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OEF 410
Qualified Zone Academy Bond Program Application
Remit to: Florida Department of Education
Office of Educational Facilities
325 W. Gaines Street
1054 Turlington Building
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
A
pplication Deadline: March 31, 2007
Date: Contact
Person:
District:
Title:
School:
Address:
Address:
City:
City:
Zip:
Zip:
Phone/Fax:
By what date can the district incur QZAB
debt?
E-mail:
I. Eligibility Criteria
Criterion 1 - The district must be qualified by virtue of location or composition of
student body (on a school-by-school basis). Select one of the
following:
G
Location
The school is located in an Empowerment Zone (City of Jacksonville and
Miami-Dade County) or in an Enterprise Community (Empowerment Alliance
of Southwest Florida, that represents Immokalee and portions of Hendry
County).
G
Composition of Student Body
There is a reasonable expectation, as of the date of issuance of the bonds,
that at least 35 percent of the students attending the school participating in
the program will be eligible for free or reduced cost lunches established
under the National School Lunch Act.
Criterion 2 - The eligible school district has written commitments from private entity
match partners to make qualified contributions having a present value,
as of the date of the issuance, of not less than 10 percent of the
proceeds of the bond issue, including such items as
:
_
Equipment for use in the qualified zone academy (including state-of-the-
art technology and vocational equipment, school busses are not allowed),
_
Technical assistance in developing curriculum or training teachers to
promote market-driven technology in the classrooms,
_
Internships, field trips, or other educational opportunities outside the
academy for students,
_
Any other property (including cash) or service specified by the local
education agency (LEA), that meets IRS requirements, and
_
The value of the 10 percent match is below the fair market value offered
by any entity providing similar products or services.
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OEF 410
Criterion 3 - The 10 percent match partner will help to set up an academic program
(academy) to
A
prepare students for college or workforce,
@
as required
by the QZAB legislation.
_
This academy program should specify how many students will be trained
in which academic areas using what resources, when the program will be
implemented, who will direct the implementation and evaluation, and how
the evaluation (pre- and post-tests) will be accomplished.
Criterion 4 - The academy program is established by and operated under the
supervision of an eligible local education agency (LEA), as defined in
Section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965,
to provide education or training below the post-secondary level:
_
Such academy is designed in cooperation with business to enhance the
academic curriculum, increase graduation and employment rates, and
better prepare students for the demands of college and the increasingly
complex workforce, and
_
Students in the academy are subject to the same academic standards
and assessments as other students educated by the school districts, and
_
The comprehensive education plan of the program is approved by the
school district.
_
Criterion 5 - Eligible QZAB projects include:
_
Rehabilitating or repairing the public school facility in which the academy
is established,
_
Providing equipment for use at such academy,
_
Providing instructional materials, and/or
_
Providing professional development for teachers.
Criterion 6 - Requests must contain a minimum of $1 million and a maximum of $5
million in projects per district. Please do not request more bonding
authority than you can reasonable expect to repay or qualify for through a
financial institution.
II. Certificate of Eligibility
The School Board certifies through a board resolution dated ________________ ,
that the school district has satisfied Criterion 1a or 1b, and Criteria 2 through 5.
Please check appropriate boxes and attach a copy of the resolution.
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OEF 410
III. Required Documentation
The Application must include the following:
G
A copy of the resolution referenced in the Certificate of Eligibility section.
G
Written verifications from private entity match partners must be attached to
the application.
•
Note: Providers of services or materials for the proposed project are
not eligible as contributors to meet the 10 percent contribution
requirement.
G
An affidavit signed by the school superintendent, financial advisors, bond
counsels, and the 10 percent match partners stating that the value of the 10
percent match is at or below the fair market value offered by any entity
providing similar products or services.
G
An overview of the proposed academic program/academy details including,
but not limited to: program description, the number of students benefiting,
resources used, when and how the program will be implemented, who will
direct the implementation and evaluation, and how the evaluation (pre and
post tests) will be accomplished.
G
A written spending plan including commitments to spend 10 percent of funds
within 6 months and 95 percent within 5 years of the issue of QZAB bonds.
G
Applications must clearly explain the means by which the district intends to
repay the bond principle upon maturity.
.
Amount of Bond Authorization Requested:
$
District Financing Source:
I certify under penalty of perjury that to the best of my knowledge, the information in this
application is true and correct and is in compliance with statutes and administrative
provisions of the Florida Department of Education. The school board has authorized
me to sign this application on its behalf.
Signature of Superintendent/Date