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Grants Awarded

Helps school districts hire 100,000 teachers over 7 years to reduce class sizes in grades K-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. For FY2000, states receive the same share of the funds as they received in FY1999. State funding is distributed to school districts based 80 percent on poverty and 20 percent on school enrollment. School districts will apply to states for funds as part of their ESEA Title VI applications. Awards were announced June 30. The President?s FY2001 request would combine with district matching funds to pay for hiring about 49,000 teachers. More detailed information is available on the program Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/ClassSize/; additional information about class-size reduction programs around the country are available from WestEd at http://www.WestEd.org/policy , or you may contact Christine Miller, at 202-260-8766, or e-mail class.size@ed.gov.

Provides three-year grants to school-community partnerships to keep inner-city and rural public schools open after school, weekends and summers as safe havens for enhanced learning. This year, a new competition was held to award $186 million to 310 new grantees to fund 1,500 schools and community centers. These grants are for three years. Applications were received from 2,252 communities, requesting a total of $1.3 billion. Over 1,000 high-quality applications, requesting over $600 million, were not funded. The 21^st Century Community Learning Centers program now supports 903 grants in local school districts around the country serving more than 3,600 centers spanning every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. The President?s FY2001 request will support approximately 1,360 new awards to help districts create or expand some 6,400 school-based centers. Including continuation grants for centers funded in the 1999 and 2000 competitions, the program would support 10,000 centers and provide extended learning opportunities for 2.5 million children. For more information, contact Amanda Clyburn at (202) 260-3804 or e-mail 21stCCLC@ed.gov, or visit the Web site at http://www.ed.gov/21stcclc/.

This collaboration among the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services supports urban, rural, suburban and tribal school district efforts to link prevention activities and community-based services, as well as to provide community-wide approaches to violence prevention and healthy child development. The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative provides three-year grants to help communities design and implement comprehensive educational, mental health, social service, law enforcement and juvenile justice services for youth. This year, $41 million in new grants was awarded to 23 school districts, and 54 districts received continuation grants. The President?s FY2001 request would fund new projects in 40 communities while providing continued support for 1999 and 2000 grantees. For more information, contact Bryan Williams or Karen Dorsey at (202) 260-3954, e-mail safeschl@ed.gov, or visit the Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS.

Expands access to information technology and learning services through the creation of computer learning facilities in low-income communities. The technology at these centers is used for pre-school preparation, workforce development, after-school enrichment, and adult and continuing education. Grants are for three years. This year, $21 million grants were awarded to 93 new grantees, and 40 grantees received continuation funding. The President's FY2001 request would support 280 new grants to fund up to 1,000 centers. For more information, contact Norma Fleischman at (202) 205-5563 or Mary LeGwin at (202) 260-2499 or visit http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/CTC.

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. This year, a new competition awarded $45 million for the following new FY2000 115 Implementation grants averaging $320,000 a year for three years that support colleges, schools, and state agencies that are implementing program innovations to prepare technology-proficient educators; and 12 Catalyst grants averaging $570,000 a year for three years to support national, regional, or state consortia with the expertise to stimulate large-scale teacher preparation improvements. These grants are in addition to the continuation awards to the FY1999 grants. The President's FY2001 request would support 175 new Capacity Building awards and 120 new Implementation and Catalyst Grants and provide continuation funding for approximately 167 Implementation and Catalyst Grants. For a complete list of the grants or for more information on this program and the fiscal year 2000 grant competition, visit the PT3 Web site at:http://www.ed.gov/teachtech/, call (202) 502-7788, or send an e-mail to teacher.technology@ed.gov.

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. The Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration provides funding to states, which in turn make competitive discretionary grants to local school districts on behalf of individual schools that are ready to adopt comprehensive reforms. 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 up to three years. This year, in addition to continued funding for these schools, new State grant competitions will fund approximately 1,000 new schools. Schools should contact their state educational 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 Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/compreform.

