The 1995 Oregon legislature allotted $1 million to schools in Oregon to support staff development activities. These dollars will help provide staff development and planning time to refine and implement improvement plans at the school building level. The school plan should support the district level improvement plan.
As a result of receiving this grant, sites will develop and begin implementation of a school improvement plan which contains: (a) measurable and achievable goals based on student performance; and (b) changes in the structure of school operations and/or relationships between teachers, administrators, other school personnel and public citizens.
$2,000 per school site. The state will pay one-half of the award at the beginning of the grant period, one-quarter at the mid-point, and up to the final one-quarter upon submission of the school improvement plan and the grant financial report.
Grants will be effective for 18 months (January 1996 through June 1997). Monies will be available subject to the evaluation and approval of applications by the Oregon Department of Education.
Schools that have not previously received state funds for staff development are eligible to apply; e.g. Restructuring Grants, House Bill 2020 School Improvement/ Professional Development Grants, Student Performance Assessment Network Grants, Developmental Site Grants, Workforce Investment Grants, Investment Strategy Grants.
Each grant application must be developed and governed by a 21st Century Schools Council.
A school district must submit the application to the Oregon Department of Education on behalf of the school site(s) within district boundaries.
Applications must include the official signature of each school site council, the district school board, the exclusive representative of the teachers, and the district superintendent.
Team attendance at a one-day regional workshop focused on developing/refining a school improvement plan including a continuous review process is required. Workshop dates will be announced in January 1996.
Submission of a mid-term progress report is required.
Submission of a school improvement plan; updated district improvement plan; and expenditure report at the end of the grant period are required.
Applications will be reviewed by Oregon Department of Education staff for thoroughness of requested information and indication of commitment by the school site.
The Oregon 21st Century Schools Advisory Committee will recommend grant recipients to the State Board of Education for final approval. All decisions are final and no appeals will be accepted.
If there are more requests for funding than available funds, school sites from districts that have not previously received state staff development funding will be given first consideration.
Applications received after 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 16, 1996, will not be considered.
Faxed copies will not be accepted.
An original and two copies of the complete application for each participating school site must be submitted. Also enclose ONE copy of the January 1995 CIM Plan (or latest version).
Applicants will be notified by mail by February 1996.
For additional information and assistance call Rex Crouse at (503) 378-8004 ext. 261.
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