Section 555.10  Purpose and Applicability

 

This Subpart A establishes the application procedure and criteria for selection by the State Superintendent of Education of the entities that will receive grant funds for programs designed to support students' mental health by:

 

a)         enhancing the recipients' capacity to identify and meet students' needs for early, coordinated mental health intervention services in "natural" settings;

 

b)         contributing to the development of a mental health support system for students that is integrated with community mental health agencies and other agencies and systems that serve children; and

 

c)         reducing the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness within the school community.

 

Section 555.20  Eligible Applicants

 

Eligible applicants shall be school districts, public university laboratory schools approved by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 18-8.05(K) of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/18-8.05(K)], charter schools, and area vocational centers.  For purposes of this Part, the terms "applicant" and "district" shall be understood to include all these eligible entities.

 

a)         Joint applications for funds may be submitted by any combination of eligible applicants, provided that one of the participants shall be designated to serve as administrative agent.

 

b)         No applicant shall participate in more than one proposal under this Subpart A.

 

Section 555.30  Program Specifications

 

a)         In order to achieve the goals specified in Section 555.10 of this Part, each proposed project shall include objectives and activities related to:

 

1)         Developing a protocol and structures for meeting the early intervention mental health needs of students, including identifying, referring, and following up on those who could benefit from early intervention, involving parents and other care-givers, and planning for and providing services from qualified mental health professionals, such as:

 

A)        assessment,

 

B)        individual and group counseling,

 

C)        family support, and

 

D)        school-wide mental health awareness activities;

 

2)         Coordinating services with those offered by other community-based service systems and providers by:

 

A)        developing a framework for the integration of social and emotional learning and mental health-related initiatives based on a team approach that includes school staff, community-based providers, students, and their families to build upon existing mental health structures,

 

B)        implementing formal interagency working agreements, and

 

C)        providing services in "natural" settings such as schools, youth-serving agencies, or family homes; and

 

3)         Reducing the mental health stigma within the school community by:

 

A)        conducting events for the school faculty, students, and family members to increase awareness regarding the impact of mental illness, the efficacy of mental health treatment, and the importance of early identification,

 

B)        addressing mental health stigmas that are specific to particular cultures or segments of the community, and

 

C)        promoting leadership among students and support for peers with regard to issues of mental health.

 

b)         Each proposed project shall make services available to all students housed in any attendance center for which funding is provided under this Subpart A.

 

Section 555.40  Application Procedure

 

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

 

a)         When State funding is available for grants under this Subpart A, the State Superintendent of Education shall issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in order to solicit applications from eligible entities.

 

b)         The RFP shall describe the format that applicants will be required to follow and the information they will be required to submit, including, but not limited to, descriptive information about the district, demographic information about the student population, identification of the specific schools that will be served and their needs, a plan of work for the project, an evaluation plan, and information about any related efforts that have already been undertaken.

 

c)         The RFP shall indicate the amount or expected amount of the appropriation for the program and shall describe the allowable expenditures and the basis for awarding grants.

 

d)         The RFP shall require completion of a budget summary and payment schedule as well as a narrative budget breakdown, i.e., a detailed explanation of each line item of expenditure.

 

e)         The RFP shall identify the data 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 and any required participation in technical assistance activities.

 

f)         The RFP shall include certification and assurance forms that the State Superintendent may require.

 

g)         The RFP shall specify the deadline for submission of proposals, which shall provide potential applicants with at least 30 days to respond.

 

h)         Separate applications shall be required for renewal of grant funding.  Each application for renewal shall include at least:

 

1)         a description of expenditures and activities during the year just concluded, demonstrating that the project has been implemented in conformance with the approved grant agreement and that the recipient continues to exhibit a need for grant funds for this purpose; and

 

2)         an updated budget summary and payment schedule for the renewal year, including a narrative budget breakdown.

 

i)          Incomplete proposals shall not be considered.

 

Section 555.50  Criteria for the Review of Initial Proposals

 

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

 

1)         Project Implementation and Management (50 points)

 

A)        The proposed project is likely to result in a student mental health support system that will assist the district in identifying and meeting the mental health needs of students through collaboration with other community agencies that serve children and address mental health issues.

 

B)        The proposed amount of time for services is appropriate for the number of students likely to be served, and the staff and partnerships to be dedicated to this initiative have the capacity to provide this level of service.

