FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
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JIM HORNE
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
SALLY BRADSHAW
LINDA J. EADS, ED.D.
CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA
JULIA L. JOHNSON
WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, PH.D.
M E M O R A N D U M
TO
: District School Superintendents and Non-Profit Organizations
FROM
: Jim Warford
DATE
: August 19, 2003
SUBJECT
: Governor’s Mentoring Initiative: School-Based 3
rd
Grade Initiative
Conference Report on Senate Bill 2A, Specific Appropriation 4C, authorizes the Commissioner of
Education to award grant dollars for discretionary projects focused on providing mentoring services for
students as part of the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative. An amount of $950,000 has been appropriated
statewide for this initiative. Additionally, in an effort to incorporate innovative strategies within this
program, $275,000 has been set aside to fund approximately 55 Governor’s Mentoring Initiative, School-
based 3
rd
grade projects. The Department has dedicated an initiative to target 3
rd
grade primarily as a
recipient of these services due to the following factors:
⇒
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The Florida Center of Reading Research concluded students learn to read during Pre-K to 3
rd
grade; by 4
th
grade, they read to learn
⇒
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3
rd
grade FCAT assessments are now used in part to determine a student’s progress for
promotion/retention purposes.
Each school project is limited to $5,000 or less per school. Applications for this initiative should focus on
strategies designed to improve the delivery of services, the quality of instruction, and the appropriate
methods and intervals of assessment for this intended population, more specifically “struggling” third
graders. This allocation is granted for use between July 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004.
The Governor’s Mentoring Initiative funding provides incentive dollars to districts and non-profit groups
to partner with schools in providing mentoring services. The Department invites your local schools to
submit proposals through their district office or through non-profit groups for Governor’s Mentoring
Initiative projects.
Project proposals are due September 15, 2003, by the close of business.
JIM WARFORD
K – 12 Chancellor
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
Memorandum
August 19, 2003
Page 2
Preference will be given to low performing schools
. Please note that a completed district or non-profit
group application package should include separate Department of Education 101 forms that represent
each school’s budget as well as an aggregate DOE 101form budget summary from the district.
To receive these funds your district/non-profit organization must submit an application using the attached
Request for Proposal.
Please note that three new elements are being requested for the grant
application narrative: (1) how your organization will support Florida’s reading initiatives, (2) how
you will report outcomes, and (3) what will be your dissemination and marketing plan. The
Governor’s Mentoring Initiative Office has requested that you use its logo on any products you
disseminate.
Non-profit applicants should complete and submit the enclosed
General Terms, Assurances, and
Conditions for Participation in Federal and State Programs
form only if one is not already on file
with the Department of Education. Non-profit organizations are required to include a copy of the overall
current budget, the date of operating fiscal period, and a list of the board of directors if applicable.
Please
note that a completed application package should include the Department of Education 100A and
101 forms.
To compete for these funds, schools may need to amend School Improvement Plans for 2003 - 2004 to
incorporate the mentoring strategies for the project.
Please submit an original proposal with original signatures and four copies to the following address no
later than
September 15, 2003, by the close of business
:
Grants Management Office
Florida Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street
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Turlington Building, Suite 332
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Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
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Questions may be directed to Traci Cotton in the Office of Family and Community Outreach by e-mail or
phone as follows: traci.cotton@fldoe.org, (850) 245-0815 or SunCom 205-0815. Additionally, frequently
asked questions pertaining to this initiative, updates, and other information related to mentoring services
can be obtained from the following web address: www.flamentoring.org.
JW/tcm
Enclosures
Page 2
