FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL [RFP]
VOLUNTARY PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE
MENTOR DISTRICT PROJECT
Bureau/Office:
Choice and Charter School Office
Title
:
Voluntary Public School Choice Mentor District Project
Specific Funding
Authority(ies):
Title V, Promoting Informed Parental Choice and Innovative
Programs, Part A, Innovative Programs
Legislative Authority:
CFDA #84.361A, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 as amended by No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, P.L. 107-
110
Funding Purpose:
To assist the Florida Department of Education with expanding and
replicating high quality public school choice programs throughout
Florida.
Target Population:
School district administrators, public school administrators,
students, and parents.
Funding Priorities:
Priority is given to school districts offering a wide variety of
choices to all students, allowing the greatest number of students in
low-performing schools to attend higher-performing schools, and
actively implementing an inter-district public school choice
program for two consecutive school years.
Support for
Reading Initiative:
All applicants are required to describe how the project will support
Just Read, Florida!. See Narrative Section III-B.
Eligible Applicants:
Florida School Districts actively implementing a voluntary public
school choice plan for one school year. Priority will be given to
school districts that have implemented a voluntary public school
choice plan for two consecutive school years.
Type of Award:
Discretionary
Competitive
Total Funding Amount:
Maximum of $1,500,000
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Range of Awards:
Approximately ten projects between $50,000 and $150,000 will be
awarded.
Approximate Typical
Amount of Award:
$100,000
Funding Period:
May 1, 2003 – September 30, 2003
Additional Years:
Funds are available for four additional years for similar amounts.
Future budget periods will be a full year: October 1 – September
30. Awards will not be extended beyond the budget period.
Recipients will submit an updated application and budget
description prior to each new grant period. The new application,
budget and prior year’s performance will be reviewed to determine
future funding.
Funding Method:
Federal Cash Advance
Local Match:
Not
Applicable
Dissemination and
Marketing
:
All applicants are required to describe how they will disseminate
and market information about the project. See Narrative Section,
Reporting on Outcome, III-C.
Contact Person:
Lisa K. Kammel
Program Director
Choice
Office
(850)
488-5571
Lisa.Kammel@fldoe.org
Deadlines:
Applications must be received at the delivery address by 5:00 p.m.
on April 19, 2003. Applications received after that date, regardless
of postmark, will not be considered.
Delivery Address:
Bureau of Grants Management
Room 325
325 W Gaines Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
Required Forms:
The following must be included for the application to be
considered in substantially approvable form:
DOE 100A – Project Application Form, with appropriate original
signature by agency head
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Authorization letter: If the signature on the DOE 100A is other
than the agency head, a letter authorizing that individual to sign
must be attached.
DOE 101 – Budget Narrative Form
The Department of Education has developed and implemented a
document entitled, General Terms, Assurances and Conditions for
Participation in Federal and State Programs, to comply with:
•
34 CFR Part 76.301 of the Education Department General
Administration Regulations (EDGAR) which requires local
educational agencies to submit a common assurance for
participation in federal programs funded by the U.S.
Department of Education;
•
applicable regulations of other Federal agencies; and
•
state regulations and laws pertaining to the expenditure of state
funds.
In order to receive funding, applicants must have on file with the
Department of Education, Office of the Comptroller, a signed
statement by the agency head certifying applicant adherence to
these General Assurances for Participation in State or Federal
Programs. The complete text of which may be found at
http://www.firn.edu/doe/bin00007/gbook.htm. (A hard copy is
available upon request.)”
School Districts, Community Colleges, Universities and State
Agencies
The certification of adherence filed with the Department of
Education Comptroller’s Office shall remain in effect indefinitely
unless a change occurs in federal or state law, or there are other
changes in circumstances affecting a term, assurance, or condition.
Private Colleges, Community-based Organizations, and Other
Agencies
Applicants must submit with the application the certification page
signed by the agency head certifying applicant adherence to the
general terms, assurances, and conditions. Please note that private
colleges, community-based organizations, and other non-public
agencies must also submit copies of the organization’s current
budget, a list of its board of directors, and a copy of its most recent
annual audit report prepared by an independent certified public
accountant licensed in this state. These items must be submitted
prior to the issuance of a project award.
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Format Requirements:
Applicants must submit four copies of the completed application.