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. Provides funds to states, which then award sub-grants to charter school developers, and to eligible schools in states that do not apply. A school can receive start-up grant funds for up to three years. States can also distribute up to 10 percent 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. This year, a new competition awarded $16 million to 4 new state grantees and 37 individual charter schools. In addition, approximately 30 states and 30 schools will receive continuation funding in FY2000. Currently, 33 states, DC and Puerto Rico receive State grants, and 70 schools in 4 other states receive grants directly. The President's FY2001 request would support an estimated 700 new charter schools and 1,000 existing charter schools. For more information, contact the grant competition coordinator, Donna Hoblit, at (202) 205-9178 or visit the Web site at http://www.uscharterschools.org

The College Assistance Migrant Program assists migrant and seasonal farm workers 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 farm workers 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. This year, a new competition for $6 million awarded grants to 15 new HEP grantees, and a new competition for $3 million awarded grants to 8 new CAMP grantees. In addition, 23 HEP grantees and 12 CAMP grantees received continuation grants. 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.

Provides funds to states, which award 95 percent as sub-grants to districts to help carry out state and local education technology plans. This year $425 million was awarded to 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico and the territories that in turn hold competitions to select approximately 3,200 school districts to receive funds. Funds are used to achieve goals in four areas: teacher training, modern computers, connecting every classroom to the information superhighway and incorporating effective and engaging software and on-line resources into the curriculum. States and districts have substantial discretion over the use of funds to meet the needs identified in their technology plans. Awards within states 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 your State coordinator, listed at http://ed.gov/Technology/stregcntcts.html, or visit the Web site at http://www.ed.gov/Technology/TLCF/.

One year grants enabling 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 enrollment and participation in and availability of advanced placement courses in schools serving high-poverty areas. This year, a new competition for $15 million awarded grants to 44 states. The President?s FY2001 request would support state efforts to bring challenging courses to high schools serving low-income students and would pay test fees for low-income students taking approximately 75,000 Advanced placement tests. For more information contact Frank B. Robinson, Jr. at (202) 260-2669 or visit our Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/

Three competitive grant programs to meet the need for fully certified bilingual and ESL teachers and provide all teachers with training to teach limited English proficient students. Teachers and Personnel Grants support inservice and preservice training for teachers preparing to serve limited English proficient students. Career Ladder grants support training for non-certified school staff, especially paraprofessionals, preparing for careers as bilingual teachers. Training for all Teachers grants support ongoing improvement of professional development for regular classroom teachers and improvement of teacher curricula to ensure all teachers are prepared to effectively serve limited English proficient students. Teacher and Professional Development and Career Ladder grants are for five-year grants, and Training for all Teachers grants are for three years. This year, $25 million was awarded to 33 new Teachers and Personnel grantees, 20 new Career Ladder grantees and 34 new Training for All Teachers grantees. 128 Teachers and Personnel Grantees, 68 Career Ladder grantees and 33 Training for All Teacher grantees will receive continuation funding in FY2000. For more information, contact Cindy Ryan at (202) 205-8842, or visit the Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OBEMLA/fy2000.html.

Helps children learn to read independently by the end of the third grade through reading instruction based on scientific research, professional development, family literacy, and extended learning activities. These are competitive discretionary grants to states. States that receive grants must conduct sub-grant competitions to eligible high-poverty districts. In 1999, 17 states received three-year awards. This July, a new competition for $241 million awarded grants to 10 new State grantees for three years. The President?s FY2001 request would support grants to an additional 27 states and raise the estimated number of children served to approximately 3 million. For more information contact Nancy Rhett at (202) 401-1679, or e-mail Reading.Excellence@ed.gov. Also, visit the Department?s Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/REA/.

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, $9.3 million was awarded to 14 20 grantees. For more information regarding this program contact Ann Weinheimer at (202) 708-5939, Ann.Weinheimer@ed.gov or visit the SDFS Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS.

Safe and Drug Free-Schools—Middle School Coordinators—$50 million in FY 2000; $50 million requested for FY2001.

