Innovative Approaches to Literacy; Promise Neighborhoods; Full-Service Community Schools; and Congressionally Directed Spending for Elementary and Secondary Education Community Projects

The Innovative Approaches to Literacy program supports high-quality programs designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through 12th grade in high-need local educational agencies and schools. The Promise Neig

The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program (ALN 84.215G) supports a wide range of projects that develop the literacy skills of children and adolescents in communities of concentrated poverty. The program may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements to local educational agencies in which at least 20 percent of the students are from low-income backgrounds, the Bureau of Indian Education, or eligible national non-profit organizations. Awards typically are for up to 5 years, and grantees may use funds to (1) develop or enhance existing school library programs by providing professional learning opportunities to school librarians or updating library materials in underserved schools; (2) support early literacy services, including conducting outreach to parents of young children to ensure that families have access to developmentally appropriate materials and are encouraged to read aloud to their young children; and (3) distribute books and reading materials to children and adolescents to increase students' reading motivation, performance, and frequency. The Promise Neighborhoods (PN) program (ALN 84.215.N) provides competitive grants to support communities in increasing educational opportunities and improving academic and developmental outcomes for children, youth, and their families from birth through college. The program makes awards for up to 5 years that enable grantees to provide a continuum of services and supports designed to address the needs of children and youth within neighborhoods with high rates of poverty, childhood obesity, academic challenges, and involvement of community members in the justice system. Eligible organizations for Promise Neighborhoods grants are institutions of higher education (IHEs), Indian tribes or tribal organizations, or one or more non-profit organizations in partnership with a high-need local educational agency, IHE, local government, or an Indian tribe or tribal organization. The Full-Service Community Schools program (FSCS) (ALN 84.215J) provides grants for up to 5 years to (1) local educational agencies (LEAs) or (2) the Bureau of Indian Education, in partnership with community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, or other public or private entities. Grantees make available comprehensive social, health, and academic services for students, students' family members, and community members in school settings by integrating existing school and community programs and implementing coordinated strategies that can support communities experiencing the effects of concentrated poverty on students and families. Congressionally Directed Spending for Elementary and Secondary Education Community Projects, also known as Congressionally Funded Community Projects (CFCP), may be authorized in the Explanatory Statement accompanying appropriations legislation, including specific dollar amounts for the authorized projects.

Local educational agencies, the Bureau of Indian Education, institutions of higher education, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, public and private organizations and institutions may apply.

Children in pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 are the primary beneficiaries of the services and supports provided by grantees.

Funds may be used to support a wide range of projects under the specific program authorities. Competitions are announced in the Federal Register. Specific limitations and restrictions for each competition are provided in the Federal Register notice.

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is subject to non-supplanting requirements and must use a restricted indirect cost rate which is referenced under 34 CFR 75.563. For assistance call the Office of Chief Financial Officer/Indirect Cost Group on 202-708-7770.

Awards are made annually. Following an initial, competitively selected award, additional non-competing continuation awards may be made. The possible length of the project is announced in the application notice in the Federal Register. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.

The selection criteria for these programs are contained in Section 75.210 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). The specific criteria to be used for particular grant competitions are announced in the application package or application notice in the Federal Register. Selection criteria do not apply to Congressionally Directed Spending for Elementary and Secondary Education Community Projects.

Awards are competitively selected following review by nonfederal experts in accordance with Subpart D of Part 75 of the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).

Approximately 120 days.

As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for direct grant program (see 34 CFR 75.253). Generally, for multiple-year awards, continuation awards after the first budget period are made if: sufficient funds have been appropriated; the recipient has either made substantial progress in the meeting of the goals of the project or obtained approval for changes in the project; the recipient has submitted all required reports; and continuation is in the best interest of the government.