 

C)        The proposed objectives and timelines for conducting the activities of the project, including those of any subcontractors, adequately match the project's goals.

 

2)         Need (35 points)

The applicant has a significant need for the grant that cannot be met through use of existing resources, as evidenced by data that substantiate:

 

A)        the level and nature of need among members of the student population; and

 

B)        the district's need for additional resources to address gaps in school mental health services.

 

3)         Cost-Effectiveness (15 points)

The proposed budget is cost-effective, as evidenced by the cost of the proposed activities in relation to the numbers to be served and the services to be provided.  The criteria used in selecting schools for participation will contribute to achieving the widest possible impact.

 

b)         Among proposals that receive substantially equal rankings, priority will be given to districts in which more than 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.

 

Section 555.60  Allocation of Funds

 

a)         It is expected that 20 percent of the funds available for this program will be allocated to the Chicago Public Schools and that approximately 25 percent of grant recipients will be districts that either operate only one school or enroll no more than 1,000 students.  The State Superintendent of Education shall approve initial applications and make final determinations regarding the amounts to be provided based upon the total funds appropriated for this initiative, the allocation approach as provided in this subsection (a), the amounts necessary to fund the top-ranked proposals, and the need to distribute the benefits of support for students' mental health on a statewide basis and among districts of various types.

 

b)         It is the intention of the State Board of Education to approve funding for projects under this Subpart A for a three-year period.  Funding for the second and third years shall be contingent upon the availability of funds for the program and evidence presented in renewal proposals that the projects have been implemented in accordance with the approved grant agreements and that the recipients continue to need additional State resources in order to meet their students' mental health needs effectively.

 

c)         A district that has received three years' funding under this Subpart A may subsequently apply as a new applicant.

 

Section 555.110  Purpose and Applicability

 

This Subpart B establishes the application procedure and criteria for selection by the State Superintendent of Education of the entities that will receive grant funds for activities associated with implementing the social and emotional learning standards set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.Appendix D, including participation in relevant training and technical assistance.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 18688, effective November 28, 2023)

 

Section 555.120  Eligible Applicants

 

Eligible applicants for planning and training grants under this Subpart B shall be those identified in Section 555.20 of this Part, and joint applications shall be permitted as stated in that Section.  Eligibility for implementation grants under this Subpart B shall be limited to entities that have received planning and training grants for the respective prior school year and successfully completed those activities in accordance with the approved grant agreements.

 

Section 555.130  Program Specifications – Planning and Training Grants

 

The goal of each planning and training grant project under this Subpart shall be the development of a three-year plan for implementation of the social and emotional learning (SEL) standards set forth in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.Appendix D, as applicable to the grade levels of the participating schools.

 

a)         Each participating school shall be required to establish an implementation team consisting of at least a school administrator, a teacher, and a representative of the families whose children attend the school.  Activities to be conducted with planning and training grant funds shall include, but need not be limited to:

 

1)         participation by each school's implementation team in training and technical assistance activities made available by the regionally based training entity designated by the State Superintendent of Education;

 

2)         conducting at least two family education sessions relating to the social and emotional learning standards;

 

3)         identifying gaps in available resources and services related to social and emotional learning; and

 

4)         preparation of a plan setting forth a specific, three-year sequence of steps for moving toward the comprehensive integration of the social and emotional learning standards into the participating schools' educational programs, school environment, and other mental health supports.

 

b)         Each proposed planning and training project shall encompass all students housed in any attendance center for which funding is provided.

 

c)         No more than five percent of the grant funds may be used for general administrative expenses.  Stipends for extra work or time on the part of district employees, as well as necessary costs for substitute teachers, shall be allowable expenses.  Grant funds may be used to pay the salaries of district personnel only when at least six schools in a district are participating in planning and training projects under this Subpart.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 18688, effective November 28, 2023)

 

Section 555.135  Program Specifications – Implementation Grants

 

Implementation grant funds provided under this Subpart B shall be used for the purpose of integrating the SEL standards into the participating schools' curricula and programs.

 

a)         Grant funds shall be used only to defray costs associated with the time-specific, measurable steps outlined in the recipient's plan (e.g., working to identify specific additions and modifications that will be made to particular aspects of schools' services or curricula, assigning responsibility for the accomplishment of those modifications, and ensuring that responsible staff receive any necessary professional development in order to deliver the curriculum and address the standards effectively).  The use of grant funds to pay the salaries of district personnel shall be limited as provided in Section 555.130(c) of this Part.

