Section 700.20  Eligible Applicants

 

a)            Entities that are eligible to apply for a grant under the Program are regional offices of education, intermediate service centers, State higher education institutions, schools designated as laboratory schools, and school districts.

 

b)         Approved entities shall be responsible for ensuring that appropriate facilities are available and educators are appropriately trained on the use of any technologies or devices acquired for the purposes of the grant, or that a plan is in place for such training (see Section 2-3.196(a) of the School Code).

 

c)         Joint applications may be submitted if all entities in the joint application are eligible entities under this Section.

 

Section 700.30  Application Procedure

 

For purposes of this Subpart, the terms "proposal" and "application" have the same meaning.

 

a)                  When State funding is available for grants under this Part, the State Superintendent will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) on the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance (https://gata.illinois.gov/grants/csfa.html) to solicit applications from eligible entities.

 

b)                  The RFP will describe the format that applicants will be required to follow and the information they will be required to submit, including, but not limited to, identification of the schools that will be served, the specific training planned and the schedule for that training, and the strategies that will be used to increase the rate of participation by low-income students.

 

c)                  The RFP will identify any restrictions or areas of high priority that have been established for a particular program year.

 

d)                  The RFP will include a three-year budget summary, payment schedule, and a narrative budget breakdown (i.e., a detailed explanation of each line item of expenditure).

 

e)                  The RFP will identify the information recipients will be required to collect and report regarding the activities conducted with grant funds and the results of those activities, as well as the timelines for reporting, as required under Section 700.70.

 

f)                   The RFP will include the State-required certification and assurances described in 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.370(a)(4).

 

g)                  The RFP will specify the deadline for submission of proposals.

 

h)                  Incomplete proposals will not be considered.

 

Section 700.40  Allocation of Funds

 

a)         Applications for funding will be approved by the State Superintendent and final determinations regarding the amounts to be provided will be made based upon the total funds appropriated for this Program, the amounts necessary to fund the top-ranked proposals, and the need to promote student participation in rigorous academic coursework on a statewide basis.

 

b)         It is the intention of the State Board to approve grants under this Part for a three-year period. Funding for the second and third years shall be contingent upon the availability of funds for the program, satisfactory completion of reporting requirements in the previous fiscal year, and evidence presented in renewal proposals in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

 

Section 700.50  Program Specifications

 

a)         Grant funds awarded under this Part may be used only for the following purposes:

 

1)         to expand learning opportunities in grades K-12 to ensure that all students have access to computer science coursework that is aligned to rigorous State standards and emerging labor market needs;

 

2)         to train and retrain teachers of grades K-12 to be more proficient in the teaching of computer science by providing professional development opportunities;

 

3)         to supply classrooms with materials and equipment related to the teaching and learning of computer science;

 

4)         to more effectively recruit and better serve K-12 learners who are underrepresented in the computer science labor market for enrollment in computer science coursework (Section 2-3.196(b) of the School Code); and

 

5)         to fund initiatives in any of grades K-8 that are designed specifically to prepare students in those grades to participate successfully in secondary computer science coursework or future computer science careers.

 

b)         Allowable activities include, but are not limited to, curriculum development, educator training, or the purchase of equipment and instructional materials related to computer science coursework or programs designed to prepare students for enrollment and success in secondary computer science coursework or future careers in computer science.

 

c)            At a minimum, five percent of the grant funds awarded under this Part or $2,000, whichever is greater, must be used by the grantee to defray the cost of training for teachers, counselors, and principals that is aligned with or supportive of the other proposed uses of grant funds in the grantee's proposal. Training costs may include stipends for teachers participating in the training or professional learning and for substitute teachers.

 

d)         The first year of grant award funding may be considered a planning year with allowable expenses including reasonable costs associated with planning and preparation for implementation of new or enhanced computer science coursework or career preparation.

 

e)         The portion of funds used pursuant to subsection (a)(4) may include:

 

1)         the development and dissemination of promotional materials or other outreach to students and their families;

 

2)         counseling, enrichment activities, tutoring, or other assistance for students that will prepare them to succeed in these courses and on the culminating examinations; and

 

3)         tuition and associated fees (e.g., course fees or examination fees) for Illinois Virtual Course Catalog online coursework and advanced coursework in computer science (e.g., Dual credit, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate).

 

f)          Grant funds shall not be used to pay for the services of teachers to teach computer science coursework during the normal school day.

 

g)         Grant funds shall not be used to supplant other efforts currently funded with local, State, or federal resources.

 

Section 700.60  Criteria for the Review of Applications

 

Applications for grants will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

 

a)         Need (20 points)

 

1)         The proposal describes the local need for development or enhancement of computer science programs by describing specific local student population (including demographics) and how the program will meet the needs/interests of all students, including special populations (e.g., English learners, special education students, and minority students) and gifted students.

