The steps charter schools must take if they wish to enter this competition, and the deadline for each step, are as follows.

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1 Jacqueline Ddd Frm: Sent: T: Subject: Attachments: Imprtance: Luis Erste Mnday, September 30, :27 PM Jacqueline Ddd RE:[charter] January 2014 Grant Cmpetitin Planned fr Gergia's Federal Charter Schls Prgram Grants Ntificatin f Intent t Apply Frm dcx; Eligibility Frm fr a Planning and Implementatin Grant dcx; Eligibility Frm fr a Substantial Expansin Implementatin Grant r a Disseminatin Grant dcx; Autnmy Tab 6 fr Charter Schl Applicants Only xlsx High Dear Gergia Charter Schl Cmmunity, Fllwing the July 2013 State Bard f Educatin Meeting we annunced that, since demands n the apprximately $6 millin in federal Charter Schls Prgram Grants remaining far exceeded the grant funds available, the final allcatin f these remaining funds wuld be made accrding t the results f a single grants cmpetitin in early The steps charter schls must take if they wish t enter this cmpetitin, and the deadline fr each step, are as fllws. Qualify t Enter the Cmpetitin 1. File the fllwing tw frms (attached) with the Charters Schls Divisin via t bth tglen@de.k12.ga.us and lerste@de.k12.ga.us by 12:00 nn n Friday, Nvember 1, Eligibility Frm. File nly the frm fr the grant desired Eligibility Frm fr an Initial Planning and Implementatin Grant r Eligibility Frm fr a Substantial Expansin Implementatin Grant r a Disseminatin Grant Ntificatin f Intent t Apply Frm 2. Await ntice via by December 1, 2013, frm the Charters Schls Divisin that we have verified the schl s eligibility t apply fr the federal Charter Schls Prgram grant that it is seeking. Enter the Cmpetitin 3. File the apprpriate Grant Applicatin via t bth tglen@de.k12.ga.us and lerste@de.k12.ga.us by 12:00 nn n Wednesday, January 15, Grant Applicatins and related required frms are t be fund n ur website at: Gergia Charter Schl Federal Planning and Implementatin Grant Applicatin Nte that this frm will be used t apply fr either fr an initial Federal Planning and Implementatin Grant r a secnd Implementatin Grant fr substantial expansin. Gergia Charter Schl Federal Disseminatin Grant Applicatin Receive Ntice f Award r Denial 4. Await ntice via by March 27, 2013 (tentative), frm the Charters Schls Divisin regarding whether a grant award was recmmended t the State Bard f Educatin fr apprval at their April 2014 mnthly meeting. 1

2 If yu have any questins abut any f the abve, please cntact us by nly. Send all s t bth lerste@de.k12.ga.us and tglen@de.k12.ga.us. We will make every effrt t answer yu within tw business days f receiving yur . Thank yu. Lu Luis J. Erste Charter Schls Divisin Directr Gergia Department f Educatin 2053 Twin Twers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE Atlanta, GA lerste@de.k12.ga.us (404) Fllw us n Like us n Facebk: "Making Educatin Wrk fr All Gergians" Frm: Luis Erste Sent: Friday, July 26, :12 PM T: charter@list.de.k12.ga.us Subject: RE: January 2014 Grant Cmpetitin Planned fr Gergia's Federal Charter Schls Prgram Grants Dear Gergia Charter Schl Cmmunity, Several schls have requested further infrmatin n the federal Charter Schls Prgram grants fr which they may be eligible. Here are the basics and the imprtant details. The federal Charter Schls Prgram (CSP) is authrized by the Elementary and Secndary Educatin Act (N Child Left Behind). This discretinary grant prgram assists states with starting, expanding, and replicating new high-quality charter schls. Each state is permitted t cmpete fr funding fr up t five years at a time. Gergia was awarded $13.1 millin fr the grant perid, with a N Cst Extensin thrugh FY The federal Charter Schls Prgram Grant s purpse is t expand the number f high-quality charter schls available t Gergia s students by prviding financial assistance t new charter schls fr their prgram design and initial implementatin, and t assist existing high quality charter schls with the disseminatin f their best practices and the expansin f their academic prgram. 1. Planning Grants. Funds dedicated t Planning must be used t pay fr prfessinal develpment, gverning bard training and ther planning related activities. Eligibility is nly fr brand new charter schls that have nt yet pened r cnverted t charter status. Grant amunt is $75, Initial Implementatin Grants. Funds dedicated t Implementatin activities shuld be spent n initial nnrecurring expenses related t starting a charter schl. Grant funds cannt be spent n facilities, teachers r perating expenses. Eligibility is nly fr brand new charter schls that have nt yet pened r cnverted t charter status. Grant amunt is calculated as fllws. 2

