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84.350 TRANSITION TO TEACHING

FEDERAL AGENCY
OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND IMPROVEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

AUTHORIZATION
Elementary and Secondary Education Act; Title II, Part C, Subpart 1, Chapter B.

OBJECTIVES
To recruit and retrain highly qualified midcareer professionals (including highly qualified paraprofessionals) and recent graduates of institutions of higher education, as teachers in high-need schools, including recruiting teachers through alternative routes to teacher certification; and to encourage the development and expansion of alternative routes to certification under state-approved programs that enable individuals to be eligible for teacher certification within a reduced period of time, relying on the experience, expertise, and academic qualifications of an individual or other factors in lieu of traditional course work in the field of education.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE
Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
To develop a program to recruit, select, screen, train and place individuals (mid-career individuals and qualified recent college graduates) to become licensed and successful teachers in high-need areas to help reduce the teacher shortage in local educational agencies. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 75.563. For assistance call the Office of the Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on (202) 708-7770.

Applicant Eligibility
State educational agencies; high-need local educational agencies; for profit and nonprofit organizations with proven records of effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, in partnerships with high-need local educational agencies or State educational agencies; institutions of higher education, in partnerships with high-need local educational agencies or State educational agencies; regional consortia of State educational agencies; and consortia of high-need local educational agencies.

Beneficiary Eligibility
Mid-career professionals from various fields who possess strong subject-matter skills to become teachers; recent college graduates with baccalaureate degrees in the academic subjects that the individuals will teach; LEA's with critical teacher shortages, particularly in the fields of mathematics, science, foreign languages, bilingual education, reading, and special education.

Credentials/Documentation
None.

Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure
Applicant must submit the following by the designated deadline: (1) The applicant must provide a written narrative which addresses the selection criteria (and the required application content) that reviewers use in evaluating their applications. This Section must be limited to no more than 50 double-spaced pages. (2) Required forms to be submitted with the application include SF-424; Sections A, B, and C of ED Form 524; Assurance - Non Construction Programs; Certifications Regarding Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Disclosure of Lobbying Activity; Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion - Lower Tier Covered Transactions.

Award Procedure
Applications are reviewed by the agency for eligibility and completeness. Applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of experts. Applications are ranked according to score by funding category; i.e., national, State, or local applicant. A funding slate is prepared and the highest funded applications are recommended for funding. Successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified of outcome. Grant awards are prepared and mailed to successful grantees.

Deadlines
Deadlines will be published in the Federal Register. Contact the program office for more information.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Approximately 60 days.

Appeals
Part 86 - Subpart E of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) outlines procedures governing appeals of decisions by a designated Department official to demand the repayment of Federal financial assistance or terminate the eligibility of an institution of higher education, State educational agency or local educational agency.

Renewals
Applicants may apply for a project period of up to 3 years. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.

Formula and Matching Requirements
None.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Projects may be funded for a period of 36 months. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.

Reports
Performance reports are due 90 days after expiration or termination of the award.

Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records
In accordance with the General Education Provisions Act and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), certain financial records must be maintained for a period of three years.

Account Identification
91-0204-0-1-501.

Obligations
(Grants) FY 07 $44,484,000; FY 08 $43,707,000; and FY 09 est $43,707.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In FY 2008, the range of awards is expected to be $98,852 to $3,074,773; the average award is expected to be $426,324.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Approximately 102 continuation awards are expected in FY 2008.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE
Regulations and guidelines were published in the Federal Register in April 2001. Contact the Program Office for more information.

Regional or Local Office
None.

Headquarters Office
Department of Education, OII Teacher Quality Programs 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20202-6100; Contact: Thelma Leenhouts, E-mail Address thelma.leenhouts@ed.gov; Telephone (202) 260-0223.

Web Site Address
http://www.ed.gov/programs/transitionteach/index.html

RELATED PROGRAMS
None.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS
The Florida Department of Education has received grants under this program in 2002 and 2006, to recruit, train, and place mid-career professionals, including highly-qualifed paraprofessionals, and recent college graduates in teaching positions through partnerships with several high-need school districts. The 2002 cohort has placed 487 out of 679 participants, and the 2006 cohort has placed all of its 37 participants, as teachers at record in high-need schools in high-need districts.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS
The selection criteria are contained in the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) 34 CFR 75.210. Contact the program office for more information.


General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)