611 21st Century Community Learning Center 2012-13; request for proposals; opening of the online application for Cohort 6A?

DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION

21st Century Community Learning Center 2012-13; Request for Proposals; Opening of the Online Application for Cohort 6A

[42 Pa.B. 1866]
[Saturday, April 7, 2012]

 The Department of Education (Department) announces the availability of the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) 2012-15 Request for Proposal (RFP) and the opening of the 2012-13 21st CCLC eGrants online application for Cohort 6A.

 The 21st CCLC program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (act) (Pub. L. No. 107-110), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The 21st CCLC program provides Federal funding for the establishment of community learning centers that provide academic, artistic and cultural enrichment opportunities for children during non-school hours and may take place before school and after school, weekends, holidays and/or summer. The 21st CCLC program targets students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools to provide them with aid in meeting State and local academic standards. Programs also offer literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.

 Grantees and all sites must provide academic enrichment activities to students attending high-poverty schools to help them meet State and local standards in core content areas, such as reading, math and science.

Pennsylvania's Funding Priorities

 Five additional review points will be given to applications that:

 • Include programs that target and give priority to middle schools students (6th grade through 8th grade) and who also:

 > Have previous experience and success in providing services to middle school students.

 > Propose offering services exclusively to students from eligible middle schools. Programs requesting priority to serve middle school may not serve elementary school students.

 • Preference for funding will be given to qualified applicants offer credit recovery to high school students. A grantee may use 21st CCLC program funds for a before- or after-school program or activity for which participants may receive credit toward high school graduation requirements if: (1) a program or activity is an expansion of the options for receiving high school credit in a particular area that would not have been provided without the 21st CCLC program; and (2) the program or activity does not replace or reduce the courses and programs normally provided by a local school district or private school (that is, there is no reduction in the course offerings or costs in that particular academic area). http://tinyurl.com/21CCreditRecovery

 Note: It is important to note that it is the responsibility of the local educational agency (LEA) to award the credit. There must be a letter of agreement between the LEA and the grantee clarifying the responsibility of recording the credits.

 • Align the proposed afterschool programming with existing research-based programs that demonstrate effective utilization of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Raise the awareness and understanding of students about STEM activities by infusing STEM into expanded learning opportunities, after school and summer programming. Applicants proposing STEM services under Cohort 6A will be eligible for an increased annual technology cap based on the following sliding scale: 15% year 1; 10% year 2; and 5% year 3. http://tinyurl.com/21cclcSTEM

The Department requires program funds for Cohort 6A to be used to:

 • Provide extended learning opportunities.

 • Attend one National, one State grantee meeting and one regional training per year.

 • Complete an external local level evaluation contracted through a third-party evaluator.

 Use of 21st CCLC funds for a full time program coordinator is an allowable expense, but is not mandated.

Eligible Applicants and Funding Priorities

 Federal law mandates, per section 4203(a)(3) of the act, ''that any public or private organization may apply for 21st CCLC funding if it proposes to serve:

 1. Students who primarily attend:

 a. schools eligible for schoolwide programs under (Title I) Section 1114, or

 b. schools that serve a high percentage of students (at least 40 percent) from low-income families; and

 2. The families of those students described above.''

 The Department will give competitive priority to applications that both propose to serve students who attend schools identified for improvement (under section 1116 of Title I) and that are submitted jointly between at least one LEA receiving funds under Title I, Part A and at least one public or private community organization.

 In determining whether an application has been ''submitted jointly,'' the Department should look for:

 • Evidence of collaboration in the planning and design of the program.

 • Substantial roles in the delivery of services.

 • Share grant resources to carry out those roles.

 • Significant ongoing involvement in the management and oversight of the program.

 • Grant writer and the fiscal agent.

 • Evidence in the application of integration with the regular school day program.

 Only one contract will be issued for each application selected for funding, even for joint proposals. Consequently, every joint application must identify only one organization to be designated as the grantee. That entity will have fiscal and contractual responsibility for carrying out the proposed program.

Eligible Participants

 Eligible participants are public, private and nonpublic school students, both boys and girls, prekindergarten through 12th grade. Programs should target the ages and grades deemed to be at greatest risk and those students who are academically below proficiency. It is mandated that eligible entities collaborate with LEAs when applying for funds.

Application Requirements

 The electronic application for new grants will be available at http://egrants.ed.state.pa.us/ and will be due no later than noon on May 4, 2012.

Pre-Proposal Conferences

 To assist eligible entities in completing the RFPs, the Department will be hosting a series of 21st CCLC pre-grant workshops (both online and onsite) on the following dates. Pre-grant workshops were held at the following locations: Hershey Lodge and Convention Center (archived on Eduplanet web site); Appalachia Intermediate Unit No. 8; Allegheny Intermediate Unit No. 3; and Midwestern Intermediate Unit No. 4. Participation in a pregrant workshop is strongly encouraged for any eligible community based organization, school district or charter school planning to submit an RFP for the 21st CCLC competitive funds.

On-Site Pre-Grant Workshops: 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. unless specified otherwise.

