Attachment 1 - Application Narrative Required.docx

This is an Application Narrative Required document for the Oregon Department of Education's Career and Technical Education (CTE) Revitalization Grant 2025-2027 (RFA S-58100-00016940). Eligible applicants include Oregon public school districts, Educational Service Districts (ESDs), public schools, and public charter schools, which may apply individually or as consortia. The application narrative, limited to a maximum of eight pages or 2,000 words, must address nine mandatory evaluation criteria: alignment with the CTE Revitalization Grant Vision; equity strategies for recruiting and retaining historically and currently marginalized students; partnership roles and commitments; CTE Program of Study design (including classification as Startup NEW, Startup MOVE, or High Quality POS); identification of high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand target occupations; alignment with Oregon Diploma requirements; sustainability strategies beyond grant funding; communication plans for stakeholders; and optional integration of Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) for bonus points. The application submission deadline is June 24, 2026, at 2:59 PM (PDT), with a questions and clarifications deadline of May 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM (PDT). A notice of intent to award is anticipated July 8, 2026, followed by a seven-calendar-day appeals period. All project activities must be completed by June 30, 2027, with final reports and close-out documentation due October 8, 2027.

The grant carries a maximum award of $125,000 for single-school applications and up to $250,000 for multi-district consortia applications, with no minimum funding requirement and no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Administrative costs are capped at 5 percent of the total project budget, and capital improvements and vehicle purchases are explicitly prohibited. The program is funded through legislative appropriation in Senate Bill 5515 (2025) and authorized under ORS 344.075 and OAR 581-044-0210 through 581-044-0260. The grant performance period runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, with retroactive funding available from the start date. Grant funds must support allowable costs directly related to approved project activities. Applicants must develop and sustain partnerships with federally recognized Tribes, community-based organizations, businesses, industries, labor organizations, and community colleges, as demonstrated through written commitment letters outlining specific contributions such as equipment donations, facility access, curriculum development, internship opportunities, instructor expertise, or financial support. Applications must be submitted electronically through Smartsheet; no paper or email submissions are accepted.