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Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2018

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Discretionary Federal Special Education Program Improvement Grant
Fund Code: 274

Purpose:	The purpose of the Fund Code 274 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Discretionary Federal Special Education Program Improvement Grant is to support districts with 2016 special education determination levels of Needs Technical Assistance (NTA), Needs Intervention (NI), and Needs Substantial Intervention (NSI) for program improvement activities to create meaningful and sustainable systemic change, and accelerate progress for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Priorities:	Program improvement activities funded under this grant are specifically intended to improve effective implementation of the requirements and purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) — Part B and promote a continuous cycle of improvement and Results Driven Accountability (RDA) by focusing on program improvement.
Eligibility:	Eligible districts must have an approved Special Education Program Plan Statement on file with DESE and must have submitted their FY18 Fund Code 240 application. The list of eligible districts is included in the funding section below.
Funding Type:	Federal CFDA: 84.027
Funding:	Federal, the total amount to be awarded is $1,500,000. Eligible districts will receive awards based upon their total public school student enrollment. FY18 274 District Funding List Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding is to become available it will be distributed under the same guideline as listed in the initial RFP document.
Fund Use:	All expenditures must be for the excess costs of special education related to program improvement and may not include direct services or materials for students. The following are not allowable costs: Instructional technology including software (Computer hardware or software, including site licenses) Indirect costs Staff salaries Student services and materials Direct services for students Textbook and Instructional materials for students Assessment Materials Advertising Maintenance/Repairs Important: EdGrants provides more drop down options than are allowable for the use of these grant funds. Budget Line Items 1, 2, 3, and 11 are not allowable fund use for the Fund Code 274 grant. For that reason, to plan for the use of the FY18 274 funds, DESE strongly encourages districts to use the optional Allowable Cost Calculator available in the "Optional Forms" section. Note: For districts that have identified, in the Fund Code 240 application, that they will be using a portion of Fund Code 274 to support professional development (PD) activities related to the M³ project, amounts for such PD shall not exceed the "Allowable FY18 Fund Code 274 Amount" identified in the Fund Code 240 M³ SmartForm. The remainder of Fund Code 274 funds, may be directed to any Special Education program improvement activities. No revisions to the Fund Code 240 M³ SmartForm are necessary. Fund Code 274 is a discretionary grant made available from federal IDEA-Part B funds, and is subject to fund availability. Proposed activities must target special education program improvement.
Project Duration:	Upon Approval - 8/31/2018
Program Unit:	Special Education Planning and Policy
Contact:	Bob Hanafin
Phone Number:	(781) 338-3364
Date Due:	Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Required Forms:	Required Forms Cover Sheet with an original signature of the Superintendent/Executive Director Required Program Information Schedule A, if appropriate The budget is required to be filled out in EdGrants. Optional Forms Allowable Cost Calculator: planning for FY18 274
Additional Information:	Checklist and Instructions for Completing FY18 274 Grant Application Instructions for Completing an Application Submission in EdGrants EdGrants Front Office User Guide: Requesting Grant Funds (payments) EdGrants: User Security Controls Budget Detail — Description of Line Item Information Applications can legally claim expenses to the grant only as of the DESE approved start date.
Submission Instructions:	Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants In EdGrants, districts are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants: FY18 274 [Applicant # District Name] All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with an original signature of the Superintendent/Executive Director and Required Program Information. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process. Please note: An optional Allowable Cost Calculator is available to support district budget planning prior to completing the EdGrants budget formlet. For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides and Information. Please note: It is up to the district to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit the grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.
Amendments:	Amendments are to be submitted through EdGrants. Refer to EdGrants Front Office User Guide: Application Submission . If you have specific questions, please contact Bob Hanafin at bob.hanafin@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3364.