Education Partnership Planning Grant Pre-proposal Webinar January 12, 2017 2:00 PM 1
Agenda Welcome What are we doing? Education Partnership Planning Grants - Definitions - Terms of the Grant - Allowable Activities Why are we doing it? Purpose Data and Research Who can apply? Eligible Applicants What is expected? Deliverables Requirements How do we apply? Submission Program Narrative Need Method Attachment/Forms When? Timeline Questions and Answers 2
What are we doing? 3
Grants awarded through this funding opportunity will fund planning activities that target the establishment and expansion of effective partnerships between higher education and secondary schools/divisions. Education partnerships are formal relationships or arrangements between two or more parties that agree to cooperate in order to help bridge the high school to college underrepresented student enrollment and completion gaps. Underrepresented populations is defined by SCHEV as students who are a racial/ethnic minority, from a low-income background, and/or from areas of the state with low degree-attainment rates, based on census data. 4
Grant Terms Grants awarded through this funding opportunity will support planning activities only. Awardees must conduct data and other forms of analysis to identify gaps between secondary and postsecondary education and develop an action plan to promote seamless and successful pathways to postsecondary education. Awards (3) will be up to $35,000 Funding period of 12 months, April 15, 2017 - April 14, 2018 5
Grants awarded through this funding opportunity will support planning activities only. Activities may include the following: Coordinating coalition/collaboration meetings Planning meetings with project staff, leadership, industry experts, etc. Researching best practices and target population/community data collection Mapping community assets Conducting needs assessment to more specifically determine barriers/interventions Developing program grant proposals for future implementation 6
Why are we doing it? 7
Purpose These one-time grants are funded through the Fund for Excellence and Innovation, which was established during the 2016 General Assembly session to focus on two primary activities: 1. to stimulate collaborations among public school divisions, community colleges and universities and to expand affordable student pathways and 2. to pursue shared services and other efficiency initiatives at colleges and universities that lead to measurable cost reductions. This grant opportunity targets the first activity of supporting student pathways and collaboration. 8
Data Census data/education-attainment rates Secondary to postsecondary enrollments Completion rates Student debt and affordability Research Characteristics of effective school-community partnerships Collective impact 9
Who can apply? 10
Eligible Organizations A Virginia public higher-education institution must be the fiscal agent/applicant. Proposed plans must support the establishment and/or expansion of a partnership between at least (1) one four-year higher education institution, (2) one two-year higher education institution and (3) one public high school, school division or regional school consortium. In order to enhance planned student programming, partnerships are encouraged with additional high schools, middle schools, local education agencies (LEA), regional school consortiums, higher education institutions (public and private nonprofit) and other organizations, such as nonprofit college-access organizations, businesses, professional organizations, state agencies, foundations or other public or private agencies. 11
What is expected? 12
Deliverables Identification of the source of the problem Conduct assessments and analyze local data to identify the basis of the gaps in achievement, enrollment and completion. Data and research should support the applicant s chosen plan of action in designing support services, identifying additional partners, reviewing policies and creating pathways. Establishment and/or expansion of partnerships Create new partnerships with appropriate entities in order to address identified problem and/or expand existing partnership relationships by increasing roles and responsibilities as they specifically relates to the identified problem and chosen intervention(s). The focus of the grant is not on the number of partnerships but on clear demonstration of the strength of the partnerships, often illustrated through expressed leadership support and contributions; the value and relevance of the partnerships to addressing the concerns; and how the partnerships will be developed. Applicants seeking to enhance existing partnerships must clearly articulate expansion through newly identified roles and responsibilities, increased resource sharing/commitment and expressed leadership buy-in. 13
Deliverables Development of a detailed narrative action plan The plan should be well reasoned, broadly accepted, designed to address factors that are causing the barriers to and gaps to student achievement, matriculation and completion, and based on solid evidence that the approaches identified are likely to succeed with the engaged and committed partners. The plan must: Describe the engagement of at least at least (1) one four-year higher education institution, (2) one two-year higher education institution and (3) one public high school, school division or regional school consortium. In order to enhance a planned affordable-pathway model and students success, partnerships with additional organizations are encouraged, as appropriate; Define expectations for student outcomes, noting baseline data; Include an implementation timeline with estimated timeframes for completion; Identify necessary professional development/training needed to carry out the strategies; Include a clear communication plan; Describe sustainability and scalability; and Include an evaluation plan. 14
