Mathematics and Science Partnership ProgramTechnical Assistance Session

June 5, 2013Mary L. Ruzga

Office of Instructional Practices and EvaluationsSouth Carolina Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education’s Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) program is administered by the Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Program (AITQ) in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Title II, Part B.

Funding Source

Purpose

To encourage IHEs and school districts to collaborate in providing professional development that results in increased teacher content knowledge and teaching skills of mathematics and science and thus improve student performance.

Basic Information RFP is available at program website: http

://ed.sc.gov/agency/programs-services/60/ Deadline for e-mail of intent: June 7, 2013 Deadline for submission: 4:30 p.m., Tuesday,

July 9, 2013 Applications must be submitted online:

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=ZQcN-sObQS-L2DABKFHj8A

EligibilityPartnerships must include • higher education STEM faculty• at least one high need school district

Partnerships may also include• Businesses, • Nonprofit or for profit organizations• Additional LEAs, public charter schools, public or

private schools or a consortium of such schools• Additional IHE STEM faculty or IHE teacher

training department faculty

Eligibility continued

High-need school district that has both:

a. A poverty index of 60 percent or greater, and

b. 50 percent or greater of an LEA’s student population aged 5-17 is eligible for Title I services

Eligibility continued

PRIVATE SCHOOL CONSULTATION FORM

Three-years Subject to available federal funds Subject to meeting all requirements Continuation application may be required each year

$2.3 million for the 2013-14 funding cycle15 awards of approximately $100,000 to $350,000

Duration and Funding

Focus AreasArea 1 - Math and/or Science Related• Improved Teacher Pedagogy• Improved Teacher Content Knowledge

Area 2 – STEM Related• Improved teacher content knowledge in

STEM disciplines• Improved teacher understanding of link

among STEM disciplines• Improved teacher STEM-related pedagogy

Competitive Priorities

SCDE Staff will assign competitive priority points

Priority 1 – Vertical teams

Priority 2 – Closing achievement gap

Priority 3 – STEM curriculum development

Priority 4 – “D” or “F” letter grade

Priority 5 – Partnership with plaintiff school districts

Summary/Abstract

One page, single-spaced Overview of Three-year Plan Identify Partners Summary of Need Summary of Goals and Objectives as related to

Focus Area and Competitive Priorities - if sought Explain Evaluation Method Identify Required Funding

Save as a .pdf document and upload as an attachment

Proposal Narrative

Length of Narrative: Maximum of 15 pages for the Proposal Narrative only (not including the table of contents)

Required Font/Font Size: Times New Roman or Arial/Size 12 Margins: 1” on all sides Page Numbers: Bottom right corner Spacing: Double-spacing throughout narrative. Charts and tables may

be single-spaced.

Statement of NeedWhat to include• Identified Need and Supporting Data • Data Collection Method• Impact - # of teachers and geographical area(s)• How Need Addresses Focus Area and Competitive

Priorities Sought

Sources of Data• Student academic performance• Benchmark or state standardized tests• Teacher PD Needs Assessment – must be specific and

data based

Goals and Objectives

Goals – What the partnership plans to accomplishObjectives – Statements that explain one way to know goals have been metMust:• Relate to the selected Focus Area• Address each of the goals and objectives• Address each of the competitive priorities, if

sought• Be specific, measureable, achievable, relevant

and time-specific (SMART)

Strategies, Activities and Timeline

• Detailed plan for meeting goals and objectives

• Driven by scientifically-evidenced based interventions

• Authorized activities – pages 8-9

Workshop or InstituteNot less than 2 weeks (60 hours)

2 weeks onlymust have 4 follow-up days

More than 2 weeksmust have 3 follow-up days

Follow-up days Consecutive or nonconsecutiveDistance learning for rural school districts

Definition of Terms

Strategies, Activities and Timeline

• Detailed plan for meeting goals and objectives

• Driven by scientifically-evidenced based interventions

• Authorized activities – pages 8-9

** Timeline of Activities and Expenditures

Management and Sustainability

Management• Identify Lead Institution• Project Director Qualifications• Roles and Responsibilities of Partnerso Partner Identification and Fundingo Partner Commitment Lettero Resumes of PMT

