Cost Effectiveness

E.Application Appendix

1.Table of Contents

2.Letter of Agreement

3.Memorandum of Understanding

4.Other Attachments

F.Formatting Requirements

G.Consultation with Private Schools

H.Appeals

V.SCORING RUBRIC

A.Scoring Rubric Sections

1.Community Needs Assessment

2.Program Elements

3.Collaboration and Partnerships

4.Sustainability Plan

5.Youth Involvement and Leadership

6.Program Administration

7.Program Evaluation

8.Budget and Cost Effectiveness

VI.PROGRAM ASSURANCES

VII.OPTIONAL EQUITABLE ACCESS GRANT

A.Narrative for Optional Equitable Access Grant

Scoring Rubric for ASSETs program––Optional Equitable Access Grant

VIII.OPTIONAL FAMILY LITERACY GRANT

A.Narrative for Optional Family Literacy Grant

Scoring Rubric for ASSETs––Optional Family Literacy Grant

IX.APPLICATION CHECKLIST

1

I.KEY TERMS

API refers to Academic Performance Index.

Applicantrefers to an agency or organization requesting funding from a grant program administered by the CDE.

ASDrefers to the After School Division.

ASSETsor programfor the purpose of this Request for Applications(RFA)refers to the federally-funded 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens Program.

ASSISTrefers to the CDEs After School Support and Information SysTem online reporting system. This is the only method used for obtaining an application identification number, submitting applicant information and data, and printing required forms to be submitted with the grant application.

Authorized Agentrefers to:

  • Superintendent of a Local Educational Agency (LEA), County Office of Education (COE), school district, and locally-fundedcharter school
  • Principal or Executive Director of adirect-fundedcharter school
  • Chief Executive Officer of a government agency (county, city, or combination)
  • Authorized executive representative of a state university or college, community-based organization (CBO), faith-based organization (FBO), or another public or private entity, including a private high school
  • Authorized executive representative of the lead consortium agency composed of two or more agencies, organizations, or entities, such as those above

Note: In the absence of the Authorized Agent, a designee is able to sign the application. AnASSIST-generated Authorized Agent DesigneeFormanda copy of the governing board resolution or minutes authorizing the designee to accept fiscal agreements must be submitted with the application (see the Application Checkliston page57).

Attendance Areais defined as the geographical area in which the students who reside in the boundaries of the school or school district would be served.

CALPADSrefers to the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System.

CBArefers to the California Budget Act.

CBO refers to a community-based organization.

CDE refers to the California Department of Education.

Charter School refers to a public school that provides instruction in any combination of grades, kindergarten through twelfth grade.

  • Locally-funded charter schoolrefers to a charter school funded throughanLEA,andthe LEAsboard governs the charter school operations.
  • Direct-funded charter schoolrefers to acharter school that receives funds directly from the state and has its own governing board.
  • Charter School Districts refers tounified school districts in which all or most of the schools are charter schools.

COE refers to County Office of Education.

EC refers to the California Education Code.

ELL refers to English Language Learners.

Expanded Learning Programsrefers to before and after school programs.

FBO refers to a faith-based organization.

FRPM refers to Free and Reduced Price Meals.

Good Standingrefers to all of the following:

  • All attendance reports for current or expiring grantees have been submitted to the ASD and have been found byto be accurate and complete.
  • All expenditure reports for current or expiring grantees have been submittedto the ASD and have been found to be accurate and complete.
  • Annual Statewide Evaluation Data for current or expiring grantees have been submitted to the ASD and have been foundto be accurate and complete.
  • The grantee does not have any outstanding CDE invoices.
  • The grantee, subcontractor, or other affiliates do not have outstanding or unresolved Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) findings in any previousFY(s) or have been determined by the ASD to be making adequate progress toward the resolution of any findings.
  • The grantee, subcontractor, or other affiliates do not have outstanding or unresolved 21stCCLC, ASSETs, or After School Education and Safety (ASES) audit findings in any previous FY(s) or have been determined by the ASD to be making adequate progress toward the resolution of any findings.

Grantee refers to an applicant who has a current approved grant contract (Form

AO-400 Grant Award Notification) for ASES, 21st CCLC, or ASSETsgrant funds.

LOArefers to Letter of Agreement.

MOU refers to Memorandum of Understanding.

