A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

U.S. Department of Education FY2000 Initiatives
and Funding Opportunities Update

Continuing Initiatives

Class Size Reduction—$1.2 billion in FY1999, $1.3 billion in FY2000 (a $100 million increase)

Helps school districts hire 100,000 teachers over 7 years to reduce class sizes in grades 1-3 to a nationwide average of 18. Districts may also spend a percentage of funds on professional development activities for new and current teachers. This year $1.3 billion will fund 50 states and territories. State applications will be available in March, 2000. More detailed information is available from WestEd at http://www.WestEd.org/policy/. For more information, contact Robert Stonehill at (202) 260-8228, e-mail class_size@ed.gov, or visit the website, http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/ClassSize/

Funds school-community partnerships to keep community schools open after-school and summers as safe havens for enhanced learning. Grant application workshops are currently being planned. In 1999, approximately 7,500 individuals attended 31 application workshops across the country. The program received over 2,000 applications. In April 1999, 174 new grants were awarded and in December 1999 an additional 125 learning center grants were awarded with about $67 million from FY2000 funds. There are now 593 grants funding over 2,000 schools across 49 States, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. This year a new competition for about $185 million will fund approximately 500 new grantees serving an additional 2,000 schools. Applications were available December 20, 1999, on the Department's website. For more information, contact Robert Stonehill at (202) 260-8228 or Amanda Clyburn at (202) 260-3804 or e-mail 21stCCLC@ed.gov, or visit the website at http://www.ed.gov/21stcclc/.

Helps children learn to read well and independently by the end of the third grade through reading instruction based on scientifically based reading research, professional development, family literacy, and extended learning activities. These are competitive, discretionary grants and must be used in needy districts and schools. In 1999, 17 states received three year awards. This year a new competition for $241 million will fund approximately 14 new state grantees for three years. Applications became available in late January 2000. For more information, contact Joseph Conaty at (202) 260-8228 or Nancy Rhett at (202) 401-1679, or e-mail Reading_Excellence@ed.gov. Also, visit the Department's website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/REA/.

Technology Literacy Challenge Fund—$425 million in FY1999, $425 million in FY2000 (no increase)

Provides funds to states, which award 95 percent as subgrants to districts to help carry out state and local education technology plans. Districts with the highest poverty and greatest need for technology receive priority. This year $425 million will fund 50 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and all the territories that in turn will hold competitions to select approximately 3,200 school districts to receive funds. States and districts have substantial discretion over the use of funds to meet the necessary needs identified in their technology plans. Awards range from several thousand to several million dollars in size. Many have focused substantial effort on professional development. States and districts are encouraged to coordinate the use of Technology Literacy Challenge Fund grants with other funding sources. For more information, contact Charles Lovett at (202) 401-0039 or visit the Web site at http://www.ed.gov/Technology/TLCF/.

Enables middle schools to hire alcohol, drug and violence prevention coordinators. The role of the coordinators is to identify the most promising strategies and programs for preventing alcohol and drug use, to create a safe environment for learning and to work with school officials to implement those strategies and programs. Last year $35 million funded 97 grantees. This year a new competition for $45 million will fund approximately 198 new grantees. Applications will be available February 7, 2000. Information regarding this program can be obtained by calling Pat Rattler at 202-260-1942 or Deirdra Hilliard at (202) 260-2643 or Deirdra_Hilliard@ed.gov or visit the SDFS web site at www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS.

Helps raise student achievement by assisting public schools across the country to implement effective, comprehensive school reforms that are based on reliable research and effective practices, and include an emphasis on basic academics and parental involvement. More than 1,750 schools have already received funding to participate in the program, which provides grants of at least $50,000 that are renewable for three years. This year, in addition to continued funding for these schools, a new competition for $75 million will fund approximately 1,200 new schools. Schools should contact their State Education Agencies for information about application timelines/deadlines (and application materials). For more information, call (202) 205-4292, e-mail compreform@ed.gov, or visit the website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/compreform.

