1. Magnet Schools Assistance Program Director, Magnet Programs
(MSAP)
Dr. Tammy Summerville
Director, Magnet Programs
February 02, 2017

2. MSAP is a Federal Grant under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
In the last 6 years alone, 75 districts have received $650 million in funding for Magnet Schools. The average is about 3 million per district annually.
The 2017 MSAP grant is for 5 years.
Successful applicants can receive up to $15 million dollars over the course of the grant.
Funds can be used for salaries, transportation, professional development, equipment, and minor construction costs. Student outreach, recruitment, and developing partnerships are also included.

3. MSAP Requirements Are Very Specific
Districts must be under a Federally approved desegregation plan.
The submitted grant must address the reduction of minority group isolation.
Schools involved in the grant must develop and implement systemic reforms necessary to provide all students the opportunity to meet challenging academic standards.

4. MSAP Requirements Are Very Specific
Schools identified in the grant application must be new or significantly revised.
The primary focus of the significant revision is to identify and implement evidenced-based practices that have been shown to have an impact on student achievement.
The HCS Plan would include the significant revision of ASFL (K-5), Columbia MYP, and the transformation of a current elementary or P-8 school into a theme-based magnet.

5. The MSAP Grant Competition Is Highly Competitive and Complex
The successful grantees from the past several cycles have received technical assistance from Consulting Firms with specialized expertise related directly to the MSAP.
Successful grant applications are typically pages long and feature doctorate level research. The timeline (deadline April 11, 2017) is such that outside program development and grant writing services are necessary to complete a successful application.

6. Magnet Programs Selected Metis Associates to Help With the Grant Process
Magnet Programs researched consulting firms with expertise related to the MSAP and received recommendations from those familiar with the process.
Headquartered in New York City, Metis Associates has over 25 years of experience in writing MSAP grants:
Developed 22 successful MSAP grants
Helped secure $135 millions in MSAP funding
Created or redesigned over 125 magnet schools

7. A Metis Proposal Includes All Activities Related to Planning, Grant Writing, and Budget Development
It is comprehensive in its scope related to new magnet themes, evidence-based instruction and curriculum strategies, and includes onsite support and bi-weekly conference calls.
The cost of the proposal is well within the industry standard for the range of services provided and would equate to less than 1% of the potential MSAP funding. The monies involved would be re-appropriated from existing Magnet Programs line items.