Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) Fiscal Year 2020
DC Community Schools Incentive Initiative –
Truancy Prevention and Literacy Pilot Program (CSII-TPLP)
Request for Application (RFA) Release Date: Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, 12 p.m.
As authorized by the “Truancy Prevention and Literacy Pilot Program Emergency Amendment Act of 2019”1, which amended the “Community Schools Incentive Amendment Act of 2012” (DC Official Code § 38-754.01 et seq.), the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) – Division of Systems and Supports, K-12 is soliciting grant applications for the FY20 DC Community Schools Incentive Initiative - Truancy Prevention and Literacy Pilot Program Grant. The overall goal of the grant is to test whether additional resources concurrently focusing on numerous community partners dealing with literacy intervention, parental engagement, and social- emotional issues with elementary school students will significantly improve attendance and state assessment outcomes. Consistent with the funding statute, OSSE will give priority to eligible consortiums that include:
- An LEA with an elementary school with:
- More than 25 percent of students in grades kindergarten through 5 who were chronically truant in the 2018-19 school year; and
- More than 25 percent of students who scored at level 1 or level 2 on the state assessment for English language arts in the 2018-19 school year; and
- Three or more community partners that provide at least one of the eligible services:
- Programs designed to increase attendance, including reducing early chronic absenteeism rates;
- Programs designed to:
- Facilitate parental involvement in, and engagement with, their children’s education, including parental activities that involve supporting, monitoring, and advocating for their children’s education;
- Promote parental leadership in the life of the school; and (iii)Build parenting skills;
- Programs that provide a full continuum of school-based, early literacy intervention services for all grades pre-K through 3, consisting of developmentally appropriate components for each grade, through a comprehensive intervention model.
As defined by the Community Schools Incentive Act of 2012, an “eligible consortium” is a “partnership established between a local educational agency and one or more community partners for purposes of establishing, operating, and sustaining a community school.” DC Official Code § 38-754.02(3). A “community school” is a public and private partnership to coordinate educational, developmental, family, health, and after-school-care programs during school and non-school hours for students, families, and local communities at a public school or public charter school with the objectives of improving academic achievement, reducing absenteeism, building stronger relationships between students, parents, and communities, and improving the skills, capacity, and well-being of the surrounding community residents. DC Official Code § 38-754.02(2)
Eligibility and Selection Criteria: OSSE will make up to two grants available through a competitive process and aligned with “Truancy Prevention and Literacy Pilot Program Emergency Amendment Act of 2019”, which amended the “Community Schools Incentive Amendment Act of 2012” (DC Official Code § 38-754.01 et seq.). Applications will be scored on the following selection criteria: program narrative/features, program implementation and monitoring, financial management and sustainability and service of priority areas.
OSSE will host a pre-application webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019 10 a.m.-12 p.m. to answer questions about the RFA and grant competition. [Register] Please see the full RFA for a detailed timeline of events.
Length of Award: The FY20 grant award period is from Oct. 1, 2019 – Sept. 30, 2020.
Available Funding for Award: The total funding available for the FY20 award period is $600,000. An eligible consortium may apply for an award amount of $300,000. OSSE will award two grant awards. Grant funds shall only be used to support activities authorized by the relevant statues and included in the applicant’s submission.
Application Process: An external review panel will be convened to review, score, and rank each application. The review panel will be composed of neutral, qualified, professional individuals selected for their expertise, knowledge or related experiences. The application will be scored against a rubric and application will have multiple reviewers to ensure accurate scoring. Upon completion of its review, the panel shall make recommendations for awards based on the scoring rubric. The State Superintendent or her designee will make all final award decisions.
Applications must be submitted by Monday, Sept. 16, 2019. OSSE estimates that it will award grants by Friday, Oct. 11, 2019; however, this date may change.
For additional information regarding this grant competition, please contact:
Melissa Harper-Butler
Program Analyst, Special Programs Unit
Division of Systems and Supports, K-12
1050 First Street NE, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 478-2409
Email: [email protected]
The RFA will be available on the DC Office of Partnerships and Grant Services website and OSSE's website. Applications will be submitted through the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS).
1Section 4112 of the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Support Act of 2019, as enacted June 18, 2019 (DC Official Code § 38-754.03(g)(3))
