A local educational agency (LEA), which may be a charter school that is considered an LEA under State law and regulations, that is acting on behalf of an individual school or schools that enrolls at least 50% of its children from low-income families (based on the poverty criteria in Title I, Section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as amended) and that must work in partnership with one or more of the following-

• A State or local non-profit or governmental arts organization;
• A State educational agency (SEA) or regional educational service agency;
• An institution of higher education; or
• A public or private agency, institution, or organization, including a museum, an arts education association, a library, a theater, or a community- or faith-based organization.

Only the Local Educational Agency (LEA) will be considered eligible to apply for funds under this program. Public and private agencies, institutions, or organizations, State Education Agencies, other non-profit or governmental organizations and other potential arts partners are encouraged to partner with LEAs, but the LEA must be the applicant.

Yes. To be eligible for Professional Development for Arts Educators Program funds, applicants also must propose to carry out professional development programs for arts educators and other instructional staff of K-12 low-income children and youth by implementing projects in schools in which 50 percent or more of the children enrolled are from low-income families (based on the poverty criteria in Title I, Section 1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (ESEA).

Yes. LEAs must have at least one partner, but there is no limit to the number of eligible partners.

Yes. The LEA is the only eligible applicant. However, the LEA MUST work with one or more partners. For-profit public or private agencies, institutions, or organizations are acceptable partners. Technically, these partners work as contractors to the LEA.

Yes. A Local Education Agency may apply on behalf of one or more schools where the student population meets the poverty requirement.

This grant program addresses the needs of institutions, not individuals. The intent is to help schools or school systems with high poverty populations to develop, enhance or expand their standards-based arts instruction. Teachers may be able to get additional certification through this grant program, but only as part of a school's overall professional development strategy.

No. The grants are only available to public schools that meet the poverty requirement.