Request for Application # 701-12-104 2012–2013 Advanced Technical Credit Grant Program
Word Version
Competitive Grant Funding Available
May 7, 2012
TO THE ELIGIBLE APPLICANT ADDRESSED:
SUBJECT: Request for Application # 701-12-104 2012–2013 Advanced Technical Credit Grant Program
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is
requesting applications under request for application (RFA) # 701-12-104.
Eligible Applicants
TEA is requesting applications under RFA# 701-12-104 from public community and technical
colleges in Texas.
Purpose of Program
The purpose of the 2012–2013 Advanced Technical Credit (ATC)
grant program, also known as statewide articulation, is to support students
interested in preparing for college and a technical career that requires
postsecondary education. The program provides students with opportunities to
earn college credit while in high school by taking enhanced high school Career
and Technical Education (CTE) courses that have been aligned with postsecondary
technical courses.
The ATC statewide articulation program was initiated to do
the following:
- Reduce duplication of course work
- Provide a seamless transition from secondary to
postsecondary education
- Overcome problems associated with the mobility
of student populations
- Reduce the paperwork for schools and colleges
When used with a program of study, the statewide
articulation program enables students to complete an associate’s degree in as
few as three semesters; students who also take dual credit or Advanced
Placement (AP) academic courses while in high school may finish an associate’s
degree sooner. As of 2012, Texas has identified nearly 65 statewide articulated
technical courses. More than 8,000 teachers have received ATC training and have
been certified to teach ATC courses.
The ATC program provides the following:
- Resources
to support the statewide articulation process for CTE courses
- Screening
and documentation of secondary teachers to ensure that their credentials meet
the accountability requirements of the Southern Association of College Systems
(SACS)
- A
clearinghouse for secondary teacher credentials for the community college within
the State of Texas for the SACS requirement
- Professional
development for all secondary CTE teachers teaching statewide articulated
courses, moving from a face-to-face system of training to the use of technology
in order to provide 24/7 online training
- Support
for a statewide ATC Leadership Committee that facilitates review and revision
of existing as well as new course alignments
Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006,
P.L. 109-270, requires a state to support eligible recipients in developing and
implementing articulation agreements between secondary education and
postsecondary education institutions. Texas Administrative Code (TAC)
§74.64, Distinguished Achievement High School Program—Advanced High School
Program, allows students to use advanced technical credit courses with a grade
of 3.0 or higher as an advanced measure for demonstrated student performance at
the college or professional level.
Project Funding
Funding for
the ATC program is contingent upon availability of federal appropriations for
fiscal year 2013. Funding will be provided for approximately one project. The
project will receive a maximum of $450,000 for the 2012–2013 project period.
This project is funded 100% from federal funds.
Project Period
The ATC Grant Program will be implemented during the
2012–2013 school year. Applicants should plan for a starting date of no earlier
than September 1, 2012, and an ending date of no later than August 31, 2013.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be selected based on the independent
reviewers' assessment of each applicant's ability to carry out all requirements
contained in the RFA. Reviewers will evaluate applications based on the overall
quality and validity of the proposed grant programs and the extent to which the
applications address the primary objectives and intent of the project.
Applications must address each requirement as specified in the RFA to be
considered for funding.
TEA reserves the right to select from the highest-ranking
applications those that address all requirements in the RFA and that are most
advantageous to the project.
TEA is not obligated to approve an application, provide
funds, or endorse any application submitted in response to this RFA. This RFA
does not commit TEA to pay any costs before an application is approved. The
issuance of this RFA does not obligate TEA to award a grant or pay any costs
incurred in preparing a response.
How to Apply
This RFA is in paper format. It must be downloaded,
completed on the applicant’s computer desktop, printed, and submitted by mail
or hand delivery. The complete RFA is posted on the TEA
Grant Opportunities page at
http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms/GrantProgramSearch.aspx
for viewing and downloading. In the “Select Search Options” box, select the
name of the RFA from the drop-down list. Scroll down to the “Application and
Support Information” section to view all documents that pertain to this RFA.
Reporting Requirements
LEAs that are awarded grants are responsible for meeting all
required deadlines. Failure
to meet deadlines may result in loss of funds and could cause the LEA to be
identified as “high risk.”
The reporting requirements for this grant are posted on the TEA
Grant Opportunities website at
http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms/GrantProgramSearch.aspx.
In the “Select Search Options” box, select the name of the RFA from the
drop-down list. Scroll down to “Critical Events” to view all reporting
deadlines that pertain to this grant.
For Further Information
In order to assure that no prospective applicant may obtain
a competitive advantage because of acquisition of information unknown to other
prospective applicants, any and all questions pertaining to the RFA must be
submitted in writing to the TEA contact person listed on the TEA
Grant Opportunities website. In the “Select Search Options” box, select the
name of the program/RFA from the drop-down list. Scroll down to “Contact
Information.”
Copies of the questions and the written answers thereto will
be posted on the TEA
Grant Opportunities website in the format of frequently asked questions
(FAQs) at http://burleson.tea.state.tx.us/GrantOpportunities/forms. In the
“Select Search Options” box, select the name of the program/RFA from the
drop-down list. Scroll down to “Application and Support Information” to view
all documents that pertain to this RFA.
Deadline for Receipt of Applications
Four copies of the application, with an original signature
on Schedule #1—General Information on three of the copies (blue ink preferred),
must be received by 5:00 p.m. Central Time, Tuesday, June 5, 2012, to be
eligible to be considered for funding. Send the application to the following
address:
Document Control Center, Room 1-108
Division of Grants Administration
Texas Education Agency
William B. Travis Building
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin TX 78701-1494
Sincerely,
Anita Givens
Associate
Commissioner
Standards and Programs
Page last modified on 5/7/2012.