3 Base amunt f the Implementatin Grant depends n the type f charter schl and the expected enrllment at the end f the schl s first year f peratin are as fllws: Cnversin with enrllment under 500 = $200,000 Cnversin with enrllment 500-plus = $300,000 Start-Up with enrllment under 250 = $400,000 Start-Up with enrllment 250-plus = $500,000 An additinal $75,000 is added if the 2011 Needs Imprvement Status f the schl (if a cnversin) r the district (if a start-up) befre the NCLB Waiver is NI-2 r higher. An additinal $25,000 is added if the schl will serve 50% r mre secndary schl students. An additinal $50,000 is added if the district has n charter schls that enrll FTE students. 3. Implementatin Grants fr Substantial Expansin. Funds dedicated t Substantial Expansin activities are t be spent n initial peratinal csts assciated with expanding enrllment by adding grade levels r by increasing the number f available seats. Implementatin Grant funds fr substantial expansin cannt be spent n planning, prgram design, facilities, permanent teachers, r perating expenses. Eligibility is nly fr existing charter schls that meet the fllwing eligibility requirements. Substantial Expansin eligibility requirements (applicants must meet all seven f the fllwing requirements): 1. Charter schls in peratin fr at least 3 cnsecutive years. 2. Schl made AYP in Schl was nt n the Pririty, Fcus, r Alert lists in (pursuant t Gergia s ESEA Waiver which replaces AYP with a new accuntability framewrk). 4. Schl was nt n the Pririty, Fcus, r Alert lists in (see #3 abve). 5. Schl has high levels f parental satisfactin. 6. Schl is financially sustainable. 7. Meet the definitin f substantial expansin: Increase student enrllment by 50% during the grant perid OR Add at least tw grade levels during the grant perid. Grant amunt is calculated as fllws: Base amunt f the Implementatin Grant depends n the type f charter schl and the expected enrllment at the end f the schl s first year f peratin are as fllws: Cnversin with enrllment under 500 = $200,000 Cnversin with enrllment 500-plus = $300,000 Start-Up with enrllment under 250 = $400,000 Start-Up with enrllment 250-plus = $500,000 An additinal $75,000 is added if the 2011 Needs Imprvement Status f the schl (if a cnversin) r the district (if a start-up) befre the NCLB Waiver is NI-2 r higher. An additinal $25,000 is added if the schl will serve 50% r mre secndary schl students. 3

4 4. Disseminatin Grants. Funds dedicated t Disseminatin activities are t be spent n assisting ther individuals with the planning and startup f ne r mre new public schls; develping partnerships with ther public schls designed t imprve student perfrmance; develping curriculum materials, assessments, and ther materials that prmte increased student achievement and are based n successful practices, cnducting evaluatins and develping materials that dcument the successful practices. Grant funds cannt be spent n perating expenses. Eligibility is nly fr existing charter schls that meet the fllwing eligibility requirements. Disseminatin Grant eligibility requirements (applicants must meet all six f the fllwing requirements): 1. Charter schls in peratin fr at least 3 cnsecutive years. 2. Schl made AYP in Schl was nt n the Pririty, Fcus, r Alert lists in (pursuant t Gergia s ESEA Waiver which replaces AYP with a new accuntability framewrk). 4. Schl was nt n the Pririty, Fcus, r Alert lists in (see #3 abve). 5. Schl has high levels f parental satisfactin. 6. Schl is financially sustainable. Grant amunt ($25,000 t $150,000) depends n amunt requested and allwable items in prpsed budget. Fr specific cases f each f these fur types f grants, please refer t the fllwing State Bard items: 1-2. The mst recent State Bard Item awarding a federal Planning and Implementatin Grant was n July 19, 2013 fr Hickry Flat Charter Elementary. Infrmatin can be fund at the link fr Item #18 at 3. The mst recent State Bard Item awarding federal Implementatin Grants fr Substantial Expansin was n June 21, 2013 fr Charles R. Drew Charter Schl and Lake Ocnee Academy. Infrmatin can be fund at the link fr Item #42 at 4. The mst recent State Bard Item awarding a federal Disseminatin Grant was n January 17, 2013 fr Charles R. Drew Charter Schl. Infrmatin can be fund at the link fr Item #23 at Please let me knw via t lerste@de.k12.ga.us if yu have any questins n this infrmatin. Thank yu. Lu Luis J. Erste Charter Schls Divisin Directr Gergia Department f Educatin 2053 Twin Twers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE Atlanta, GA lerste@de.k12.ga.us Fllw us n Like us n Facebk: "Making Educatin Wrk fr All Gergians" 4

