As we near the holiday season, the Ohio Department of Education is bestowing some schools with new grant opportunities and has shifted deadlines for others. There are also new grants on the horizon that we are sharing for the first time. This is a pretty extensive update, so to get the scoop…Read more.
NEW Grant: School Quality Improvement Grants (SQIG)
Status: Open NOW. Due: January 22, 2019 (11:59AM)
Funder: ODE
Amount: $300K- $750K over FY19-FY22
Eligibility: ONLY schools recently designated as priority, focus, warning
Purpose/Use of Funds: Indirect service grants to implement sustainable, strategic improvement strategies that are part of a broader continuous improvement plan. The application requires schools to conduct needs assessments and choose among four school improvement target areas aligned with their needs. Target areas: 1) excellent educators and instructional practice; 2) standards, assessment and accountability (data use capacity improvement); 3) positive climate & culture; 4) research based collaboration with Harvard University on chronic absenteeism.
Need to Knows: These are federal school improvement funds that are replacing grants referred to as SIG and school improvement 1003. This is an indirect service grant so funds cannot be used to directly serve students. Use of funds to hire instructional coaches is NO longer allowable. The original deadline was January 11, but it has been extended to January 22. The application materials are currently available on the ODE website and within the CCIP document library. CCIP opens December 19.
EEP Support: Given the timeline for this grant, much of the writing process needs to happen over winter break. EEP has a limited number of spots still available to provide support. Contact us ASAP to secure your school’s spot in order to receive best available pricing.
Timeline shift: Expanding Opportunities for Each Child (EOEC)
Status: Will open shortly after SQIG closes
Funder: ODE
Amount: Up to $450,000 over 2 years
Eligibility: All school districts, community schools, STEM/STEAM schools
Competitive Preference: Applications with the most number of “priority†or “focus†schools.
Purpose/Use of Funds: Ohio’s ESSA Plan and changes in federal regulations allows ODE to use up to 3 percent of Title I Part A funds for a competitive grant for districts to expand access to advanced coursework and educational options for students. Applicants may apply for one or both of the following areas: a) Career pathways program development; and b) Access to advanced coursework (Advanced Placement courses and/or International Baccalaureate program.
Need to Knows: ODE originally stated this would be open in fall 2018, but the timeline has shifted. ODE is referring to this as a ‘direct service’ grant that can support and extend the work of SQI eligible schools.
EEP Supports: Any district/school that receives Title 1 funds is eligible to apply, but there are 850 schools eligible for competitive preference, so this will be extremely competitive. Given the competitiveness of this grant, we recommend districts and community schools contact us to secure your spot before the holidays if you need support.
Update: School Safety Training Grants
Funder: Attorney General’s Office
Status: Deadline for acceptance letters has been extended to November 30.
Amount: Varies based on school enrollment
Eligibility: Every school in the state (public and private) received an allocation.
Purpose/Use of Funds: The use of the grants includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: (1) The support of school resource officer certification training*; (2) Any type of active shooter and school safety training*; (3) All grade level type educational resources*; (4) Training to identify and assist students with mental health issues; (5) Any other training related to school safety*.
Need to Knows: Applicants must work or contract with the county sheriff’s office or a local police department in whose jurisdiction they are located to develop the programs and training marked with (*). Completing the acceptance letter only takes a couple minutes and you are NOT required to describe your plan for fund use. Funds must be expended by June 30, 2019.
EEP Supports: We are offering FREE technical assistance to help districts/schools determine how best to use their allocated funds. Contact us if you would like recommendations for your school or district.
NEW Grant: Safe Routes to School
Status: Opens January 7, 2019. Deadline: March 4, 2019.
Funder: Ohio Department of Transportation
Amount: Up to $400K for infrastructure and up to $60K for non-infrastructure
Eligibility: Ohio communities
Purpose/Use of Funds: Safety projects that encourage or enable K-8 children , including those with disabilities, to walk or ride their bikes to school.
Need to Knows: Community must complete a School Travel Plan that is approved by ODOT. Some applications will need letter of support from relevant MPO/RTPO. Applicants MUST reach out to ODOT District SRTS Coordinators ASAP. No later than February 1, all applicants must submit email request for Crash Data Mapping report. Following submission, applicants will be required to give a presentation (in person or online) to address comments or concerns identified by reviewers. Notification expected in June 2019.
EEP Support: If your community needs writing assistance, please contact us to request support by December 10.
Upcoming Deadline: Inventionland Institute Small Rural Schools Grant.
Status: Open. Deadline: December 31, 2018.
Funder: Inventionland Institute
Amount: If awarded, grantees will receive up to a 50% discount on an Innovation Course 2-year site license and a 10% discount on all optional teacher and student resources.
Eligibility: Any Ohio LEA or not for profit out-of-school time program providers that meets Inventionland’s small or rural grant criteria.
Purpose/Use of Funds: Inventionland Institute is supporting small and rural schools/programs to make the innovation curriculum more affordable for those that would otherwise be unable to afford the program.
Need to Knows: Grantees are required to complete training within 3 months of grant award and will be expected to start using curriculum no later than fall 2019. Grantees must be willing to host site visits to share their innovative practices with other interested schools/programs. Inventionland offers these grants quarterly, so there will be additional deadlines in 2019.
EEP Support: We are hosting a series of FREE visits to Inventionland and Days of Innovation visits to Ohio schools using the Innovation courses. See our Invent, Make and Learn blog for more details. We will also do FREE application reviews prior to submission of your Inventionland grants. Contact us for assistance as needed.
NO UPDATES YET: SCHOOL CLIMATE GRANTS
Status: No timeline yet.
Funder: ODE
Amount: Up to $5,000 per school with a maximum of $50,000. Awards could be spent down over 2 years.
Eligibility: Public Schools (traditional, community, STEM/STEAM) that serve any grades K-3.
Competitive Preference: (1) serves one or more eligible school buildings with 50% or higher ED rate. (2) serves one or more eligible school buildings with high suspension rates; (3) eligible applicants who were not awarded a grant under either (1) or (2) in the order in which the applications were received.
Purpose/Use of Funds: School Climate Grants, shall be used to provide competitive grants to eligible applicants to implement positive behavior intervention and supports frameworks, evidence- or research-based social and emotional learning initiatives, or both, in eligible school buildings.
~Michele Timmons, EnvisionEdPlus President
(michele@envisionedplus.com / 614.893.7341)