RFA refers to this Request for Applications.

Satisfactorily met attendance goalsrefers toacurrently funded school site that would not be subject to an involuntary grant reduction, per EC Section 8483.7, for FY2014-15 and has not taken a voluntary grant reduction in lieu of an involuntary reduction.

Schools Eligible for Title I Schoolwide Programs are public schools for which a minimum of 40 percent of the students in the school, or residing in the attendance area served by the school, are from low-income families (Section 1114[a][1] of Title I of the NCLB Act). For the purposes of this RFA, school sites having a minimum of 40 percent of the students eligible for FRPM, as reported to CALPADS for

FY2013-14, will be considered to have met the 40 percent low-income eligibility criteria. Prospective applicants who wish to use a measure of low-income other than FRPM should refer to Section III of this RFA.

Template applicationrefers to applications that share common language and format. Template applications may differ in data, demographics, and community specific information.

Timely and meaningful consultation is a two-way communication and discussion about the best ways to meet the needs of private school students and teachers. It begins early in the process of program design and development and is to be completed prior to the submission of the application.

Title I Schoolwide Programsfor the purpose of this RFA are school sites that appear on the Consolidation Application and Reporting System data collection report from the Title I, Part A, Notice of Authorization of Schoolwide Program form, as of March 15, 2014.

CRITICAL DATES FOR THE REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Dates / Critical Events
October 17, 2013 / The RFA is available on the CDEs 21st CCLCweb page at
October 21, 2013 / Webinar to address grant questions and the application process.
December 12, 2013 / Submission date forthegrant application.Due to the ASD by 5:00 p.m.
NOTE: Grant applications must arrive in the ASD by this date and time in order to be included in the competitive process.
February 24–28, 2014 / The CDE will host the Readers’ Conference in Sacramento, CA, for the evaluation, reading, and scoring of grant applications.
April 2014 / Intent to Award announcement is the initial posting of grant awards. This notification is not the final list of grantees. The final funding list will be posted on the CDE Web site when all data is verified and appeals are decided. Applicants are advised not to obligate funds based on this list.
April 2014 / Appeals must be submitted within 10 calendar days of the Intent to Award announcement with original signatures from the Authorized Agent. No faxed or e-mailed appeals will be accepted.
June 2014 / Final funding list will be posted on the CDE Web site.

II.ELIGIBILITY AND PRIORITIES

Any public or private organization thatproposes to serve students, who primarily attend high schools eligible for Title I Schoolwide programs or schools that serve a population in which a minimum of 40 percent of students come from low-income families,is eligible to apply for a 21st Century High School ASSETsgrant for Cohort 9 in FY 2014–15. Specifically, the applicant must propose to serve:

Public high schools that operate Title I Schoolwide programs or that are eligible to operate Title I Schoolwide programs(see the definition of “Schools Eligible for Title I Schoolwide Programs” in the Key Terms section of this document)

Private high schools that serve a student population from low-income families.

If a public high school meets the above criteria, the applicant is not required to demonstrate its eligibility. The ASD will obtain data on the percentage of students eligible for FRPM from theCDE “Student Poverty−FRPM Data” downloadable file located at downloadable file contains the count of FRPM eligible students, agesfive through seventeen, who will be enrolled and certified through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS)FY 2013–14on the first Wednesday of October 2013. For schools designated as National School Lunch Program Provision 2 and 3, the FRPM downloadable file will include the count of students eligible for FRPM calculated from the school’s certified CALPADS enrollment and the school’s “base year” percentage of students eligible for FRPM. Data used in the grant application scoring process will be the data available in the “Student Poverty−FRPM Data” downloadable file as of March 15, 2014.Private schools must demonstrate eligibility through the alternate methods described below.

Alternate Methods of Demonstrating the Applicant School Site Serves a Low Income Population

If FRPM data is unavailable for a public or private high school, the applicant mustcontact the CDE for aprior written approval to use an alternate method of demonstrating that the high school site serves a low-income population

(see ASSETs RFA Helpdesk contact information on page i).

After receivingwritten approval from CDEto use an alternate method, the applicant must include aone page “Demonstration of Low-Income Population Percentage for Public/Private Narrative” describing how eligibility was determined. An analysis must be based on one of the data sourceson the following page, including a description of the data collection methodology and methods of computation, concluding with the estimated percentage of low-income students at the school site.

