MDE announced two competitive grant opportunities with late August deadlines for application. Districts with needs for full-service community schools and for support staff such as counselors and nurses should review the applications and requirements. These competitive grants were part of the 2016 Supplemental Education Funding bill signed into law.
In both of these programs, creating a district plan to sustain these programs and positions when the grant funds run out will be an important part of the grant planning process.
Full-Service Community Schools
MDE has an estimated $900,000 in state funding available for this initiative as appropriated from Minnesota Statutes, section 124D.231, Full-Service Community Schools.
School sites selected for grants will plan and implement a full-service community plan resulting in integration of community school programming at the school site. An eligible school site meeting at least one of the following criteria may submit an application.
- The school is on a development plan for continuous improvement under Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.34, subdivision 2.
- The school is in a district that has an achievement and integration plan approved by the commissioner of education under Minnesota Statutes, sections 124D.861, program to close the academic achievement and opportunity gap and 124D.862, achievement and integration.
A district may submit an application on behalf of more than one school site. However, a separate application must be submitted for each site. School sites currently committed to a Full-Service Community School Grant are not eligible to apply for funding again for that same school site.
Eligible school sites may receive up to $150,000 for use during the entire grant period. For Planning Grant Applicants, up to $20,000 of the total grant award may be used for planning costs. The grant period is anticipated to be October 2016 throughJune 30, 2017, with an option for an extension through June 30, 2018, for those sites showing progress and the need for an extension.
No additional funds will be awarded during the extension period. Applicants will designate themselves as a Planning Grant Applicant or an Implementation Grant Applicant.
The grant documents are available on the department’s grant opportunity site. Applications must be received by (not postmarked) by August 30, 2015, 3:30 p.m.
Direct questions about the grant to Bobbie Burnham, director of Early Learning Services, at bobbie.burnham@state.mn.us by August 8, 2016. Answers to questions will be published on the grant site after August 11, 2016. If you have any questions related to submission requirements, contact Pamela
Support our Students
MDE makes state funding available from Minnesota 2016 Session Law, Chapter 189, Article 25, Section 56, to hire “student support services personnel,” which includes individuals licensed to serve as a school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, school nurse or chemical dependency counselor in Minnesota.
A “new position” means a student support services personnel whether full-time or part-time position NOT under a contract by a school at the start of 2015-2016 school year. Minnesota public school districts, charter schools, intermediate school districts or education cooperatives are invited to apply for this six year grant.
Applicants will be required to prepare an application which will be scored based on the criteria outlined in the grant opportunity application components section. A separate application must be submitted for each position requested although districts may bundle their individual applications into one submission.
Priority will be given to school sites in which student support services personnel positions do not currently exist. To be considered for priority, it is important applicants complete the information requested in the application coversheet for each position requested.
Applicants must be prepared to provide local matching funds in each year of the grant equaling $1 for every $1 awarded in years one through four and $3 for every $1 awarded in grant years five and six.
The grant documents are available on the department’s grant opportunity site. Applications must be received by (not postmarked by) August 25, 2015, 3:30 p.m. Contact Angie Johnson at angie.johnson@state.mn.us for more information.