OSSE awarded $1.5 million to six grantees in the SEEF competition, cohort 1 to implement research-based strategies to dramatically improve outcomes for students with disabilities. OSSE will provide SEEF competitive grant FY18 winners (cohort 1) with continuation funding in FY19, depending on completion of grant goals and spending funds appropriately in the first year of their grant.
Continuation grant applicants will be asked to submit an updated logic model for Year 2:
- SEEF Competitive Grant FY19 – Logic Model Template [same logic model for FY19 cohort 2]
Press Release
Eligibility
All DC LEAs currently serving students, including early childhood and adult education charter LEAs, are eligible to submit project proposals for this grant program. Third party non-profit entities which demonstrate a partnership with one or more LEAs are also eligible to apply for a partnership grant. Third-party non-profit organizations must secure partnerships with the LEAs with which they intend to work and will be required to verify these partnerships through a signed Partnership Agreement that details the parameters of the partnership and demonstrates each partner’s role in the planning and implementation of programs and services.
Purpose
OSSE’s administration of the Special Education Quality Improvement Act funding is designed to improve academic outcomes, graduation rates, and post-secondary success of District of Columbia students with disabilities in public schools. Successful applicants will:
- Demonstrate the need for their project using relevant data,
- Specifically identify the measurable impact of their project, and
- Identify the evidence-based practices that will be utilized to achieve the intended results.
Funding
A total of $1,500,000 is available for awards through the Request for Applications (RFA) in the first grant award period, which will begin on Oct. 1, 2017 and end on Sept. 30, 2018. OSSE will provide up to $500,000 annually per award, subject to availability of continued funding. Awards are limited to one per applicant. Successful applicants shall be eligible to receive up to an additional $500,000 for each of two additional years, subject to continued funding.
Permissible Use of Funds
The funds associated with this RFA are available strictly on a reimbursement basis and may only be used for allowable grant project expenditures during the grant period as follows:
- All costs must:
- Support projects that address needs identified within the needs assessment conducted;
- Support projects that are linked to evidence-based research and have been shown to increase academic achievement; and
- Support projects that apply promising practices to increase academic achievement.
- Based on a review of available data, OSSE is prioritizing applications which:
- Demonstrate the project’s ability to support the creation of a continuum of public placements and build capacity to serve students in the least restrictive environment, in accordance with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) CFR Section 300.114.
- Demonstrate the project’s ability to improve graduation, secondary transition, and post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities.
All grant project budgets will be reviewed by a review panel to ensure that planned expenditures are allowable and are appropriate, reasonable, and necessary to support the grant objectives.
Schedule (Save the Date)
- Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published in DC Register: June 16, 2017
- Request for Application (RFA) and Application Release: Monday, July 3, 2017
- Pre-Application Webinars (applicants must attend) [presentation slides]
- Tuesday, July 11, 4-5 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 12, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Friday, July 21, 2-3 p.m. (make-up session)
- Intent to Apply: Interested applicants must submit an Intent to Apply to [email protected] by Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 5 p.m.
- Application Deadline: Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017 by 3 p.m.
- Award Notifications: Thursday, Sept. 30, 2017
For more information or questions, please contact Jonathan Elkin at [email protected].
Key Links to Documents
- Application Website, FAQ, and Training: Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS)
- Request for Applications (RFA)
- Intent to Apply Form
- Partnership Agreement Template
- Logic Model Template
- Logic Model Training from OSSE Office of Public Charter School Financing and Support [PDF]
- Logic Model Training from US Department of Education Regional Education Lab [PDF]
For questions regarding EGMS system access or technical issues, contact the OSSE Help Desk at (202) 719-6500 or email [email protected].