 

2)         The proposal outlines the applicant's staffing needs to implement the program, including a detailed explanation as to the need for additional staff to be hired or contracted.

 

3)         The proposal clearly outlines the professional learning needs of the educators who will deliver computer science instruction and how those needs will be addressed.

 

4)         The proposal clearly identifies resources needed to implement the program (e.g., facilities, equipment, supplies, software, technology, curriculum, resource guides, text, or manuals).

 

b)         Capacity (25 points)

 

1)         The proposal identifies the applicant's capacity to meet all programmatic needs identified in subsection (a). If the applicant does not currently have the internal capacity to meet a specific need, the proposal must include a plan of how the applicant will address the identified needs. If the applicant intends on using third-party contracts, the proposal must include details on the contractors' expertise, qualifications, and capacity to deliver quality computer science educational experiences that align with the grant objectives.

 

2)         The proposal lists any intended partnerships and the roles of each partner, including the expected impact of each partner on the success and sustainability of the program and its aligned activities.

 

3)         The proposal explains each school's anticipated capacity needs in preparation to implement program, such as teacher recruitment, salary, benefits, professional learning, student and teacher supports, supplies, mentoring, or partnerships necessary to implement the program.

 

4)         The proposal identifies the applicant's plan and process to recruit and select instructional staff, including the number of staff and experience or training that will be provided.

 

5)         The proposal includes details of the applicant's capacity to offer computer science (e.g., materials and equipment that are related to the teacher and the learning of computer science).

 

c)         Quality of the Plan (20 points)

 

1)         The proposal describes specific objectives or goals of the instructional plan, including the name of any instructional programs, the number of courses expanded or newly offered at each site, information on providers or instructors, the role of each partner at each site, and the number of students expected to be enrolled.

 

2)         The proposal contains evidence that demonstrates the knowledge, skill, and experience of the educators or contracted entities that will deliver computer science instruction, or the proposal cites a plan to prepare educators through quality professional development.

 

3)         The proposal provides evidence of the program's alignment to the State's Computer Science learning standards under 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.Appendix D.

 

4)         The proposal clearly provides details of the timeline for delivery of services, including progress reporting required under Section 700.70, professional learning activities, equipment or supply purchases, and new or enhanced course or program planning and implementation.

 

d)         Sustainability (15 points)

 

1)                  The proposed includes provisions for funding and other resources to sustain a long-term computer science program that continues after the grant period ends, including information on additional funding or other resource streams.

 

2)                  The proposal includes evidence of community or stakeholder involvement or engagement to support and assist in sustaining the program.

 

3)                  The program includes a three- to five-year sustainability plan with forecasted budget considerations that provides details on how the program will continue after the grant period concludes, including funding for educator salaries, supplies, software, technology, or maintenance.

 

e)         Cost Effectiveness (20 points)

 

1)                  The proposal provides details on how each budgeted item supports proposed goals, objectives, activities, and outcomes.

 

2)                  The proposal describes a process to measure and evaluate cost-effectiveness and impact and a process to drive budgetary decisions toward program improvement over time.

 

3)                  The program plan includes a detailed budget with projected costs assigned to appropriate function or object codes.

 

4)                  The proposal includes a process to measure and evaluate the impact the program has on student achievement and the impact of each partnership on the success and sustainability of the program and the alignment activities.

 

f)             Priority points will be given for proposals that intend to serve a:

 

1)         majority of learners or teachers with gender or racial/ethnic identities that are underrepresented in the computer science labor market (see Section 2-3.196(d) of the School Code);

 

2)            school or district that does not currently offer any computer science coursework and is able to accommodate 12.5% or less of the high school student body in the program for a given school year;

 

3)            school or district that does not currently offer computer science coursework that is accessible and appropriate for students at each grade level for grades 9-12; and

 

4)            school or district that does not currently offer advanced coursework opportunities (e.g., dual credit, honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate) for computer science.

 

Section 700.70  Terms of the Grant

 

a)         By no later than December 31, each grant awardee must submit a mid-year report and, by no later than September 30, submit an annual report containing program-related data in a format specified by the State Board. The reports shall provide the following information, disaggregated by each program site:

 

1)         description of the project and its objectives;

 

2)         description of the sites served and student populations served at each site;

 

3)         description as to the extent to which deliverables and milestones have been accomplished; and

 

4)         any additional information that the State Superintendent may request, with 30 days' written notice prior to the required submission date.

 

b)         Consideration for funding in subsequent years will be contingent upon compliance with the following program requirements:

 

1)         Submission of the reports required under subsection (a); and

 

2)         Meeting grant deliverables and performance measures or standards, as outlined in the exhibits of the annual application or agreement.