Faxed applications will not be accepted. One of the four copies
submitted must bear the original signature of the appropriate
agency head. The agency head is the school district
superintendent, university or community college president, state
agency commissioner or secretary, or the president/chairman of the
Board for other eligible applicants. It is recommended that the
signature be made in an ink color other than black to help
reviewers determine which is the original signature copy.
Method of providing
changes and frequently
asked questions:
Any answers to questions, changes in dates, clarifications or
addenda to the RFP will be conveyed via e-mail to all school
districts.
Method of Selection:
Applications will be subject to technical review by the Department
of Education and content review by a Voluntary Public School
Choice Review Committee. The committee will be comprised of
Department of Education staff, university partners and educational
nonprofit organizations. Subject areas such as equity and diversity,
family involvement, school improvement, transportation, and
school choice will be represented. Applicant scores will guide the
program office’s recommendation for funding. Priority in
awarding projects will be given to those applicants who:
•
Currently have two years of experience with the
implementation of public school choice;
•
Offer a wider variety of choices to all students, including
magnet and charter schools;
•
Allowing the greatest number of students in low-performing
schools to attend higher-performing schools;
•
Demonstrate extensive parent involvement;
•
Market high quality information to parents;
•
Provide for free transportation to students participating in any
of the choice programs; and
•
Utilize a reliable quantitative and qualitative system for
evaluating the effectiveness of choice program implementation.
Reporting outcomes and
other implementation
requirements:
Applicant must currently be implementing a voluntary public
school choice plan and have one full school year of prior
experience in voluntary public school choice program
implementation.
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Recipients will be required to participate in and present at a
voluntary public school choice statewide conference.
Recipients will be required to submit a financial and performance
report by June 30, 2003, and an annual report by October 30, 2003.
Narrative Requirements:
PROJECT ABSTRACT – Not Scored
Include a one- or two-paragraph abstract summarizing the proposal.
NEEDS STATEMENT – 5 Points
Describe in 2 pages or less the need for a public school choice plan in the school district. Explain
how parents and children are positively impacted by implementation of the plan. Describe the
extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local capacity to provide, improve, or
expand services (i.e., choice options) that address the needs of all students.
PROPOSAL NARRATIVE – Maximum of 55 total points possible
PART I: DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM
A. History of School Choice Plan and Implementation – 5 Points
Describe the history of the district’s school choice plan and implementation. Districts must
currently be implementing school choice and have been for one full school year. More points are
given to school districts that have been implementing school choice for two full school years.
B. Type and Amount of District School Choice Offered – 10 Points
Describe the educational choices that are offered to students by the school district.
Please provide documentation of the following:
•
Number and type of existing school choice programs in the district; and
•
Number and percentage of district students applying for each choice program and the
number and percentage of students enrolled in each program.
Describe if and how parents are offered unrestricted and free access to the greatest range of
public schools in the school district, without review of parental hardship or justification.
In determining whether a proposed project provides a wide variety of choices, the Department
will consider the characteristics of the school district.
C. School Diversity and Student Equity – 5 Points
Describe the student selection methods used to ensure fair and equitable practices. Provide
documentation of enrollment fairness guidelines.
D. School Improvement – 10 Points
Describe specific district plans for action or assistance to be provided to under-selected or low-
performing schools, including those schools designated as failing schools in the annual School
Accountability Report. Please indicate whether students at low-performing schools are given the
opportunity to attend higher-performing schools. More points are awarded to districts providing
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students in low-performing schools the option to attend higher-performing schools. In
determining whether a proposed project would have a substantial impact in allowing students in
low-performing schools to attend higher-performing schools, the Department will consider,
among other things, the percentage of students in low-performing schools who would be able to
attend higher-performing schools under the jurisdiction of the applicant.
E. Parental Awareness, Involvement and Satisfaction – 10 Points
Describe the district’s level of parental awareness and parental information procedures. These
procedures should ensure that all families in the community have full opportunity to be informed
about and participate in public school choice. Describe how parents will be involved in the
program, including how their satisfaction and concerns will be documented.
Please provide documentation of the following:
•
Number of parents receiving school choice applications;
•
Number and percentage of parents receiving their first or second choice of school;
•
Level of parental involvement; and
•
Parental satisfaction and concerns.
More points are awarded to districts with extensive parental awareness and communication
procedures, such as Parent Resource Centers and parents annually receiving school choice
registration forms enabling them apply to the public school of their choice.
