Why is Financial Performance Important and how can Authorizers Encourage Schools to be Financially S

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Charter School Stimulus Fund Grants
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Session Objectives

• Provide and overview of the upcoming RFP for
  State Stimulus Fund grants.
• Identify characteristics of compelling grant
  proposals.

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Charter School Stimulus Funds

• SSF grants can be used for expenses associated
  with the start-up and operation of a charter
  school and the acquisition, renovation, or
  construction of school facilities.
• Costs must be incurred after the date on which
  the grant is awarded.
• There will be 2 types of awards
• Facility Financing
• Start-up/Implementation

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Eligibility Requirements

• The school must be a School in Good Standing
  according to the State Education Departments
  School Accountability Report
• The school cannot be a) on probation, or b) in
  violation of a corrective action plan, or c)
  planning to or required to cease operations at
  the end of the current school year.
• The school must be authorized by NYC Department
  Of Education, Buffalo Department of Education, or
  SUNY.

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Proposal Requirements

• Abstract (no points)
• Project Description (10 points)
• Project Goals (40 points)
• Implementation Plan (20 points)
• Reasonableness Feasibility (20 points)
• Project Budget (10 points)
• Leverage (10 points)

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Scoring Rubrics

• Responses
• Full
• Partial
• Incomplete
• No response
• Remember, its a competition!

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Scoring Rubric

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A Good Proposal Starts With A Good Project

• Will the project work? Is it based on reality? 
• Is it cost-effective and have alternatives been
  considered? 

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A Good Proposal Starts With A Good Project

• Will it contribute to achieving academic goals? 
• Yes
• A New Library
• A Literacy Developer
• A Math Specialist
• No
• Administrative Offices
• Grant Writers

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A Good Proposal Starts With A Good Project

• Will it spend the funds efficiently?
• Was a bid process used?
• Are the cost estimates complete?
• Is the salary at the correct level?
• Would a different software be more cost
  effective?

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Keys to a Successful Proposal

• Be clear, concise and complete (describe how,
  when, by whom, etc).
• Include supporting documents and cite research to
  support your ideas.
• Adopt measurable goals.

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You Know Your Proposal is in Trouble When the
Reviewer Notes

• Long-winded description of the schools academic
  program and areas of weaknesses
• The proposal does not tie its budget request to
  any of its needs.
• Link between the grant funds and the success of
  the school is unclear.

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You Are Heading in the Right Direction When the
Reviewer Notes

• The proposal provides a clear link between
  academic success and the implementation and use
  of this software package.
• Good detail of professional development
  activities to support overall goal of improving
  ELL instruction, timeline helps.
• Descriptions of activities and phases/dates for
  implementation are clear and detailed.
• The positions role and responsibilities are
  clearly defined.

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Examples of Start-Up/Implementation Projects
Funded

• Furnish Art Science Classrooms
• Supplies Equipment for school expansion
• Funding a literacy developer
• PD to implement new curricula
• Technology Upgrade for the school

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Additional examples

• Supplies and Instruments to supplement a music
  education program
• Specialized mathematics instructor

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Examples of Successful Facility Projects Proposals

• Convert a closed public library to a school
  library
• Replace windows in a school building
• Purchase land for school building
• Down payment on purchase of building

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Timeline

• RFP released - October 13, 2006
• Proposals Due December 11, 2006
• Award date January 11, 2006
• Project period February 1, 2007 through March 31,
  2008

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Tips

• A winning grant application is one that is easy
  to read, follows the outline of the Request for
  Application (RFA) and addresses each point of the
  RFA clearly.
• Many applications are received and less than half
  are awarded funds.

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Dos

• Its all about the kids be sure your proposal
  directly relates to the children and how they
  will benefit from the proposed project.
• Only include backup materials directly related to
  the project in your proposal
• Clearly show that the project will work and it is
  based on reality.
• Include only the goals of this proposal

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More Dos

• Show that the project is cost-effective and that
  alternatives have been considered
• Clearly show that the funds will be spent
  efficiently.
• Spell Check your document
• Follow the outline of the Request for
  Application. If there is a question 1, clearly
  identify your answer to question 1.

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Donts

• There is no need to restate your charter.
• Grant funds are to be used to supplement
  operating funds not SUPPLANT them. Do not apply
  for grant funds to support what is a general
  operating expense or Title activities

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More Donts

• Reviewers are familiar with the financial
  difficulties facing Charter Schools there is no
  need to restate them.
• Do not answer questions with the response
  available upon request. The RFA IS the request

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Format of the Application

• Use 8 ½ X 11 inch paper
• Use one inch margins
• Use a 12 point font or larger
• Use double spacing
• Use the provided cover sheet as the top page of
  your application
• Staple or clip in the upper left-hand corner.
• Clearly mark the original
• Type the forms
• If you are applying for 2 different grants submit
  each one under separate cover as they will be
  reviewed by two different groups of people

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Format of the Application

• Avoid three ring binders, folders or methods of
  binding a document which would make the
  application difficult to copy, read, and/or stack
  in a pile.
• Dont use legal size paper

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Good Luck!