Legislative Hot Topics: Blog

For complete details see Federal Register March 30, 2011
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-7483.pdf

Deadline for notice of intent to apply: April 29, 2011.

Purpose:
encourages (1) the development and expansion of alternative routes to full State teacher certification, as well as (2) the recruitment and retention of highly qualified mid-career professionals, recent college graduates, and highly qualified paraprofessionals as teachers in high-need schools operated by high- need local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that operate as high-need LEAs.

Priorities:
Partnerships or Consortia That Include a High-need LEA or High-need SEA.

Estimated Average Size of Awards:
National/regional projects—$600,000 per year; Statewide projects—$475,000 per year; and Local projects—$300,000 per year.
Estimated Number of Awards: National/regional projects—1–3; Statewide projects—3–5; and Local projects—5–16.

Eligible Applicants: A State educational agency (SEA); a high-need LEA; a for-profit or nonprofit organization that has a proven record of effectively recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, in partnership with a high-need LEA or an SEA; an IHE in partnership with a high-need LEA or an SEA; a regional consortium of SEAs; or a consortium of high-need LEAs

Address to Request Application Package:
Beatriz Ceja, U.S. Department of Education,
400 Maryland Avenue,SW., room 4C111
Washington, DC 20202–5960
e-mail: transitiontoteaching@ed.gov

Opportunity to comment on proposed requirements for future Charter Schools Program (CSP) Grants for Replication and Expansion of High-Quality Charter Schools

For complete details see Federal Register March 25, 2011
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2011/pdf/2011-7125.pdf

Deadline for Comments: April 25th, 2011.

The US federal government is facing a potential shutdown on Friday, April 8th.  The reason is that the Congress has only appropriated funds through that date and without money, the govenment will close down all non-essential programs, areas, buildings, and activities.

During the past month, IRA has been pushing for all literacy programs to be funded.  In the House passed proposal, HR 1, not only were funds proposed to be cut for the current fiscal year but this year as well.  Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program has been proposed for elimination.  In addition, the National Writing Project, Reading Is Fundamental, and other programs have been defined as earmarks and are too slated for elimination.

In the two short-term spending plans all of these literacy programs were included to be cut to zero. But not to cut funding to this year's Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program.  AND, on March 10th the US Department of Education published the grant application.  The application is due May 9th.

Back to the funding issue: Now, a six month spending plan is being put together, Striving Readers is in the Senate list of programs to fund.  In addition they are looking to find a funding mechanism to support RIF and the National Writing Project. 

This is not a done deal, a final deal has not been agreed to and without that an overall spending cut can not be allocated. 

In addition, the House Budget Committee Chair is expected to release his proposal for the next fiscal year (FY 12) and in it it is expected that there will be new cuts to significantly reduce the federal deficit by cutting spending.