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. Grants may be for up to three years. This year, $45.3 million in new grants was awarded to 113 school districts in 35 states. The President?s FY2001 request would bring the total number of coordinators hired under this program to more than 800 assisting more than 1,300 schools. Information regarding this program can be obtained by calling Dierdra Hilliard at (202)260-2643 or visit the SDFS Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS.

Grants To Be Awarded

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. Partnership grants are available for up to five years and State and Teacher Recruitment grants for three years. This year a new competition for $14.3 million will fund approximately new 6-7 State awards and 5-6 Partnership awards. In addition, 24 State grantees, 28 Teacher Recruitment grantees and 25 Partnership grantees who received awards in the FY1999 competition will receive continuation grants in FY2000. In the 1999 competition, the program received applications from 41 states, 220 Partnerships and 103 Teacher Recruitment applicants. While the FY2000 applications are still in process, the program to date has received 101 applications for 6-7 available Partnership awards. Applications for FY2000 were distributed in April, with partnership pre-applications due in May and full applications due in mid-August; state applications were due June 12. State award announcements are expected in August and Partnership awards in September. For more information, contact Brenda Shade at (202) 502-7878, e-mail teacherquality@ed.gov, or visit the Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/heatqp/.

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 FY1999, over 670 applications were received representing over 4,500 local partnerships and an estimated 1 out of 5 colleges. These are five-year grants, and 185 FY1999 grantees are expected to receive continuation funding in FY2000. 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 for the 2000 competition were available in March and are due June 26, 2000. Announcement of new FY2000 awards is expected in September. The President?s FY2001 budget request would leverage the resources of more than 2,400 community organizations and businesses as partners to provide services to 1.4 million low-income students. For more information, contact Ray Ramirez or David Condon at (202) 502-7676, e-mail Gearup@ed.gov, or visit the Web site at http://www.ed.gov/gearup.

Smaller Learning Communities Initiative—New Program—$45 million in FY2000; $120 million requested for FY2001 (a $75 million increase)

The FY2000 appropriation includes $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 local educational agencies to plan, develop, and implement smaller learning communities for students in large high schools. Strategies may include such activities as 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 new funds will support approximately 300 grantees. Announcement of new FY2000 awards is expected in September. The President?s FY2001 request would support the restructuring of approximately 700 schools. For more information, contact Todd May at (202) 260-0960 or Kathy Silva at (202) 260-2598.

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 for up to three years and may not exceed $400,000 per year. This year $20 million will support approximately 60 grantees. Announcement of awards is expected in August. For more information, contact Loretta Riggans at (202) 260-2661, Loretta.Riggans@ed.gov or visit the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Web site at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSDFS.

The American Indian Teacher Corps initiative combines several program elements in a manner that will effectively train 1,000 new teachers to work in schools with high concentrations of Indian students. The program supports partnerships of institutions of higher education with local educational agencies, state educational agencies or Indian tribes, to provide programs for pre-service training and induction of teachers. The pre-service training component may provide tuition and living expenses for students seeking bachelor?s degrees in education or retraining current teachers in new certification areas in which a teacher shortage exists. This year the $10 million will target an initial cohort of 500 new teachers through awards to approximately 25 grantees. Announcement of awards is expected in August. For more information regarding this program, contact Cathie Martin at (202) 260-1683, or e-mail Cathie.Martin@ed.gov.

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. This year a new competition for $4.3 million will fund approximately 12-14 new partnership grants, and $10.6 million will fund continuation grants for 29 FY1999 grantees. Announcement of awards is expected in August. For more information, contact Brian Lekander at (202) 502-7519, Karen Levitan at (202) 502-7520, or Joan Krejci at (202) 502-7518, or e-mail LAAP@ed.gov, or visit the Web site 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 42 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 twenty 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. This May, ten Blue Ribbon high schools were named as the first set of Year 2000 New American High Schools. Also this year, the New American High Schools Program will identify and support up to 80 more showcase sites. For more information call Gail Schwartz at (202) 205-5445.

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