This program supports the implementation of high-quality professional development model programs for arts educators and other instructional staff of kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) students in high-poverty schools. Arts educators may work in music, dance, theater, media or visual arts, including folk arts. The purpose of this program is to strengthen standards-based arts education programs and to help ensure that all students meet challenging State academic content standards and challenging State student academic achievement standards in the arts.

This competition has an absolute priority. We will consider ONLY applications that meet this priority. The priority supports professional development programs for K-12 arts educators and other instructional staff that use innovative instructional methods and current knowledge from education research and focus on (1) the development, enhancement, or expansion of standards-based arts education programs; or (2) the integration of standards-based arts instruction with other core academic area content.

In order to meet this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that the project for which it seeks funding is linked to State and national standards intended to enable all students to meet challenging expectations, and to improving student and school performance.

Yes. The selection criteria in the application package will show applicants the factors that are considered by our peer reviewers and how they are weighted.

• The likelihood that the proposed project will result in system change or improvement.
• The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the needs of the target population, and
• The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in teaching and student achievement.

No. The term "arts educator" is defined in the notice as "a teacher who works in music, dance, theater, media or visual arts, including folk arts." It is not limited to arts specialists. Consequently, arts educators may include arts specialists, classroom teachers, professional artists, and other content-area teachers. Arts educators also may include elementary classroom teachers, who, on a regular basis, include the arts as a content area in their classrooms, and secondary school teachers who use a multi-disciplinary approach.

The project activities may also include other instructional staff-such as classroom paraprofessionals, Title I teacher aides, and teaching artists who deliver instruction in schools but may lack teaching certifications.

Professional development activities may take place almost anywhere, but they must relate to teaching activities that take place in schools. The intent of the program is to enhance and strengthen school based programs.

The intent of the program is to strengthen standards-based arts education programs and to help ensure that all students meet challenging State academic content standards and State student academic achievement standards in the arts. Applications of the professional development activities to an after-school setting would be allowed as a complement to in-school applications, but professional development activities should focus primarily on in-school teaching and learning.

We have defined the arts as music, drama, dance, media arts, and visual arts, including the folk arts.

Yes. The program's intent is to target services on the students most in need. To be eligible for services, a school must enroll at least 50 percent of its students from low-income families as defined by Title I. However, services may be provided to teachers of special needs students and other at-risk students in those schools.

No. Project activities may be directed towards teachers who work with one or more art forms.

Yes, but the Department does not fund duplicate costs or activities in multiple grants.

The announcement contains a requirement for partnering. The eligibility requirement specifically requires LEAs to partner with at least one other agency. Applications will be screened before being reviewed to assure that they meet the eligibility requirements. In addition, applicants are asked to address the criteria for Adequacy of Resources and reviewers may look for verification as to the extent to which each partner in the proposed project is committed to the implementation and success of the project, and at the relevance of the partnership to the goals of the program.

Yes. There is a coordination requirement that each entity funded under this program coordinate with appropriate activities of public or private cultural agencies, institutions, and organizations.

There is a good deal of literature and research on effective professional development. Applicants are asked to describe the extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice. Applications should support their proposed activities with a conceptual framework based on current research in the field of professional development.