5 Frm: Luis Erste Sent: Thursday, July 18, :20 PM T: Subject: January 2014 Grant Cmpetitin Planned fr Gergia's Federal Charter Schls Prgram Grants Dear Gergia Charter Schl Cmmunity, Here is the Federal Charter Schls Prgram Grants Update that I delivered t the State Bard f Educatin s Charter Cmmittee this afternn. As yu will see in the very last bullet pint, new charter schls will need t have State Bard-apprved charters in hand by mid-january 2014 t be eligible t enter the final cmpetitin fr Federal Charter Schls Prgram Grants. Federal Charter Schls Prgram Grants Update The ttal award fr ur federal Charter Schls Prgram grant was $13,166,249 fr Year 1 and Year 2. Gergia wn this amunt in a cmpetitin amng 15 r s states fr CSP funds. We requested this amunt t cver a prjected 22 planning and implementatin grants (at $500,000 each), eight disseminatin grant awards (at $150,000 each), and the full 5% f administrative csts that is allwed. We als requested funding in Grant Year 3 ( ) f $11,714,733 t fund 21 new start-up grants and 4 new disseminatin grants. Hwever, because we had used less than a third f the Year 1 and Year 2 grant by the spring f 2013 (since the Cmmissin had been ut f business fr a year and there were fewer new lcallyapprved charter schls in that same year), USED cncluded that Gergia did nt require any additinal funds fr Year 3. USED requires that states award their CSP grants t schls n a cmpetitive basis. Mst states accmplish this thrugh annual grant cmpetitins amng all eligible charter schls where thse eligible applicants with the highest rater scres are awarded grants. Gergia has fllwed a first cme, first served prcess whereby charter schls apply when they are eligible and, t meet USED s cmpetitive requirement, we require applicants t receive scres f 80 r abve frm tw f three raters befre they can receive a grant award. The first cme, first served apprach has wrked well fr us because we have always had mre grant mney than applicants. In fact, we had t request three N Cst Extensins fr ur CSP grant (and have just been granted ur first NCE fr ur grant) because we had s much mney left. Hwever, tw pieces f bad news and ne piece f gd news -- have changed this situatin. The first piece f bad news is that, because USED significantly vercmmitted CSP funds several years ag, they have nt had a state cmpetitin fr new CSP funds fr tw years and they will nt have anther state cmpetitin until at the earliest. The secnd piece f bad news is even wrse. If and when USED des have the state cmpetitin, there will be 42 states cmpeting fr nly $92 millin in ttal CSP funds. If they were t just split it up evenly instead (which is nt likely), that s barely $2 millin per state. The gd news is that with the Cmmissin back in business and with several schl systems cnsidering cnverting int systems f charter schls we nw have a ptential 31 new eligible CSP grant applicants in the pipeline during the next 10 mnths. The dwnside f this gd news is that, if we cntinue t fllw a first cme, first served prcess, we wuld run ut f grant funds after the first 12 f the 31 ptential CSP grant applicants n the list. The attached spreadsheet shws this graphically. 5

6 Ttal award available fr grants t schls is $12.3 millin (after allwable administrative supprt funds were subtracted frm ttal award). The green-highlighted sectin includes the $5.7 millin in grants already awarded r that we have r will have recmmended fr award. The yellw-highlighted sectin shws the 12 schls that culd receive a grant award if we cntinue t fllw the first cme, first served apprach. The pink-highlighted sectin shws the 19 schls that wuld NOT receive a grant award if we cntinue t fllw the first cme, first served apprach. We have therefre decided t set a mid-january 2014 deadline fr a single cmpetitin fr all qualified applicants and the tp scrers amng the 31 ptential applicants in the yellw and pink categries (and any ther eligible schl) wuld be the winners f the grant funds fr which they are eligible. We are wrking with USED t make fficial this change f apprach (they have already indicated infrmal apprval). Details n the grant cmpetitin will fllw within the next 90 days. NOTE: If yur schl is in the yellw- r pink-highlighted categries, yu shuld nt submit yur grant applicatin until the January 2014 deadline (since yur applicatin will nt be cnsidered until the January 2014 grants cmpetitin is held). See the PwerPint at Schls/Dcuments/Planning%20and%20Implementatin%20Grant%20Writing%20Wrkshp%20March% pdf fr ur Implementatin Grant Writing Wrkshp. We will plan a webinar later this fall t review the Implementatin Grant Writing Wrkshp presentatin. Please me directly at lerste@de.k12.ga.us if yu have any questins abut this matter. Thank yu. Lu Luis J. Erste Charter Schls Divisin Directr Gergia Department f Educatin 2053 Twin Twers East 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE Atlanta, GA lerste@de.k12.ga.us Fllw us n Like us n Facebk: "Making Educatin Wrk fr All Gergians" --- Yu are currently subscribed t charter as: jclarkeddd@de.k12.ga.us. T unsubscribe send a blank t leave c c8698e2e57b576e @list.de.k12.ga.us 6