Provides funds to states, which then award subgrants to partnerships of charter school developers and authorized public chartering agencies. These funds help charter schools meet start-up costs associated with creating their new public schools, such as developing curriculum, purchasing equipment, or providing professional development for teachers. A school can receive start-up grant funds for up to three years; up to 18 months for pre-operational planning and up to two years for implementation activities once the school has opened. States can also distribute up to 10% of their total grant via "dissemination grants" to successful charter schools with at least three years of experience. Charter schools can use dissemination grants to assist other groups opening new schools or to help existing schools implement practices the charter school has demonstrated to be successful. Currently, 29 states, as well as Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, have state grants, (41 schools in six states received grants directly). This year a new competition for $24 million will fund approximately 3-5 additional grants to states and 30-50 additional grants to schools. Applications will be available February 8, 2000. For more information, contact the grant competition coordinator, Donna Hoblit at (202) 205-9178 or visit the website at www.uscharterschools.org

Enables States to reimburse part or all of the cost of test fees for eligible low-income individuals. In addition, a State in which no eligible low-income individual is required to pay more than a nominal fee to take tests in core subjects may use grant funds for activities directly related to increasing (a) the enrollment and participation of low-income students in Advanced Placement courses and tests; and (b) the availability of Advanced Placement courses in schools serving high-poverty areas. In FY 1999, two rounds of competition were held. Thirty-three states received awards totaling $2.8 million in the first competition. Eleven states were awarded grants totaling $1.8 million for the second competition to carry out activities other than test fee payment as described above. This year a new competition for $ 15 million will fund approximately 40 states. Applications will be available February 2000. For more information call (202) 260-2669 or visit our website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/

The College Assistance Migrant Program assists migrant and seasonal farmworkers to complete the first academic year of college and succeed in postsecondary education. The High School Equivalency Program is designed to assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their children to obtain a secondary school diploma or a GED certificate and to continue their postsecondary education or to enter career positions. Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education (IHEs) or nonprofit organizations working with IHEs. In FY1999, $9 million funded 23 HEP grantees and $4 million funded 12 CAMP grantees. For FY2000, a new competition for $6 million will fund approximately 16 new HEP grantees, and $3 million will provide funds for about 9 new CAMP grantees. Separate grants applications are required for HEP and CAMP. For more information, please contact Mary Suazo at (202) 260-1396 or by e-mail mary_suazo@ed.gov or visit the Office of Migrant Education (OME) Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/MEP.

Funds State, Partnership, and Teacher Recruitment projects that support systemic change in state teacher licensure policies and practices; projects to promote comprehensive and lasting change in teacher preparation programs; and the recruitment and preparation of excellent teachers for America's classrooms. In 1999, 24 State grants, 28 Teacher Recruitment grants, and 25 Partnership grants were funded. This year a new competition for $14.3 million will fund approximately 6-7 State grants and 5-6 Partnership grants. Applications will be available in March 2000. The FY 2000 awards competition schedule in state and partnership programs is likely to be as follows: applications distributed in March; partnership pre-applications and State applications are due in mid-May; full partnership applications will be due in late July; State awards in late June; Partnership awards on September 15. For more information, contact Ed Crowe at (202) 502-7762 or Lou Venuto at (202) 502-7763, e-mail teacherquality@ed.gov, or visit the website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/heatqp/

A national teacher preparation reform initiative to ensure that all future teachers are technology-proficient educators who are well prepared to teach 21^st Century students. The following grants were awarded for fiscal year 1999: 138 Capacity Building grants, averaging $122,000 for one year, that enable consortium partners to develop a comprehensive technology-based teacher preparation program; 64 Implementation grants, averaging $390,000 for three years, supporting colleges, schools, and state agencies that are implementing innovations to prepare technology-proficient educators; and 23 Catalyst grants, averaging $640,000 for three years, to support national, regional, or state consortia with the expertise to stimulate large-scale teacher preparation improvements. This year a new competition for $48 million will fund approximately 80 Implementation grantees and 15 Catalyst grantees. Applications will be available January 7, 2000. For a complete list of the 225 grants or for more information on this program and the fiscal year 2000 grant competition, visit the PT3 web site at: www.ed.gov/teachtech/, call (202) 502-7788, or send an email to teacher_technology@ed.gov.