F. Transportation – 10 Points
Describe transportation options provided to students in the school choice plan.
Please include the following transportation data from the prior year:
•
Type of transportation plan being used;
•
Number of parents requesting and receiving “school choice” transportation;
•
Average number of miles, transfers, and duration of a choice student’s transportation
schedule; and
•
Approximate cost per student of this transportation service.
Demonstrate how your district provides accessible, cost-effective transportation options to all
students in the public school choice programs. More points will be awarded to applicants
providing free accessible transportation to all students participating in their voluntary public
school choice program.
G. Evaluation, Assessment and Accountability – 5 Points
Describe the evaluation methods and data used to determine the effectiveness of public school
choice in the school district. Specifically address how assessment and accountability data are
collected and used, including tracking of individual student progress and academic gain scores.
PART II: DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT – Maximum of 25 points possible
A. Goals, Objectives, and Strategies of Proposed Project – 15 points
Describe the goals, objectives and strategies that will be utilized in the proposed project to
maintain, improve and expand the current level of school choice. Include a timeline for
achieving these goals, objectives and strategies. Specifically address how the current level of
public school choice will be affected if funding is awarded.
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B. Reading Initiative – 5 Points
Describe the relationship of the proposed project to the Department’s reading initiative,
specifically Just Read! Florida. Describe how the proposed project will support the reading
initiative.
C. Dissemination and Marketing – 5 Points
Describe the plan or methods that will be used to share methodology and results from the
proposed project with other entities who may desire to replicate the project.
Budget Requirements:
BUDGET NARRATIVE (5 pages or less) – 15 Points
A. Explain the need to receive funding for the implementation of the public school choice
program.
B. Describe how these federal funds will be used. Justify budget items indicated on the required
DOE 101 Budget Narrative Form as they relate to the objectives and activities detailed in Part II
of the proposal narrative.
C. Describe how the benefit of the project will be sustainable for the applicant and recipients
beyond the period of the grant.
An eligible entity that receives a contract under the Voluntary Public School Choice
Program may use the grant funds for:
a)
Maintaining, improving and expanding current school choice program;
b)
Transfering student funding to public elementary schools or secondary schools
that students choose under the program;
c)
Providing transportation to students in the school choice program;
d)
Capacity-enhancing activities that enable high-demand public elementary schools
or secondary schools to accommodate transfer requests under the program;
e)
Executing public education campaigns to inform students and parents about the
program; and
f)
Other costs that are reasonably necessary to implement the program.
An eligible entity that receives an award under the Voluntary Public School Choice
Program may not use the funds for school construction or use more than
5 % for administrative expenses including indirect costs.
Required Attachments:
Include no more than eight (8) letters of support for the proposed
project. Documentation and data required in proposal narrative
may be included as attachments. Please indicate in the proposal
narrative the location of any required documentation or additional
information in the attachment section.
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Scoring Criteria:
NEEDS STATEMENT – 5 Points
In order to receive the total number of points, the applicant must effectively address the
following:
•
A strong need for public school choice implementation.
•
How parents and children are better served by school choice implementation.
•
The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local capacity to provide
improve, or expand services (i.e., choice options) that address the needs of all students.
PROPOSAL NARRATIVE – Maximum of 55 total points possible
PART I: DESCRIPTION OF CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM
A. History of School Choice Plan and Implementation – 5 Points
•
Applicant effectively describes the history of their school choice plan and
implementation.
•
Applicant must prove that it currently implements school choice and has been for one full
school year.
•
Two of the five points will be given to applicants that have been implementing school
choice for two full school years.
B. Type and Amount of District School Choice Offered – 10 Points
•
Applicant effectively describes the educational choices that are offered to students by the
school district.
•
Applicant provides documentation of the number and type of existing school choice
programs in the district. Applicant provides documentation for the number and
percentage of district students applying for each choice program and the number and
percentage of students enrolled in each program.
•
Applicant has an effective system for offering a wide variety of inter-district school
choice and offering parents unrestricted and free access to the greatest range of public
schools in the school district, without review of parental hardship or justification.
•
Proportionate to its size, applicant’s public school choice open enrollment options go
significantly beyond existing district choice options [i.e. magnet schools, alternative
schools, advanced placement, dual enrollment, or traditional attendance zones.]
C. School Diversity and Student Equity – 5 Points
•
Applicant has student selection methods in place that ensure fair and equitable practices.
