OAR 581-017-0215: Implementation of Grant Funding

(1) The Department of Education will make awards between $50,000 and $250,000 for use during the 2013–2014 or 2014–2015 school year for each eligible Mentoring, Monitoring, Accelerated grant program. The Department may not award more than $3 million in total per biennium for the grants. (2) The Oregon Department of Education shall establish a request for proposal solicitation and approval process to be conducted for the Mentoring, Monitoring, Acceleration program funds. All proposals will comply with the requirements of ORS 327.800 and 327.815 and rules adopted to implement those sections. (3) Awards will be based on the following criteria: (a) Whether the proposal identifies how the funds will be used to reach the 40-40-20 goal and improve education outcomes for underserved and at risk and accelerating students as identified using the Oregon Equity Lens. (b) Whether the applicant proposal demonstrates support, commitment and readiness to design or revise culturally competent programming specifically for underserved/at-risk eighth and ninth grade students. (4) The Department shall give priority to proposals that meet the minimum criteria and: (a) Provide a sustainability plan to continue the program for at least two years after the program funding has ended. (b) The extent to which the applicant clearly documents its capacity to implement and carry out programming and services for students achieving a “C” or higher in core academic subjects within the current academic year. (5) The Department of Education shall allocate funds for the grant program based on the evaluation of the grant application and the following considerations: (a) Organizations that have documented evidence of serving underserved/at-risk eighth and ninth grade students or drop outs. (b) Organizations designed to return or advance eighth or ninth grade students to a “C” or higher grade in core academic subjects within the same academic year using a systematic program design. (c) Geographic location of the program organization to ensure geographic representation of the targeted student groups are included throughout the state. (d) Organizations currently serving eighth and ninth grade underserved or at risk students that could improve academic levels to “C” or higher in core academic subjects with additional resources. (e) Organizations that have a high number of students who are at or below a “C” in core academic subjects. (f) Give preference to organizations that have demonstrated success by improving student academic outcomes. (6) Each award may be up to $250,000 which shall be given during the following phases based on a detailed budget narrative and budget template: (a) Planning phase; (b) Implementation phase; and (c) Evaluation phase. (7) Grant recipients shall use funds received for the planning, implementation, and evaluation phases of the grant for activities outlined in the request for proposal. (8) Grant recipients must be able to expend the funds for allowable purposes specified in the request for proposal within the grant timeline according to acceptable accounting procedures.