Sustainability –Partner roles beyond project term

Evaluation and Dissemination

Comparison Group Designs are preferable

This component must: Include a table listing project objectives and for each objective • Types of data collected• Instrument or protocol to be administered• How/when administered

Identification of External EvaluatorUp to ten percent of the requested funds can

be used for evaluation

Evaluation and Dissemination

Guide for Reporting on Rigorous Evaluations for the Mathematics and Science Partnerships (http://www.ed-msp.net/public_documents/document/resource/Guide%20for%20Reporting%20on%20MSP%20Evaluations.pdf

DisseminationDescribe how will information about the project

be shared

• All applications must be complete to be considered• Scores of 3 reviewers will be averaged

Minimum averaged score of 80 Competitive Priority Points

• Additional award considerationsCost effectivenessEquityPrevious MSP awardees

• Anticipated that awards will be made in mid August, 2013

Review and Selection

Competitive Priorities

SCDE Staff will assign competitive priority points

Priority 1 – Vertical teams

Priority 2 – Closing achievement gap

Priority 3 – STEM curriculum development

Priority 4 – “D” or “F” letter grade

Priority 5 – Partnership with plaintiff school districts

Important Dates

June 7 - Deadline for submitting email of intent

July 9 - Deadline for receipt of application

Mid August - Notification of awards

September - Programs Begin

August, 2014 - Program must end

October 31, 2014 - Deadline for year-end report

Budgets Budget period - September 1, 2013, through August

31, 2014. Budget Summary Timeline of Activities and Expenditures

Timeline of Activities and Expenditures

How to complete the form: Date of activity Related Objective or Goal Activity to Achieve Objective Evidence that Proves Activity has been Completed OR

Data to be Collected from Activity Persons/Agency Responsible Number of Teachers To be Served Cost/Expenditure Budget Categories Budget Narrative Date by Which Expenditure is Paid

Authorized Expenditures

Category GuidelinesTeacher Stipends The approved rate per eight-hour day during off-

contract time; teacher fringe benefits may be covered by MSP grant funds.

Substitutes The approved rate per day when MSP training sessions take place during teacher contract time.

Project Management Team (PMT) Salaries

Not to exceed 10 percent of the project director’s salary and 5 percent of the site coordinators’ salaries. The salary(ies) of the program coordinators, project director, and site coordinators must not exceed 10 percent of the grant amount.

Authorized ExpendituresCategory Guidelines

Fiscal Agent The administration and management of the grant is the responsibility of the fiscal agent. Fiscal agents are not allowed to subcontract any duties to a third party.

Subcontracts Are not allowed under the program.

Indirect Costs Not to exceed 8 percent of the total award.

Consultants Not to exceed $500 per day. The total funds for consultants should not exceed 5 percent of the grant amount.

IHE Faculty Regular salary per hour of contact time. No additional money for preparation is allowed.

Authorized ExpendituresCategory Guidelines

Evaluator Up to 10 percent of total project budget must be spent on a formal project evaluator.

Travel Reimburse mileage, meals, and lodging according to state/system guidelines for project-related travel.

Carryover Carryover from one year to another is not allowed. All funds must be expended by the end of each year.

Meeting Events Reimburse travel expenses for management team participation in MSP events hosted by both the US Department of Education and the SCDE, according to state/system guidelines.

Authorized Expenditures

Category Guidelines

Materials and Supplies

To facilitate the professional learning of teachers participating in the project. Funds may not be used to purchase equipment or instructional materials for students. The budget justification should indicate the general types of expendable materials and supplies required. Materials and supplies are defined as tangible personal property, other than equipment, costing less than $5,000 per item. Cost estimates must be included for items that represent a substantial amount of the proposed line item cost. 

