As a provider of high quality prekindergarten services, your school district has met an important need in the community

M E M O R A N D U M

JIM HORNE

SECRETARY

F. PHILIP HANDY

CHAIRMAN

LINDA J. EADS, Ed. D.

T. WILLARD FAIR

CHARLES PATRICK GARCÍA

JULIA L. JOHNSON

WILLIAM L. PROCTOR, Ph.D

CHARLIE CRIST

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399

www.flboe.org

(850) 201-7400

FLORIDA BOARD OF EDUCATION

CONTACT PERSONS

NAME: Donnajo Smith

PHONE: (850) 488-1106

SUNCOM: 278-1106

E-MAIL:

Donnajo.Smith@fldoe.org

NAME: Kay Caster

PHONE: (850) 413-9004

SUNCOM: 993-6304

E-MAIL:

Kay.Caster@fldoe.org

DPS: 03-050

M E M O R A N D U M

TO:

School District Superintendents

FROM:

Kathy Mizereck, Deputy Chancellor

Student Achievement and Articulation

DATE:

November 18, 2002

SUBJECT:

2003-04 Challenge Grants for the Gifted Collaborative

Curriculum Projects: Call for Applications

We are pleased to inform you that the Florida Department of Education has

allocated $100,000 for this year’s Challenge Grant, Collaborative Curriculum

Projects. This grant is available on a competitive basis to teachers, schools, and

school districts. The attached request for applications provides detailed

information regarding the project purpose, target population, desired outcomes,

appropriate collaboration, special terms and conditions, and funding.

The Collaborative Curriculum Projects are intended to promote the

innovative

redesign of instruction and improved academic performance of students who

are gifted through

collaboration between gifted students or teachers and other

students, colleagues, mentors, or agencies.

It is expected that this collaboration

will enhance instruction and the academic performance of gifted students by

introducing new perspectives, information, skills, and talents to instruction.

Collaboration may be with general education classrooms, classrooms for students

with disabilities, other gifted classes, other schools or school districts,

professionals in a particular field who are willing to become mentors and share

expertise, colleges or universities, museums, and laboratories. These

collaborative projects may involve face-to-face interaction or coordination

through the use of technology such as the internet.

DPS Memorandum

November 18, 2002

Page Two

Teachers in your district are invited to submit an application. Applications must

Contain the original signature of the superintendent

Be submitted with the original and four copies (Faxes will not be accepted. It is not necessary to

include copies of the instructions or appendices.)

Be received at the Florida Department of Education by 5:00 p.m. on February 21, 2003

Be prepared following the guidelines in the 2003-04 Challenge Grant Collaborative Curriculum

Projects Application Instructions

Be typewritten or word processed using a font size no smaller than 10

Include correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Each district may submit a maximum of five applications. Applications will be reviewed using criteria

specified on the

Reviewer Rating Sheet

attached to the application instructions. We anticipate notifying

applicants of the review outcome in April 2003. The effective dates for all approved projects will be July

1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.

The amount of funding awarded to any one project will be based on the estimated costs of the proposed

program; however, a maximum of $10,000 will be awarded to each project. Funding will be competitive

and based on the recommendations of a review team. Consideration will be given to geographical

distribution throughout the state, with a minimum of 20% of the funds allocated to the 32 districts that

participate in the Institute for Small and Rural Districts (ISRD).

Applications should be submitted by February 21, 2003, to:

Grants Management/Challenge Grants

Florida Department of Education

Turlington Building, Room 325

325 West Gaines Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400

Applications that do not meet the requirements in the memo and application packet or are received in the

Bureau of Grants Management after 5:00 p.m., February 21, 2003, will not be reviewed.

We appreciate your interest in this program and look forward to the implementation of outstanding

programs for Florida’s gifted students.

SG/dsm

Attachments

cc: Assistant Superintendents for Instruction

Administrators, Exceptional Student Education

University Lab School Directors

Contact Persons, Programs for the Gifted

Mary Anne Brost, ISRD

2002-03 Collaborative Curriculum Project Grant Recipients