1433 Availability of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers 2014—2017 request for applications and guidance and 21st Century Community Learning Center Cohort 7 Grant paper application and instructions

Availability of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers 2014—2017 Request for Applications and Guidance and 21st Century Community Learning Center Cohort 7 Grant Paper Application and Instructions

[44 Pa.B. 4379]
[Saturday, July 12, 2014]

 The Department of Education (Department) announces the availability of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) 2014—2017 Request for Applications (RFA) and the 21st CCLC Cohort 7 (Cohort 7) Grant Paper Application and Instructions for 2014—2017. The Cohort 7 application for the 21st CCLC grant will be created, submitted, collected and completed by means of a paper application process.

 The purpose of the program is to establish or expand community learning centers that provide students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools with academic enrichment opportunities by expanding learning opportunities during nonschool hours along with activities designed to complement the students' regular academic program. Community learning centers must also offer families of these students literacy and related educational development. Centers, which can be located in elementary or secondary schools or other similarly accessible facilities, provide a range of high-quality services to support student learning and development, including tutoring and mentoring, homework help, academic enrichment (such as hands-on science or technology programs) and community service opportunities, as well as music, arts, sports and cultural activities. At the same time, centers help working parents by providing a safe environment for students during nonschool hours or periods when school is not in session.

Application Process

 The 21st CCLC Grant RFA and Guidance for Fiscal Years (FY) 2014—2017 and the Cohort 7 Grant Paper Application and Instructions for 2014—2017 and all attachments for new grants will be available online beginning July 14, 2014, on the Department's 21st CCLC web site at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/21st_century_community_learning_centers/7414.

 Applicants are required to complete each section of the 21st CCLC paper application explained in the Cohort 7 Grant Paper Application and Instructions for 2014—2017 document and submit the completed application to Maribel Martinez at the Department's Division of Student Services at the address listed as follows by 4 p.m. on August 14, 2014. All sections must be completed to submit the application. No sections of the paper application are optional. Faxed and e-mailed copies will not be accepted. Originals, paper copies and attachments received after the deadline will not be reviewed. Failure to submit the required copies of the signatory documents by the deadline will result in the disqualification of the grant application and denial to proceed to the peer review.

Prior to Grant Award

 All potential applicants must complete the following steps:

 1. Notify the Department by means of e-mail of the applicant's intent to submit an application. Include the legal name of entity and either the AUN (school districts/charter schools/intermediate units) or EIN (all other organizations) and vendor number for the lead organization. Specify in the letter of intent to apply the target population to be served including grade levels, proposed site locations, district and school names, community based organization partners, and the like. E-mail the letter of intent to Susan D'Annunzio at [e-mail]. The due date is Monday, July 28, 2014. Note this is due prior to the paper application submission deadline. No extensions will be granted.

 2. If the agency is not a school district, charter school or intermediate unit, the agency will need to register for a vendor number. Nonprocurement entities can apply for a brand new vendor number at www.vendorregistration.state.pa.us. Applicants must have a vendor number to do business with the Commonwealth so that the applicants can be paid by the Commonwealth, if their application is selected for funding. Once applicants have a vendor number, applicants will provide the vendor number on the Title Page form and grant agreement document.

 3. Consult with eligible nonpublic entities located within the attendance area of local education agencies regarding participation in the proposed 21st CCLC program. Complete the Certification of Nonpublic Involvement Form located in Appendix A of the 21st CCLC Grant RFA and Guidance for FYs 2014—2017.

 4. Register for and attend one preproposal workshop.

Submission

 Paper applications with attachments for 21st CCLC funding must be submitted by mail. E-mail, facsimile or any method other than the approved mailed paper submission will not be accepted. Applications submitted by means of overnight mail must be received at the Department's Division of Student Services no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2014. Print a paper copy of the completed paper application with all attachments for the applicant's own records before it has been submitted.

 Forward original signature documents signed in blue ink to the Department no later than 4 p.m. on August 14, 2014, to the attention of Maribel Martinez, Fiscal Technician, Department of Education, Division of Student Services, 333 Market Street, 5th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333.

