• FIRST THINGS FIRST…WHAT ARE THE GRANTS REFERRED TO IN THIS MANUAL?

    A grant in ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ includes grants from federal, state, local sources, as well as foundations, corporations, and individual donors.  The following outlines the types of grants available to a school district:

    Competitive Grants
    These grants require schools to submit applications or proposals to obtain funding. Awards of funds are based on the merits of the proposal and the compliance of the proposal with the grant criteria. In a competitive grant the organization or agency often releases a request for proposal (RFP) or a request for applications (RFA). Eligible schools typically have 30 to 90 days to complete an application and submit it for funding. Applications are reviewed by a team of experts and scored. The top-scoring applications receive funding.

    Competitive Sub Grants
    Several federal programs direct states to make competitive sub grant opportunities available, with the funding coming to the state. States manage the federal money and schools and districts apply to the state through a competitive process to receive funding. Reading First and Comprehensive School Reform are two federal programs that support competitive state sub-grant programs.

    Noncompetitive Grants
    Often called "formula" or "entitlement" funding, this money is allocated on the basis of the type of student population. Districts still have to apply for this funding and show the requisite need in order to receive funds. They are notified of their allocations for various programs on an annual basis.

    For the purpose of this manual, the following definitions will apply with regards to grant eligibility and the application process:

    1. 501(c)(3) refers to the section of the Internal Revenue Code that provides recognition of exemption from federal income tax to a qualified organization if it is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, scientific, or literary purposes. The ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Education Foundation is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that can accept 501(c)(3) designated donations, gifts, or grants for Districtwide and school-specific programs.
    2. School districts are considered 509(b) tax exempt organizations.
    3. Local Education Agency or LEA refers to a public school district.
    4. Competitive funding refers to funding by organizations that requires interested parties to compete for financial resources for a specific project or program.

    Grant applications or proposals may be applied for directly through the District’s Office of Federal Programs or the ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Education Foundation. If you are not sure, which entity your application or proposal will fall under, please contact the district point of contact for grants, the Director for Academic Support and Grants, Anna Gonzalez (832-386-1060).