Three competitive grant programs to meet the need for fully certified bilingual and ESL teachers and other educational personnel, and to insure that well-prepared personnel are available to provide services to limited English proficient students. This year three new competitions for $25 million will fund approximately 125 new grantees. Applications will be available in January 2000. For more information, contact Cindy Ryan at (202) 205-8842, or visit the website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OBEMLA/fy2000.html.

A long-range early college preparation and awareness program that gives low-income students and their families pathways to college by partnering middle and high schools with colleges and community organizations or through State-administered programs. In FY99, over 670 applications were received representing over 4,500 local partnerships and an estimated 1 out of 5 colleges. The 1999 State and Partnership grantees are posted at the GEAR UP website. This year a new competition for $47 million will fund approximately 6 state grants and 74 partnership grants. Programs will serve over 450,000 low-income students in 43 states and territories. Applications will be available early March 2000. For more information, contact Ray Ramirez or David Condon at (202) 502-7676, e-mail Gearup@ed.gov, or visit the website at http://www.ed.gov/gearup/.

Supports postsecondary partnerships among colleges, businesses, and other organizations to promote technology-mediated distance education that is not limited by time or place. LAAP hopes to improve access to quality lifelong learning, and to promote coordination and resource sharing among distance education providers. In 1999 $10 million was awarded to 29 grantees. This year a new competition for $4.3 million will fund approximately 12-14 new partnership grants. Applications were available in December 1999. For more information, contact Brian Lekander at (202)502-7520, Karen Levitan at (202)502-7520, or Joan Krejci at (202)502-7518, or e-mail LAAP@ed.gov, or visit the website at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/FIPSE/LAAP.

Showcases and supports outstanding high schools that have committed to extensive reform efforts, raised academic standards for all students, and achieved excellent results. Since the initiative's inception in 1996, the Department of Education has recognized 30 diverse American high schools as New American High School showcase sites. The 1999 NAHS competition, co-sponsored by the Department of Education and the National Association of Secondary School Principals, featured 39 applicants representing more than 20 states. On November 19, 1999, in a ceremony at the White House, Secretary Riley announced the thirteen schools selected as the 1999 New American High School showcase sites. In 2000, $1.4 million will be used to identify and support up to 100 new showcase sites. For more information, contact Gail Schwartz at (202) 205-5445.

New Initiatives

The FY2000 appropriations include $45 million for the Smaller Learning Communities Initiative authorized under section 10105 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. These funds will be used for competitive grants to LEAs to plan, develop and implement smaller learning communities for students in large high schools. Strategies may include creating schools within schools and career academies, restructuring the school day, developing teacher advisory systems, and implementing other innovations designed to create a more personalized high school experience for students, improve student achievement, and reduce violence. This year funds will support approximately 300 new grantees. An application package will be available in spring 2000. For more information, contact Todd May at (202) 260-0960 or John Fiegel at (202) 260-2671.

Will provide $20 million to establish or expand counseling programs in elementary schools. Grants will be given to applicants that demonstrate the greatest need for counseling services in the schools served, propose the most innovative and promising approaches, and show the greatest potential for replication and dissemination. The grants may be up to three years and may not exceed $400,000 per year. This year new funds for $20 million will support approximately 60 new grantees. For more information, contact Loretta Riggans at 260-2661, Loretta_Riggans@ed.gov or visit the SDFS web site at www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS.

Will help school districts identify effective procedures, policies, and programs that serve to discipline students without suspending or expelling them. The program will also require school districts to develop and implement strategies for continuing to provide educational services to those students who are eventually suspended or expelled. This year new funds for $10 million will support approximately 20 new grantees. Applications will be available March 2000. For more information regarding this program contact Ann Weinheimer at 708-5939, Ann_Weinheimer@ed.gov or visit the SDFS web site at www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS.

[ Letter from Secretary Riley ]

[ Class-Size Reduction ]