RFA GYO QandA S-58100-00006145_4-28-23.pdf

RFA S-58100-00006145 – Grow Your Own Q&A 4/28/2023

ODE RFA Q&A, updated 20200709 Page 1 of 7

RFA S-58100-00006145

GROW YOUR OWN

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

RELEASED 4/28/2023

Number Question Answer Questions from Webinar 3/30/2023:

1 On page 10 you use Dual Enrollment not Dual Credit relating to pathways, do you want these to be on college campus or High school campuses? Enrollment usually on IHE Campus.

Page 10 states “High school career and technical education programs, or dual enrollment/ credit;” so it could be either depending upon situation.

2 For the Early Learning and Care providers as partners, are there additional requirements?

A) Do they have to serve a certain number of children?

B) Should they be receiving state funds (Preschool

Promise) or federal funds (i.e. Head Start)?

The answer to all parts of this question is no.

Additional Questions as of 4/7/2023:

3 Can different programs within a University apply as a primary applicant?

No, per Section 1.3 in the RFA “Applicants may only submit one application in response to this RFA, though Applicant may be named as a Partner in any number of other applications.” A University is considered one entity and applicant. There could be multiple equity problems of practice and project strategies built into a proposed project plan.

Single Point of Contact: Julia Alpernas Phone: 503-569-2834 Email: Julia.alpernas@ode.oregon.gov mailto:Julia.alpernas@ode.oregon.gov

ODE RFA Q&A, updated 20200709 Page 2 of 7

4 What are the guidelines for who can be a partner? Specifically, I am wondering what constitutes “community organizations and other education entities focused on improving teaching and learning conditions in Oregon.”

Section 1.3 Eligibility in the RFA outlines the criteria for Applicants. While not listed in the definitions of the RFA, in this context it means a nonprofit organization that is reflective of a community or significant segments of a community it seeks to serve.

5 I cannot locate any reference to word count for the application.

Are there hard limits or suggested guidelines on the application materials?

While there are no word counts, it is suggested to focus on articulating responses that are clear and concise. Section 4.2 Evaluation Criteria of the RFA provides the matrix for the number of points possible and the scoring rubric for each content area.

6 There is a project currently underway through PSU that would really fit the goals of this grant project and that many of the tribes are involved in on the leadership board of this project.

My question is, if PSU were to apply for funds to continue their work in supporting current and future indigenous educators in the early care and education sector, would they in fact be in competition with tribes seeking funding? I know many tribes do the GYO program, are tribes getting a non-compete set aside for these funds or expected to apply like everyone else?

1. Tribes are eligible to apply for this grant, so yes, could be in competition with tribes for this grant.

2. Through the Tribal Nations Educator Collaborative, tribes may be eligible to receive non-competitive grant funds to support Tribal GYO projects. This funding may be available pending legislative approval.

Additional Questions as of 4/14/2023:

7 Our ESD is planning to apply for the GYO grant to develop a New CTE Teacher Support system. In conversation with leaders in our ESD, they are also interested in applying for this grant in another realm—GYO for hard to fill positions (special education and school psychologists for starters). Would it be better to apply for:

1. One GYO grant and include both the retention of CTE teacher and recruitment of hard to fill positions in one grant, being very specific the budget, partnership and focus of each or

2. Apply separately, both not to exceed the $700,000 max between the two grant applications.

The answer to this question is the same as the answer to Question 3 (above):

Per Section 1.3 in the RFA “Applicants may only submit one application in response to this RFA, though Applicant may be named as a Partner in any number of other applications.” An institution is considered one entity and applicant. There could be multiple equity problems of practice and project strategies built into a proposed project plan.

The RFA does not limit the number of grants that may be awarded in each region.

ODE RFA Q&A, updated 20200709 Page 3 of 7

We want to submit an application that will be successful while also not competing with one another if there is only one grant awarded to each region.

8 I have a question regarding how to choose the primary REN or locality that is being served by our GYO partnerships (section I, 3).