•
Applicant selects students to participate in its public school choice program on a lottery
basis, if more students apply for admission to the program than can be accommodated.
Note: For purposes of this program, a lottery is defined as a random selection process
through which applicants for admission to a participating public school are admitted to
the school.
•
Applicant provides documentation of enrollment equity guidelines.
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D. School Improvement – 10 Points
•
Applicant effectively describes specific district plans for action or assistance to be
provided to under-selected or low-performing schools, including those schools designated
as failing schools in the annual School Accountability Report.
•
Two out of the ten points will be given to applicants effectively demonstrating that a
sufficient percentage of students in low- performing schools have been allowed to attend
higher-performing schools. Note: The Department will consider, among other things, the
percentage of students in low-performing schools who would be able to attend higher-
performing schools under the jurisdiction of the applicant.
•
Applicant has in place district plans or assistance that go beyond school improvement
plans for under-selected or low performing schools.
E. Parental Awareness, Involvement and Satisfaction – 10 Points
•
Applicant effectively describes level of parental awareness and parental information
procedures regarding participation in public school choice.
•
Applicant utilizes several different methods to communicate with parents. Examples of
these methods include town hall meetings, multi-language documents, web site, and
telephone calls to parents.
•
Applicant effectively describes how parents will be involved in the program and how
their satisfaction and concerns will be documented.
•
Applicant provides documentation regarding the number of parents receiving school
choice applications; number and percentage of parents receiving their first or second
choice of school; level of parental involvement; and parental satisfaction and concerns.
•
Two out of the ten points will be awarded to applicants with extensive parental awareness
and communication procedures, such as Parent Resource Centers and parents receipt of
an annual registration form which may be used to apply to the public school of their
choice.
•
Two out of the ten points will be awarded to applicants with documented parental
satisfaction.
F. Transportation – 10 Points
•
Applicant effectively describes the transportation options provided to students in the
school choice plan.
•
Applicant includes documentation from the prior year regarding type of transportation
plan being used; number of parents requesting and receiving “school choice”
transportation; average number of miles, transfers, and duration of a choice student’s
transportation schedule; and approximate cost per student of this transportation service.
•
Applicant demonstrates that effective and cost-efficient, or free transportation options are
available to all students in the public school choice program.
•
Applicant will receive two out of the ten points for providing free accessible
transportation to all students in their voluntary public school choice program.
G. Evaluation, Assessment and Accountability – 5 Points
•
Applicant effectively describes evaluation methods in place to determine the
effectiveness of school choice and effectively describes them.
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10
•
Applicant collects a wide range of data to determine the effectiveness of public school
choice.
•
Applicant effectively addresses how assessment and accountability data are collected and
used, including tracking of individual student progress and academic gain scores.
PART II: DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED PROJECT
A. Goals, Objectives, and Strategies of Proposed Project – 15 points
•
Applicant has realistic goals, objectives and strategies that will be utilized in the proposed
project to maintain, improve and expand current level of school choice.
•
The goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly
specified and measurable.
•
Applicant has included a realistic timeline for achieving the goals, objectives and
strategies.
•
Applicant effectively addresses how the district’s current level of public school choice
will be affected, if funding is awarded.
B. Reading Initiative – 5 Points
•
Applicant effectively describes the relationship of the proposed project to the
Department’s reading initiative, specifically Just Read! Florida.
•
Applicant describes how the proposed project will support the reading initiative.
C. Dissemination and Marketing – 5 Points
•
Applicant effectively describes the plan or methods that will be used to share their
methodology and results from the proposed project with other entities in a position to
replicate the project.
•
Applicant’s plan includes creative and cost-effective ways to disseminate and market
their choice programs.
BUDGET NARRATIVE (5 pages or less) – 15 Points
•
Applicant has a strong need
for funding for the implementation of the public school
choice program.
•
Applicant effectively describes how funds will be used and justifies items in the budget,
as they relate to the objectives and activities detailed in Part II of the proposal narrative.
•
All budget items described in the Budget Narrative section of the proposal are indicated
on the required DOE 101 Budget Narrative Form.
•
Applicant’s proposed use of funds are realistic, cost-effective and worthwhile.
•
Applicant effectively describes how the benefit of the project will be sustainable for the
applicant and recipients beyond the period of the project.
TOTAL POINTS: 100