Requirements Mid-term report (due October 2, 2017 ) Final report (due July 16, 2018) Grantees may be asked to present findings from their planning process, lessons learned and/or researched best practices to help promote greater collaboration across the Commonwealth. This could include presentations to SCHEV Council, General Assembly members, convenings with institutions, etc. Recipients will be expected to attend a regional partnership forum/event coordinated by SCHEV in cooperation with the 5 Affordable Pathways Partnership grantees (awarded December 1, 2016). Planning grant awardees may be asked to assist with coordination, if logistically convenient. Additional training opportunities, meeting and resources may be offered throughout the grant cycle. Participation will be encouraged and supported by SCHEV, as deemed applicable to each grantee. 15
How do we apply? 16
Submitted applications should include a signed cover page, abstract, program narrative, and attachments (Partner Identification forms, Planning Timeline and Budget spreadsheet). Applications must be submitted in.pdf format, via email by 4 p.m. on February 27, 2017 to Paula Robinson at schevcommunications@schev.edu The fillable Word Application can be found on SCHEV website, along with the Excel file to complete the required Budget spreadsheet. Electronic signatures are accepted. 17
Each proposal should include the following: Cover Page (electronic signature permitted) Program Abstract No more than 1 page Single-spaced 1-inch margins 12-point Times New Roman Narrative Proposal - Need (40 points) and Method (50 points) Up to 8 pages Numbered pages Double-spaced 1-inch margins 12-point Times New Roman Partner Identification form(s) / Appendix A (electronic signature permitted) Planning Timeline / Appendix B Line Itemized Budget spreadsheet / Appendix C (10 points) Use the provided Excel file to complete the Budget spreadsheet 18
Narrative Proposal - Need (40 points) Describe the student/community need Describe the need to engage specific partners and develop or strengthen relationships to address concerns in creating seamless pathways for student success and matriculation. The engagement of partners can be tracked in stages, progressing from minimal to ongoing. 19
Narrative Proposal - Need (40 points) Goal is to transition from your current stage of partnership development to the Implementation stage within the 12-month planning period. 20
Narrative Proposal - Need (40 points) Applicants should 1) clearly identify their current partnership status; 2) describe what steps have already been taken to reach this status; and 3) propose how they will use the support from the planning grant to move from the current partnership stage to Implementation within the 12-month performance period. 21
Narrative Proposal - Method (50 points) Detailed description of exactly how the institution will use the support from the planning grant to move from the current partnership stage to the beginning of the Implementation stage within the 12-month performance period At a minimum, the following questions should be answered: Who will lead the charge? Who has already agreed to participate and at what levels (supported by Partnership Identification forms - Appendix A)? What is the timeline? (supported by Planning Timeline Appendix B) What are the specific questions the process will address? What resources the institution and/or identified partners will contribute meeting space, social media, communications, research, etc.? What other resources or partners will be utilized to help explore the most promising approaches to addressing the identified problem or to facilitate partnership development? How will the assessment be conducted? 22
Cover Page Fiscal agent/ Applicant must be a Virginia public highereducation institution Application will not be eligible for review, without an authorized signature. 23
Partner Identification form(s)/appendix A Partnership between at least (1) one four-year higher education institution, (2) one two-year higher education institution and (3) one public high school, school division or regional school consortium. In order to enhance planned student programming, partnerships are encouraged with additional organizations, Quality is preferred over quantity. 24
Planning Timeline 25
Budget Spreadsheet 26
When? 27
Event Date Notice of availability of funding opportunity December 15, 2016 Pre-proposal Webinar January 12, 2017 Deadline for submission of planning grant proposals February 27, 2017 Grant awards announced by SCHEV April 1, 2017 Grant performance period start date April 15, 2017 Mid-term progress report due date October 2, 2017 Attend Regional Education Partnership TBD Forums/Events Grant performance period end date April 14, 2018 Final report due date July 16, 2018 28
Questions & Answers 29
Contact: Paula F. Robinson 804-225-2612 paularobinson@schev.edu Grant Resources (including this presentation): http://www.schev.edu/index/institutional/grants/affordable-pathways 30
Education Partnership Planning Grant We look forward to receiving your proposals. Thank you. 31