As our GYO program collaborates with all Nine Federally Recognized Sovereign Nations of Oregon and is delivered online, through Zoom, our GYO Partnership serves most regions, particularly those with Native students and communities.

1. When applying, will I be required to choose just one?

2. If so, would that be the place in which we are "seated"?

1. Section I Question 3 of the Application does require Applicants to select one Regional Educator Network, but is not being evaluated and will therefore not impact the score. The information being provided by the Applicant in this section is being used only for informational purposes.

2. Applicants should select the Regional Educator Network that serves the geographic area where the majority of participants are located or the majority of partners are located. If there is no clear geographic region that aligns with where participants and partners are located, then yes please choose where the Applicant is located.

9 1. My understanding is that these [start-up] funds would need to be spent by the end of June, 2023.

2. What are some examples of startup costs that could be spent on that timeline?

1. Per Section 1.2.2 of the RFA, start-up funds must be spent by June 30, 2023.

2. The Agency intended for Start-Up funds to be available to successful Applicants for planning activities such as identifying and convening partners, delineating partner roles and responsibilities, conducting needs assessments based on school(s) in local/regional areas, developing data sharing agreements, etc. Given delays in the release of the RFA, these activities may not be able to be completed prior to June 30, 2023. In this case, it is recommended that Applicants include these activities in their project plan for the full grant period of July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2023.

10 Are the grants "all or nothing" or is it possible to receive partial funding?

Per section 1.2.2 of the RFA, “The amount of each Grant will vary based on Applicant requests and Agency’s desire to fund multiple programs across Oregon, as well as the total Applicant pool. As such, Applicants are encouraged to submit budgets that

ODE RFA Q&A, updated 20200709 Page 4 of 7 are flexible and scalable. Agency, in its sole discretion, may offer more or less funding than requested.”

11 Given that our college has paused enrollment for our program (currently funded through GYO grants 2021-2023) for fall 2024, but we will continue to have second-year students completing the program through 2023-2024, we would like to enquire as to whether or not we would be eligible to apply for the new round of 2023-2025 funding to support our work through spring 2024?

Section 1.3 Eligibility in the RFA outlines who may apply for the grant, and yes, universities that are public or non-profit entities engaged in a partnership with another eligible entity are able to apply even if they do not need funds for the entire two-year grant period.

Additional Questions as of 4/28/2023:

12 1. Under section 2.2. How are micro-credentials defined?

2. Are there specific agencies that would need to approve/validate a micro-credential?

1. Section 2.2 defines micro-credentials as “competency-based recognition that allows an Educator to demonstrate mastery in a particular area (for example, see https://microcredentials.digitalpromise.org/).”

2. No, the RFA does not require or limit the use of micro-credentials to those approved or validated by any agency.

Applicants can choose to support educators or candidates to enroll in professional development courses that provide micro-credentials, such as the example provided in the definition.

13 Under 2.4 Scope of Activities - Can early educator professional preparation include an increase to a specific Step on the Oregon Registry that is a degree/certificate equivalent to the Oregon Registry?

Yes, early educator professional preparation can include any activities towards career advancement including an increase to a specific Step on the Oregon Registry that is a degree/certificate equivalent to the Oregon Registry.

14 Under 2.4.1 Example Strategies - Could you define what is an Early Educator Teacher Waiver?

An Early Educator Teacher waiver is one that an Oregon Pre-natal to Kindergarten (OPK) or Head Start can use if they are hiring someone who is not yet at the level of the role requirements. In Preschool Promise, there have been

ODE RFA Q&A, updated 20200709 Page 5 of 7 opportunities for grantees to apply for a waiver if a teacher on staff (or about to be brought on staff) does not yet meet the qualification.

15 On page 7 of the GYO RFA, there is a link to Oregon Equity Lens PDF, but when I click on it I get an error message, ‘the page you’re looking for doesn’t exist.’ I tried typing it in manually, but I received the same error message.

Would you be able to send me a copy of the PDF?