For public schools, aminimum of 40 percent of the students in the applicant school, or residing inthe attendance area served by the school, are from low-income families. Private schools must indicate that low-income students are enrolled in their school.

Themeasures of income that may be usedare:

  • Percentage of children ages five through seventeen in poverty according to the most recent census data
  • Percentage of students eligible for FRPM under the National School Lunch Program
  • Percentage of children in families receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, also known as California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids or CalWORKs
  • Percentage of children eligible to receive medical assistance under the Medicaid program, also known as the California Medical Assistance Program or Medi-Cal
  • A survey of family incomes that, to the extent possible, protects the identity of families of participating students
  • A composite of any of the above measures

This narrative in the grant application is to be placed immediately after the Additional Required Information page and does not count toward the page limit for the core application narrative (see Application Checklist on page 57).

A.Who May Apply

Examples of agencies and organizations eligible to apply for grant funding include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • LEAs, including school districts, COEs, and locally-funded charter schools
  • Direct-funded charter schools
  • Nonprofit agencies
  • Public entities, city and county government agencies, organizations,or other entities
  • Institutions of higher education
  • CBOs, including FBOs (grant funds cannot be expended to support religious practices, such as religious instruction, worship, or prayer as part of the ASSETs program)
  • For-profit corporations
  • Consortia of two or more of the above agencies, organizations, or entities
  • Current grantees of anASSETs program are eligible to competefor funds to expand program services to additional studentsat existing ASSETs sitesup to the legislative maximum of $250,000 per school.
  • Current ASSETs grantees with grants expiring in FY 2013-14 may apply for grant funds to continue those programs. However, grantees are not guaranteedASSETs funding and must compete for funds.

Note: A school site may be included in only one application in the Cohort 9 funding cycle. If a school site is included in multiple applications, the school site will be disqualified from all applications(see the online ASSIST-generated “Disqualification Form”).

Jointly-submitted applications must check the appropriate box and clearly list the name of at least one LEA and one CBO/public or private entity on the ASSIST-generated “Additional Required Information” form.

B.Priority For Funding

State and federal laws specify three different types of priority forfunding that must be used in the process of awardingASSETs grants:

  1. A high school, whose most recent score on the Academic Performance Index (API) ranks the school in the lowest three deciles or that is classified as a Program Improvement (PI) school, will be awarded an extra fivepoints.

A school must have a valid API in order to be eligible for the program. A school with an API with an asterisk pursuant to EC Section 52052(e)(1) is not eligible to receive these priority points. A school participating in the Alternative Schools Accountability Model (ASAM) pursuant to EC Section 52052(g) is not eligible to receive these priority points.

The ASD will obtain the FY 2013–14 Base API-Data file located on the CDE Web site at

The 2013–14school statusforProgram Improvement Data Fileswill be posted on the CDE Web site at Data used in the grant scoring process will be the data available as of March 15, 2014.

In order to receive PI priority, the grant application must be submitted jointly by at least one LEA and one CBO or other public or private entity (see the ASSIST-generated form “Additional Information”). Priority points will not be granted if the grant application does not: (1) specify the joint submission found on the ASSIST-generated “Additional Information” form; and (2) list both entities.In order to waive the partnering requirement and receive this priority, an LEA must demonstrate that it is unable to partner with a CBO by providing a 1-page justification (see “Application Checklist” on page 57).

  1. Applicants that seek to renew an expiringCohort 6 grant for a site that hassatisfactorily met attendance goals will be awarded an extra five pointsfor that site (see the definition of “Satisfactorily met attendance goals” in the Key Terms section of this document).
  1. Sites seeking to expand an existing grant to serve additional students up to the maximum grant award and have satisfactorily met their projected attendance goalswill be awarded an extra fivepoints(see the definitionof “Satisfactorily met attendance goals” in the Key Terms section of this document).

A site will receive priority points for each priority for which the site qualifies. A grant application may propose to serve more than one school site, and the sites may qualify for different priorities. All sites within the grant application will receive the same score for the core application narrative, and priority points will be added separately to each qualifying site’s score. An individual site may earn at most ten priority points, as priorities 2 and 3 are mutually exclusive. Schools with different priorities may be included in a single application.Applications will be funded in descending order of their final scores including priority points (highest to lowest).