Date/Time	Location	Address	Region
April 9, 2012	BLAST Intermediate Unit No. 17 (Tioga Room)	2400 Reach Road Williamsport, PA	North Central
April 10, 2012	Northeast Educational Intermediate Unit No. 19	1200 Line Street Archbald, PA	North East
April 11, 2012 10 a.m.—1 p.m.	Delaware County IU No. 25 (Room 25)	400 Yale Avenue Morton, PA	South East

Funding

 In keeping with the 21st CCLC Non-Regulatory Guidance, that larger grants often precipitate more effective programs, applicants may request funds ranging from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $500,000, but cannot exceed $500,000. No funds will be available for summer only applicants in this grant round.

Amount of Funding Available:	Approximately $18,000,000
Grant Awards:	Minimum $50,000; Maximum $500,000 (per year for 3 years)
Period of Availability for Year 1:	June 1, 2012—September 30, 2013

Due Date

 The online eGrants application will be deactivated at 12:01 p.m. on May 4, 2011. No extensions will be granted. All paper applications must be received at the Department by 4 p.m. on May 11, 2012.

Submission Process

Procedures

 All applications for 21st CCLC program funding must be submitted electronically by means of the Department's eGrants system. Applications will not be accepted by mail, e-mail, facsimile or any method other than the approved eGrants submission. Print a paper copy of the completed application for the own records. Following submission through the eGrants system applicants can print guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions, as well as the proposal narratives, assurances and budget summaries in the eGrants system.

 Eligible entities may apply for funding on behalf of one or more public schools within the applicant's district through a single eGrant application process.

 1. Notify the Department by means of e-mail or fax of the applicant's intent to submit an application. Submit Letter of Intent to Apply by means of e-mail to [e-mail]. Include the legal name of entity, and either the AUN (school districts/charter schools/IUs) or EIN# (all other organizations) for the lead organization. Due Date: April 20, 2012.

 2. Complete and submit the online application prior to 12 p.m. on May 4, 2012.

 3. If the agency is not a school district, charter school or intermediate unit (IU), applicants will need to register for access to the eGrant Application (http://egrants.ed. state.pa.us). Click on ''21st Century CCLC'' at the top left and then select the ''Sign up your Agency'' link and complete the entire online form. If applicants fail to provide complete responses in all boxes, the application will be disqualified.

 4. If the agency is a school district, charter school or IU, ensure that all fiscal and program reports for other grants have been submitted in a timely manner.

 5. Consult with eligible nonpublic entities located within the attendance area of LEA regarding participation in the proposed 21st Century CLC program.

 6. Complete and submit the online eGrants application prior to 12 p.m. on May 4, 2012.

 7. Print and mail five copies of the submitted application to Department of Education, Division of Federal Programs, 333 Market Street, 7th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 (Attn: 21st Century CCLC Grant Program). Printed applications must be received no later than 4 p.m. on May 11, 2012, to proceed to the peer review. Applicants who fail to meet this deadline will be disqualified.

Submission of Copies for Peer Review

 After submitting the online grant, the applicant must print the grant application and make five copies. An envelope containing five copies of the applicant's 21st Century Community Learning Centers Application must physically arrive at the Department's Division of Federal Programs by 4 p.m. on May 11, 2012, according to the following options:

 Print and mail five copies of the submitted application to:

U.S. Postal Service Delivery,

 (Return-receipt-requested)
Postmarked: No later than April 27, 2012
To: Department of Education
Division of Federal Programs
Attn: Cindy Rhoads, Federal Programs Regional
 Coordinator
333 Market Street, 7th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333

U.S. Postal Service Priority/Overnight Delivery, FedEx, UPS, and the like

 Mail Receipt Date: 4 p.m. May 11, 2011
To: Department of Education
Division of Federal Programs
Attn: Cindy Rhoads, Federal Programs Regional
 Coordinator
333 Market Street, 7th floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333

Hand Delivered with Receipt Issued

Hand to: Erin Oberdorf, Administrative Technician or
 Daniella Care, Administrative Technician
 Department of Education
Division of Federal Programs
333 Market Street, 7th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
Deadline: 4 p.m. on May 11, 2012

 Printed applications must be received no later than May 11, 2012, to proceed to the peer review. Applicants who fail to meet this deadline will be disqualified.

 Note: Failure to receive the paper copies of the submitted application by the deadline will result in the disqualification of the grant and failure to proceed to the peer review.

Application Information

 Detailed information outlining grant terms and conditions, pertinent regulations and the application process is contained in the 2012-13, 21st CCLC RPF, which can be accessed by:

 • Visiting the Department's web site at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/21st_century_community_learning_centers/7414.

 • The eGrants system at http://egrants.ed.state.pa.us.

 • E-mail request to [e-mail].

 For additional program information contact the Department of Education, Susan D'Annunzio, 21st CCLC Program Supervisor, Division of Student Services, 333 Market Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333, [phone], fax [phone], [e-mail].

RONALD J. TOMALIS, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 12-611. Filed for public inspection April 6, 2012, 9:00 a.m.]