 Note: Failure to submit the required copies of the signatory documents by the deadline will result in the disqualification of the grant application and denial to proceed to the peer review. A list of required signature documents is provided in the Cohort 7 Grant Application and Instructions.

 Eligible entities may apply for funding on behalf of one or more public schools within the applicant district through a single paper application process. Each district is limited to one application per district.

Pregrant Workshops/Webinar

 To assist eligible applicant entities in completing the paper application, the Department will host a 1-day 21st CCLC pregrant workshop at the regional Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) offices in Harrisburg, King of Prussia and Pittsburgh on Friday, July 18, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The presentation in Harrisburg will be a live presentation that will be live streamed to the other two PaTTAN locations.

 Participation in a pregrant workshop is required for all eligible community-based organizations, school districts or charter schools, intermediate units, faith-based organizations and Nationally affiliated service organizations planning to submit an application for the 21st CCLC competitive funds for 2014—2017.

 To register, e-mail Miriam Febles at [e-mail]. No phone calls. Include the location where the applicant will attend, the applicant's name, e-mail address, telephone number and the name of the organization that is planning to apply. Be aware that an access code will be required for entry at the Pittsburgh PaTTAN location.

Funding Availability

 The Department will have approximately $21 million available for Cohort 7 grants. Eligible applicants may select one of two paths for award consideration.

 Path A: Applicants may select to provide only out-of-school time programming (that is, before school, afterschool, holidays, weekends and summer school services) focused on improving prekindergarten through grade 12 performance measures of school attendance, classroom performance or reduced disciplinary referrals, or both, and meeting State and local academic achievement standards in reading, math and science. In keeping with the 21st CCLC nonregulatory guidance that larger, more comprehensive grants are more likely to have a measurable impact on student achievement, applicants proposing services for traditional afterschool programming during the regular after school hours, weekends, evenings and summer may request funds ranging from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $400,000. Programs that propose to provide both school year and summer programming are more powerful for results and data; therefore, no funds will be available for summer-only applicants in this grant round.

 Path B: Applicants may select to provide both expanded learning time during the school day with a focus on meeting State and local academic achievement standards in reading and math and on out-of-school time programming in prekindergarten through grade 12 (that is, before school, afterschool and summer school services) focused on improving performance measures of school attendance, classroom performance or reduced disciplinary referrals, or both, and meeting State and local academic achievement standards in reading, math and science. Quality applicants proposing to implement both expanded learning time and out-of-school programming will be eligible to receive funding amounts of up to $500,000 per year.

 For an applicant to apply to use 21st CCLC funds for expanded learning time, the applicant must describe how it will extend its normal school day, week, month or year to meet the Elementary Secondary Education Act Flexibility Expanded Learning Time Optional Waiver requirements. All provisions of the 21st CCLC program remain unchanged. For example, services proposed must be supplemental; they cannot supplant existing services or those services that are already paid by Federal, State and/or local funds. The allowable activities under Expanded Learning Time do not change, only the time during which the allowable activities may be offered changes.

Period of Availability

 The grant period will range from October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2017.

Eligible Applicants

 Federal law mandates, per section 4203(a)(3) of Pub.L. No. 107-110 (20 U.S.C.A. § 7173(a)(3)), 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%) from low-income families; and

 2. The families of those students previously described.

 Preference will be given to qualified applicants designated as ''priority or focus'' schools with school performance profile scores in the lowest 5 to 10% of Title I schools will receive the highest funding priority consideration for 21st CCLC funds. All applicants must meet this Pennsylvania priority to receive highest funding priority consideration. Additional Pennsylvania funding priorities can be found in the 21st CCLC Grant RFA and Guidance for FYs 2014—2017.

Application Information

 Detailed information outlining grant terms and conditions, program eligibility, pertinent regulations including expenditure guidelines, evaluation and program accountability requirements and additional resources are in the complete 21st CCLC Grant RFA and Guidance for FYs 2014—2017 and in the Cohort 7 Grant Paper Application and Instructions for 2014—2017 which can be accessed at http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/21st_century_community_learning_centers/7414 or e-mail the request to [e-mail].

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

CAROLYN C. DUMARESQ, 
Acting Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-1433. Filed for public inspection July 11, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]