Section 268.5  Definitions

 

"Program" means the After-School Grant Program created by this Part.

 

"State Board" means the State Board of Education.

 

"State Superintendent" means the State Superintendent of Education.

 

Section 268.10  Purpose and Applicability

 

This Part establishes the application procedure and criteria for selection by the State Board the entities that will receive funding for the After-School Grant Program in order to provide grants to school districts and other eligible entities for the implementation of a district's or school's after-school program.

 

Section 268.20  Eligible Applicants

 

Entities that are eligible to apply for a grant under this Subpart B are school districts with at least one school that has a low-income concentration of 70 percent or more or entities that have a district-wide, evidenced-based low-income concentration of 70 percent or more.

 

Section 268.30  Application Procedure

 

a)                  Subject to appropriation of funds for the Program, the State Superintendent shall make applications available to eligible entities.

 

b)                  The application shall describe the format that applicants will be required to follow and the information they will be required to submit, including identification of the specific schools that will be served throughout the grant period.

 

c)                  The application shall indicate the amount or expected amount of the appropriation for the Program.

 

d)                  The application shall include and require completion of a budget summary and payment schedule as well as a narrative budget breakdown that includes a detailed explanation of each line item of expenditure.

 

e)                  The application shall identify the information recipients will be required to collect and report regarding the activities conducted with grant funds and the results of those activities, as well as the timelines for reporting.

 

f)                   The application shall include certifications and assurances that the State Superintendent will require.

 

Section 268.40  Allocation of Funds

 

Eligible applicants will receive a base grant of $2,500 per qualifying school and, contingent upon the amount of funding available for the Program and the total number of students served by the eligible applicant, an additional amount per low-income pupil.

 

Section 268.50  Program Specifications

 

a)                  Grant funds may be used only for the following:

 

1)         to improve academic outcomes for students;

 

2)         to provide opportunities for enrichment activities in a safe and healthy environment; and

 

3)         to provide opportunities to strengthen public, private, and philanthropic partnerships so that quality support services are more durable for students facing the greatest challenges.

 

b)                  No more than five percent of grant funds may be used for general administrative expenses.

 

c)                   Each grantee must prepare a written plan that identifies programmatic goals and objectives developed through analysis of the entity's needs and that describes the grantee's approach to allocating district resources and securing other external support to meet those needs in a program that can be sustained over time.

 

Section 268.60  Criteria and Review of Applications

 

Applications submitted within the applicable fiscal year will be reviewed using the criteria in Sections 268.30 and 268.50.  No later than 14 days after submission of an application, the applicant will be notified electronically if the application for the grant has been approved or disapproved.

 

Section 268.100  Eligible Applicants

 

Entities that are eligible to apply for the grant under this Subpart C are entities that are not school districts or local education agencies.  These entities include, but are not limited to, Regional Offices of Education, Intermediate Service Centers; community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations, or Indian tribes or tribal organizations (as defined in the federal Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act).

 

Section 268.110  Application Procedure

 

For purposes of this Subpart, the terms "proposal" and "application" have the same meaning.

 

a)                  When State funding is available for grants under this Part, the State Superintendent will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit applications from eligible entities.

 

b)         The RFP will include the project-specific terms of the grant (see 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.370(a)(5)).

 

c)         The RFP will require the State-required certifications and assurances described in 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.370(a)(4).

 

d)         The RFP will include the Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance. The application page must be signed by the official authorized to submit proposals for the applicant.

 

e)         The RFP will require a program narrative that briefly describes the overall objectives and activities of the proposed project, including student, school, and community needs, the intended outcomes, and key people who will be involved in the project.

 

f)         The RFP will require a program plan that identifies program goals and objectives, activities that align to these goals, a timeline, budget, and anticipated audience.  Applicants must provide general details regarding the anticipated process, measures, or data elements to be used in determining the degree to which program objectives have been met.

 

g)         The RFP will require submission of a State Budget Summary and Payment Schedule.  No other budget form will be accepted.  District budgets must be signed by the district superintendent.  Other applicants must have an authorized official sign the form.  The payment schedule must be based on the projected date of expenditures.  Salaries and fringe benefits must be requested in equal intervals on the schedule.  Supplies, equipment, contracted services, and professional development must be requested in the month for which the expenditure is anticipated.

 

h)         The RFP will include a provision for the awarding of priority points.  ISBE will award an additional 10 points to entities proposing to serve students in districts furthest away from adequacy, as identified by the most recent evidence-based funding data available.

 

i)          Subject to appropriation for the Program, applicants seeking continued funding under the Program beyond the initial grant period must submit an annual application under this Section.

 

Section 268.120  Allocation of Funds

 

Applications for funding shall be approved by the State Superintendent and final determinations regarding the amounts to be provided shall be made based upon the total funds appropriated for this Program.

 

Section 268.130  Program Specifications

 

a)                  Grant funds may be used only for the following:

 

1)         to improve academic outcomes for students;

 

2)         to provide opportunities for enrichment activities in a safe and healthy environment; and

 

3)         to provide opportunities to strengthen public, private, and philanthropic partnerships so that quality of support services are more durable for students facing the greatest challenges.

 

b)                  Each grantee must propose to serve a population of students that is at least 90 percent low-income.

 

c)                  No more than five percent of grant funds may be used for general administrative expenses.

 

d)                  Each grantee must prepare a written plan that identifies programmatic goals and objectives developed through analysis of the entity's needs and that describes the grantee's approach to allocating district resources and securing other external support to meet those needs in a program that can be sustained over time.

 

Section 268.140  Criteria for the Review of Proposals

 

a)                  Applications for grants shall be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

 

1)                  Need (30 points) A needs assessment has been conducted and summarized within the proposal.  Identification of stakeholders, facts, and evidence that demonstrate the proposal supports the grant program purpose.

 

2)                  Quality of the Plan (40 points)

 

A)                The proposal demonstrates that the program to be implemented is based on sound research and can be reasonably accomplished based on projected timelines, resources, staff and facilities.

 

B)                The proposal demonstrates quantifiable goals for the eligible entity.

 

C)                The proposal acknowledges the central role of qualified staff who will oversee the program.

 

3)                  Capacity and Sustainability (30 points)

 

A)                The proposal is sustainable as it identifies a plan for allocating resources as well as securing additional resources from local organizations, businesses, and governmental agencies that will be useful to the grantee in sustaining an after-school program.

 

B)                The proposal is cost effective.  The proposed budget is reasonable based on the scope of the planning work to be conducted and the number of individuals to be involved.

 

b)                  Priority points may be given to proposals with specific areas of emphasis, as identified by the State Superintendent in the Request for Proposals.