Request for Competitive Letters of Interest for Community Partnership Grants

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April 6, 2018

TO THE ADMINISTRATOR ADDRESSED:

SUBJECT: Request for Competitive Letters of Interest for Community Partnership Grants

As part of the revised Student Success Initiative (SSI), the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is launching the Community Partnerships Initiative focused on increasing academic achievement in schools in the most struggling neighborhoods. TEA will award grants to schools to implement a comprehensive support program by leveraging academic, community, and governmental supports.  The grants will provide technical assistance and financial support to schools in communities for wrap-around and holistic services for students.

TEA has identified a list of academic goals that define success for this program.  This list can be found in the Letter of Interest (LOI) in Attachment 1.  While these predetermined outcomes are required, schools and community partners will have the flexibility to determine how outcomes will be achieved through different partnership strategies and approaches.

TEA is actively seeking participation from districts and open-enrollment charter schools in the Community Partnerships Initiative. This request for competitive Letters of Interest provides information on the initiative, requirements for participation, and steps to respond to the LOI request. 

Based on LOI submissions, the potential grantees will be identified in the following phases:

• Planning Phase - TEA will select at least eight communities to receive up to $350,000 in initial Planning Grants. Grantees will be required to complete a set of planning performance tasks to support the development of community partnerships.
• Implementation Round 1 Phase– Of the communities with Planning Grants, TEA will select at least six communities to receive up to $1,000,000 in Implementation Round 1 Grants.  Communities will be selected based on the quality of planning phase performance tasks.
• Implementation Round 2 Phase- Of the six communities who receive Implementation Round 1 Grants, at least four will receive up to $425,000 in Implementation Round 2 Grants.  Communities will be selected based on their ability to show progress towards predetermined achievement outcomes.

Interested districts and charter schools should review the detailed LOI in Attachment 1 and submit the required response using the templates provided in Attachments 2A – 2D. Improved student achievement across Texas is a central goal of the work of the TEA, and we look forward to supporting the launch of this program.

Thank you,

Penny Schwinn
Chief Deputy Commissioner for Academics
Texas Education Agency
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701

Application Materials Attachments
Attachment 1 - Community Partnerships Letter of Interest
Attachment 2A -  CP – LOI Intent to Submit a Proposal
Attachment 2B - CP – LOI Response - LEA Questions
Attachment 2C - CP – LOI Response – School Questions
Attachment 2D - CP – LOI Response - LEA Information Form

Due Dates
4/26/2018 - 5:00 P.M., CT – Submit Attachment 2A - LOI Intent to Submit a Proposal
4/30/2018 - 5:00 P.M., CT – Submit Attachments 2B, 2C, and 2D – LOI Response Forms