Title II Part A of NCLB IMPROVING TEACHER QUALITY GRANT PROGRAM

WHAT IS ITQ?? Federally funded initiative Federally funded initiative Provide grants to public and private higher education institutions Provide grants to public and private higher education institutions Train and retrain elementary and secondary teachers and principals. Train and retrain elementary and secondary teachers and principals. The largest federal initiative of professional development as a way to improve teaching The largest federal initiative of professional development as a way to improve teaching Reauthorized as Title II, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of Reauthorized as Title II, Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

According to the NCLB Act… Projects funded under the Title II, Part A program should: Be aligned with challenging state academic content standards as well as student performance standards; Be aligned with challenging state academic content standards as well as student performance standards; Reflect recent research on teaching and learning; Reflect recent research on teaching and learning; Include strong academic content and pedagogical components; Include strong academic content and pedagogical components;

According to the NCLB Act…(con’t) Projects funded under the Title II, Part A program should: Incorporate effective strategies, techniques, methods and practices for meeting the educational needs of diverse student populations; Incorporate effective strategies, techniques, methods and practices for meeting the educational needs of diverse student populations; Be of sufficient intensity and duration to have positive and lasting impact on the teachers’ performance in the classroom and the principals’ instructional leadership skills; and Be of sufficient intensity and duration to have positive and lasting impact on the teachers’ performance in the classroom and the principals’ instructional leadership skills; and Create an orientation toward continuous improvement throughout the school Create an orientation toward continuous improvement throughout the school

Content Focus: This year, projects should focus on providing teachers with an opportunity to understand and strengthen their content knowledge regarding STEM subjects for grades This year, projects should focus on providing teachers with an opportunity to understand and strengthen their content knowledge regarding STEM subjects for grades Pedagogical Focus: Successful proposals will provide specific instruction in the practices embedded within the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM). Successful proposals will provide specific instruction in the practices embedded within the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM). More information about the TEAM model can be found at:

Basic Program Requirements Minimum of 30 contact hours Minimum of 30 contact hours Minimum of 15 teachers Minimum of 15 teachers May not exceed $75, May not exceed $75, The term of the project is from January 2016 to December 2016 The term of the project is from January 2016 to December 2016

Eligible Partnerships The division of the institution of higher education that prepares teachers and principals; The division of the institution of higher education that prepares teachers and principals; A college/school of arts and sciences; or, for this competition, engineering (since the focus is STEM)* A college/school of arts and sciences; or, for this competition, engineering (since the focus is STEM)* A high-need local educational agency; A high-need local educational agency; * Will re-verify during technical assistance call

What is a “High Need LEA?” A “high-need LEA” is defined as an LEA: (A) (i) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children from families with incomes below the poverty line; or (ii) for which not less than 20 percent of the children served by the agency are from families with incomes below the poverty line; and (B) (i) for which there is a high percentage of teachers not teaching in the academic subjects or grade levels that the teachers were trained to teach; or (ii) for which there is a high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or temporary certification or licensing ***Per the guidelines, the teacher qualification requirement applies to LEA’s in which less than 100% of teachers meet the NCLB definition of “highly- qualified”

Evaluation Criteria Goals & Objectives – content and pedagogical focus* Goals & Objectives – content and pedagogical focus* Quality of Partnership Quality of Partnership Program Plan – recruitment and instructional plan Program Plan – recruitment and instructional plan Evaluation – quantitative and qualitative Evaluation – quantitative and qualitative Budget/Budget Narrative Budget/Budget Narrative *Proposals are expected to provide specific instruction in the practices embedded within the TN Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM).

How can I improve my funding chances? Follow all of the guidelines set forth by THEC Follow all of the guidelines set forth by THEC Align project with TEAM model / learning expectations Align project with TEAM model / learning expectations Strong institutional or department buy in Strong institutional or department buy in The most participation for the money The most participation for the money Letter of commitment for participation from high need LEA is MANDATORY. Letter of commitment for participation from high need LEA is MANDATORY.

THEC Budget Development Salaries may not exceed 20% of the total grant amount, including fringes. Salaries may not exceed 20% of the total grant amount, including fringes. Participant Stipends: $100/full day and $50/half day. Participant Stipends: $100/full day and $50/half day. Do not exceed state rates: Do not exceed state rates: Mileage -.46/mile Hotel - $77/night* Meals & Incidentals - $46/day *For more info, go to:

THEC Budget Development, cont. Grant funds cannot pay for tuition and fees. If you plan to offer course credit, please notify ORSP so that we can get a signed letter to include in your application. Grant funds cannot pay for tuition and fees. If you plan to offer course credit, please notify ORSP so that we can get a signed letter to include in your application. Indirect costs – we have permission to use an 8% rate. Indirect costs – we have permission to use an 8% rate. 50% rule – no single partner may “use” more than 50% of total grant dollars. See guidelines for additional clarification. 50% rule – no single partner may “use” more than 50% of total grant dollars. See guidelines for additional clarification.

2015 GRANT TIMELINE Secure partnerships with high-need LEAs – ASAP!! Secure partnerships with high-need LEAs – ASAP!! August 20 – Notify ORSP if you plan to submit. August 20 – Notify ORSP if you plan to submit. August 24 – Notice of Intent to Submit due to THEC by before 5:30pm EST. (See RFP for details.) August 24 – Notice of Intent to Submit due to THEC by before 5:30pm EST. (See RFP for details.) August 24 – Send ORSP materials needed for HCDE School Board approval August 24 – Send ORSP materials needed for HCDE School Board approval September 2 – Notify ORSP if you will need a tuition waiver OR if you plan to offer continuing education credit. September 2 – Notify ORSP if you will need a tuition waiver OR if you plan to offer continuing education credit. September 7 – provide ORSP with a draft of the budget and narrative for review and to secure Chancellor’s signature September 7 – provide ORSP with a draft of the budget and narrative for review and to secure Chancellor’s signature September 8 – Start TERA-PAMS entry for UTC internal approvals September 8 – Start TERA-PAMS entry for UTC internal approvals

2015 GRANT TIMELINE, cont. By September 16 – Provide OPSP with a final copy of all proposal materials and stop by OPSP offices to sign the final copy By September 16 – Provide OPSP with a final copy of all proposal materials and stop by OPSP offices to sign the final copy September 21 (Monday) – 4:30pm (CST) deadline for receipt of all proposals at THEC September 21 (Monday) – 4:30pm (CST) deadline for receipt of all proposals at THEC October 16 – Grantees are notified of their selection, other applicants notified of denial. October 16 – Grantees are notified of their selection, other applicants notified of denial. November 17 (10:00 am – 1:00 pm, CST) November 17 (10:00 am – 1:00 pm, CST) Mandatory Project Director’s workshop Mandatory Project Director’s workshop

QUESTIONS ???