The Oregon Equity Lens can be accessed through ODE’s website:

https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/equity/equityinitiatives/pages/default.aspx.

16 The RFA, page 18, says "Description of specific strategies for braiding different funding streams and support, including related resources and opportunities, are clear."

May we add columns with dollar amounts to the budget template to show our in-kind/matching support? For example, can we add a column called District Match and then have various line items that show how we are supplementing ODE dollars, e.g. $10,000 as a line item for professional development?

No, do not change the Budget Table Template in Attachment D.

Please include additional information about other funding in the “Description” column of the budget table and/or Question 2 “Budget Narrative.”

17 In the budget piece it notes that "Budgets are not to exceed $700,000 for the first two years of the grant." Does that mean that during year one we could theoretically spend $300,000 and then next year spend $400,000?

I ask as I am trying to work on factors for inflation and we are also thinking of doing a Rural Education Summit the second year of the grant which would not appear in the first year of the grant budget.

Section 1 of the RFA limits the maximum grant amount to $700,000 for the entire two year grant period, so yes, Applicants may allocate funds across the two years however they need to so long as it does not exceed the maximum allowed.

18 The university we partnered with no long will support the teach pathway program we created. We are creating a new partnership at a new university, but it will be the same overall program GYO supported before.

Would this be considered a "new GYO?"

Section 1.2.2 of the RFA says “A “new GYO” is a GYO operated by an Applicant or partnership that has not previously received a GYO grant.”

If the Applicant has received a GYO grant from the Agency previously, then this is not a new GYO.

If the Applicant has not received a GYO grant from the Agency https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/equity/equityinitiatives/pages/default.aspx https://www.oregon.gov/ode/students-and-family/equity/equityinitiatives/pages/default.aspx

ODE RFA Q&A, updated 20200709 Page 6 of 7 previously, then this IS a new GYO.

19 1. Are charter schools eligible to apply and if so,

2. Would Montessori teacher education be permitted?

1. Section 1.3 Eligibility in the RFA outlines who may apply for the grant, so yes, as long as the charter school is a public or non-profit entity in Oregon and has a partnership as described, they may apply.

2. Section 2.4 of the RFA describes the types of educator candidates that can be supported through the grant. So long as the educators being supported are described in one of these categories, the RFA does not require a particular method of teacher education.

20 An ESD is also a GYO recipient and they are asking if we would sign one of the partner forms for them? I just want to make sure that won't disallow us from also being a separate recipient? Currently, this ESD is able to offer some of our staff scholarships that our grant can't.

Related Question: My understanding from the beginning was that a school district can’t have more than one partner to avoid one institution/entity getting funds from multiple places. Am I wrong?

Section 1.3 of the RFA says “Applicants may only submit one application in response to this RFA, though Applicant may be named as a Partner in any number of other applications.” This means that an Applicant can submit an application AND be a Partner in any number of other applications. For example, School District A can apply for a grant, as well as be a partner on University B’s grant application.

The RFA does not place any limits on what non-applicant (an entity that is not applying for a GYO Grant) partners can do. A non-Applicant can be a Partner on any number of applications.

For example, School District C is not applying for a grant, and can be a partner in both School District A and University B’s applications.

We strongly encourage Applicants and Partners to review the Evaluation Criteria in Section 4.2 relating to Partnerships, as well as the guidance provided in the Application Section I relating to Partnerships, which states: “Only those Partners who have been, or will be, directly and continuously involved in the development of the partnership as collaborators, are actively engaged in or play a significant role in the partnership’s decision-making and engagement with communities, or have significant

ODE RFA Q&A, updated 20200709 Page 7 of 7 responsibilities related to the administration of the proposed project plan need be identified in the Application. There is no limit to the number of Partners that can be named in an Application and there is no limit on the number of Applications a Partner can be named in.”

Partners should also closely review the certification on Attachment C Partner Form.

21 Can the “Authorized Program Contact” be two people working as a team, or does it have to be a single person?

Only one contact should be listed as the Authorized Program Contact on Section I of the Application.