Unauthorized Expenditures

The following expenditures are not allowable under the MSP: costs associated with writing the application; equipment (smart boards, computers, printers, etc); classroom sets of materials for the students of the

teacher student activities such as field trips full salaries of administrative or clerical personnel; tuition charges and/or university/activity fees already

covered in the IHE partners’ salary and fringe; capital improvements;

Unauthorized Expenditures compensation for the research of individual scholars or

faculty members; compensation for IHE faculty attending workshops or

conferences other than USED Mathematics and Science Partnership conferences;

travel to out-of-state professional meetings, unless it is demonstrated that attendance at a meeting will directly and significantly advance a project;

costs that are not directly related to the educational program and that are unsupported by the proposal; and

entertaining.

Guidelines for Activities and Expenditure

• Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) Part 74 and 80 http://www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/reg/edgarReg/edgar.html

• Cost Principles - Office Management Budget (OMB) Circular A-21, A-122, and A-87 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_default

Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program Competitive Grant

Application Submission Process

Julie HicksGrants Program, Office of General CounselSouth Carolina Department of EducationJune 5, 2013

Presentation Goals

• Provide information on how to organize the proposal before submission.

• Provide guidance and directions to properly and successfully submit an application for the Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program Competitive Grant.

General Information•Deadline for submission: July 9, 2013•Prepare to enter and submit entire application all at

once.•Applicants will not be able to exit and return to an

incomplete application.•Link to submit a proposal:

https://adobeformscentral.com/?f=ZQcN-sObQS-L2DABKFHj8A

•Link to the RFP: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/programs-services/60/

Prior to Submission

•Write proposal and budget timeline narratives first!

•Obtain all signatures early.

•Complete or acquire all Proposal Attachments. Save the documents as directed in the RFP.

•Compile the required online information using the screenshots (in RFP) prior to entering the application.

You will not be able to return to an incomplete application, so prepare to enter and submit your application at one time.

Application Proposal Content

•MSP Program Competitive Grant online form sections

•Proposal Attachments

MSP Program Competitive Grant Form Sections•Lead Institution•Authorized Official Information•Financial Official Information•Project Director Information•Key Partner Information•Program Information•Competitive Priorities•Funding Information•Budget Summary

MSP Program Competitive Grant Proposal Attachments

•Program Summary/Abstract

•Proposal Narrative•Timeline of Activities

and Expenditures•Appendices

Applicant Information

Enter the Lead Institution information.

Do not use a person’s name or contact information.

Contact your finance office for DUNS# and Tax Identification Number (TIN).

Authorized Official Information

Provide the formal name and contact information of the Lead Institution’s Authorized

Official.

Financial Official Information

Provide the formal name and contact information of the Lead Institution’s Financial

Official.

Project Director Information

Provide the project director’s formal name and contact information.

NOTE: This is the person who will receive the confirmation of submission e-mail. Enter correct address!

Provide the name and contact information of the person to oversee and direct the project.

Key Partner Information

Select number of key partners and enter the information requested for each partner. Use formal

name(s).

Program InformationEnter the date of when your program will begin and end, not funding period.

Indicate if applicant previously received an MSP Grant and years awarded.

If addressing Focus Area 1, select subject(s).

Competitive Priorities

If yes for Priority 5, select all district partners.

Funding Information and Budget Summary

Provide a budget summary for year one.

Round to the nearest dollar.

Do not include cents.

Include the total three-year project period.

Enter amount requested for Year 1 only.

Proposal Attachments

All attachments must be saved as a .pdf document, except for Timeline of Activities and Expenditures (save it as an Excel Spreadsheet).

Read Part II of the RFP for what to include in the summary and narrative.

Attaching a File

Click

Select File

Click

File Attached

Submission

Click

Be Patient!

Confirmation

Reminders

•Cannot return to application once submitted.

•Reenter the entire application (if needed) – last complete submission will be reviewed.

•Partial submissions will not be reviewed.

•Project Director will receive confirmation e-mail and copy of data submitted.

•Retain the e-mail confirmation and data along with the proposal and other forms.

Contact Information

•Mary Ruzga▫Phone: 803-734-5954▫E-mail: mruzga@ed.sc.gov

•Carmen Addison▫Phone: 803-734-6013▫E-mail: caddison@ed.sc.gov