 

b)         Each implementation project shall encompass all students housed in any attendance center for which funding is provided.

 

c)         A district that has received two years' implementation funding under this Subpart B shall be eligible to submit a planning and training grant proposal as a new applicant in a subsequent year, provided that:

 

1)         the applicant, if other than a district organized under Article 34 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/Art. 34], has successfully completed the entire previous grant cycle; and

 

2)         the new project will involve only schools not already served under a project previously funded.

 

Section 555.140  Application Procedure

 

The provisions of Section 555.40 of this Part shall apply to grants under this Subpart B.

 

Section 555.150  Criteria for the Review of Planning and Training Grant Proposals

 

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

 

1)         Need (50 points)

The proposal demonstrates that:

 

A)        the applicant serves a significant number of students who are subject to risk factors, such as financial need, absence or unemployment of a parent, chronic illness, or homelessness, that may jeopardize their social and emotional well-being; and

 

B)        gaps in current programs and systems have resulted in inadequate or uneven attention to the social and emotional learning needs of the students housed in the participating schools; and

 

C)        the applicant needs additional resources to prepare for the integration of the SEL standards into the participating schools' curricula and programs.

 

2)         Readiness (40 points)

 

A)        The proposal presents a defensible rationale for the selection and number of schools to be served and demonstrates that the applicant's choice of members for the Implementation Teams will make efficient use of any prior involvement in SEL-related activities.

 

B)        The proposed sequence of activities reflects the applicant's policy adopted under Section 15 of the Children's Mental Health Act of 2003 [405 ILCS 49/15], as well as an appropriate relationship between the professional development to be provided to participants and the planning activities that will occur.

 

C)        The proposal demonstrates an allocation of district resources and administrative effort that will be sufficient for the management of the grant activities, commensurate with the district's ability to contribute, and indicative of engagement in the project on the part of the district's leadership.

 

3)         Cost-Effectiveness (10 points)

The proposed budget is cost-effective, as evidenced by the cost of proposed activities in relation to the numbers of individuals participating in the planning effort and the quantity of schools involved.

 

b)         The provisions of Section 555.50(b) of this Part shall apply to the distribution and ranking of proposals under this Subpart B.

 

Section 555.155  Criteria for the Review of Implementation Grant Proposals

 

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

 

1)         Quality of the Plan (65 points)

 

A)        The proposal demonstrates that strategies and activities for integrating the SEL standards were selected with specific reference to the applicant's assessment of available resources and school-wide needs.

 

B)        The proposed three-year plan sets forth measurable goals and objectives and is likely to result in significant progress toward the complete integration of the SEL standards into the schools' curricula and programs and to assist students in achieving those goals and standards.

 

C)        The school staff members who will be involved with the integration of the SEL standards have the professional development and capacity to implement the plan.

 

2)         Need (25 points)

The proposal demonstrates that:

 

A)        the applicant serves a significant number of students whose family backgrounds or socio-economic situations may not adequately foster their social and emotional well-being; and

 

B)        gaps in current programs and systems have resulted in inadequate or uneven attention to the social and emotional learning needs of the students housed in the participating schools; and

 

C)        the applicant needs additional resources for the integration of the SEL standards into the participating schools' curricula and programs.

 

3)         Cost-Effectiveness (10 points)

The proposed budget is cost-effective, as evidenced by the cost of proposed activities in relation to the numbers to be served and the services to be provided.

 

b)         The provisions of Section 555.50(b) and (c) of this Part shall apply to the distribution and ranking of proposals under this Subpart B.

 

Section 555.160  Allocation of Funds

 

a)         The provisions of Section 555.60(a) of this Part shall apply to the allocation of funds under this Subpart B.

 

b)         It is the intention of the State Board of Education to approve projects under this Subpart B for a three-year period, in which the first year is devoted to planning and training and the second and third years are devoted to implementation of the plan.  Proposals for new projects from districts that have already completed a grant cycle under this program shall be funded only if sufficient funds remain available after awards are made for all approvable applications from districts that have not yet participated, provided that this limitation shall not apply to a school district organized under Article 34 of the School Code.

Section 555.APPENDIX A   Social and Emotional Learning Standards (Repealed)

 

(Source:  Repealed at 47 Ill. Reg. 18688, effective November 28, 2023)