Early Learning Challenge Fund Scholarship & Incentive Program

1. Early Learning Challenge Fund Scholarship & Incentive Program Pursuant to: RACE TO THE TOP – EARLY LEARNING CHALLENGE FUND American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Sections 14005, 14006 and 14013, Title XIV (Public Law 112-10)

2. Introduction 2 This Request for Proposals (RFP) is designed to distribute funding for the provision of scholarships, coaching, and other incentives for members of the workforce who directly serve children with High Needs and populations that are ethnically and linguistically diverse pursuant to the requirements of the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Fund Scholarship and Incentive Program.

3. Purpose The purpose is to provide initiatives and innovations to accelerate the achievement of professional competencies and career advancement, especially for educators serving young children with high needs. In addition, the purpose is to provide support for scholarships and incentives to increase access to professional development opportunities for professionals who serve children with high needs throughout the entire state of Colorado. 3

4. Available Funds Approximately $210,000 is available for distribution to an organization for the purpose of providing scholarship funds to eligible college foundations. This grant proposal does not allow indirect to be charged. A maximum of 5% ($10,000) may be included in the budget for administrative costs associated with managing this grant. Applicant, or its sub recipients, is required to match the tuition awards made to individuals for a total match of $200,000. 4

5. Eligibility Eligible applicants are organizations that provide support to educational institutions offering Early Childhood Education Associate Degrees, Early Childhood Education Certificates, and Degrees or Certificates that support children with high needs (SPED, ELL, children in poverty, etc.). These educational institutions must serve Colorado residents currently enrolled in one or more of these higher education programs and are on track to complete a higher education program that prepares personnel for certificates/degrees/endorsements. 5

6. Eligibility (cont.) The selected grantee will be required to: • Manage disbursement of funding to colleges; • Match $200,000 over a 1 year period; • Ensure compliance of colleges to program requirements; • Track and report progress; and • Participate in joint evaluation of success, identification of barriers, and continuous improvement approach to adapting program requirements. 6

7. Eligibility (cont.) The recipient must be able to manage and disburse funds to the following eligible college foundations: • Aims Community College Foundation • Arapahoe Community College Foundation • Colorado Mountain College Foundation • Community College of Aurora Foundation • Community College of Denver Foundation • Colorado Northwestern Community College Foundation • Front Range Community College Foundation • Lamar Community College Foundation • Morgan Community College Foundation • Northeastern Junior College Foundation • Otero Junior College Foundation • Pueblo Community College Foundation • Pikes Peak Community College Foundation • Red Rocks Community College Foundation • Trinidad State Junior College Foundation • Delta-Montrose Technical College Foundation • Mesa State/Western Regional Community College Foundation 7

8. Allowable Use of Funds • The selected grantee will be required to disperse Early Learning Challenge Funds to eligible college foundations for the purpose of providing scholarships to individuals working toward certificates and/or degrees in Early Childhood Education. • Scholarship Criteria: Scholarship recipients must meet the following criteria. • Completed enrollment in a Community College Early Childhood course, program certificate or degree program. Includes completing the Accuplacer exam at some Community Colleges; • Acquire tuition for courses leading to Early Childhood Education Certificates and Early Childhood Education Associate Degrees; and • Completion of all coursework with a C or above. • Prioritization of Scholarship Recipients: If necessary, students will be prioritized by the following criteria. • Scholarships pursuing degree/certificate programs over individual courses; • Students currently working in the field of Early Childhood Education; and • Students closer to degree completion 8

9. Duration of Grant Funds must be expended by June 30, 2015. 9

10. Evaluation & Reporting • Each recipient that receives a grant through the program will be required to report, at a minimum, the following information to the Department on or before January 31, 2015: • Names of organizations receiving funds; • Number of individuals receiving funds; • Completion of enrollment in Colorado’s Professional Development Information System for Early Childhood Professionals (system available by July 1, 2014); • The amount of individual scholarships; • The use of funds (tuition and books); • Number, types and completion dates for degrees and certificates earned with these funds; • Assurance that all coursework was completed with a C or above to receive funds; and • Number of children with high needs (SPED, CCAP, ELL, children in poverty) served by scholarship recipients (program and classroom level). 10

11. Required Elements The format outlined below must be followed in order to assure consistent application of the evaluation criteria. See evaluation rubric for specific selection criteria needed in sections A – C (pages 12 – 14). Part I: Proposal Introduction (not scored) Cover Page, Signature Pages and Assurances Form Executive Summary Table of Contents Part II: Narrative – Sections A through C Electronic Budget (not included in page limit) 11

12. Part II: NarrativeSection A: Capacity List and prioritize the eligible college foundations your organization intends to serve with this program. Provide a description of any ongoing relationships and how the organization serves the foundations. Provide evidence of the organizations strategic approach to ensuring statewide participation and consideration of the geographical needs of providers and educators, educational needs, number of students with focused studies in early childhood special education, and other factors to support young children with high needs across the state of Colorado. Provide evidence of any previous experience with administering successful matching scholarship programs on a statewide level. 19 points 12

13. Part II: NarrativeSection B: Implementation Clearly describe the approach for implementation, including how the organization will support ongoing, sustained support for the college foundations in recruiting and awarding scholarships and meeting the requirements of the program. Provide a clear description of the weighted selection process that will be used to prioritize funds. Clearly describe any challenges anticipated in program implementation and provide potential solutions. Identify, by position, the individual(s) responsible for the activities required by the program or how those individuals will be identified (i.e., Scholarship dissemination, Evaluation data collected and submitted). Provide sample(s) of a scholarship application that reflects Individual Recipient(s) Requirements. 27 points 13

14. Part II: NarrativeSection C: Budget Narrative All expenditures contained in the electronic budget are described in the budget narrative and connected to project goals and activities. The costs of the proposed project (as presented in the electronic budget and budget narrative) are reasonable and the budget sufficient in relation to the objectives, design, scope and sustainability of project activities. Provide a plan and timeline for collecting commitments of matching funds in the amount of the tuition awards. Demonstrate how the funds awarded under the program will be used to supplement the level of funds available for authorized programs and activities, and will not supplant federal, state, local, or non-federal funds. 15 points 14

15. Review Process Applications will be reviewed by CDE staff to ensure they contain all required components. Note: This is a competitive process – applicants must score at least 43 points out of the 61 possible points to be approved for funding. There is no guarantee that submitting a proposal will result in funding or funding at the requested level. All award decisions are final. Applicants that do not meet the qualifications will be notified and may reapply in future grant applications. Applicants will be notified of award status no later than Friday, March 28, 2014. Please note: Grant applications submitted to the Colorado Department of Education are public record and do not contain any confidential data; therefore CDE will release applications when requested. 15

16. Submission Process & Deadline The original plus 3 copies must be received at CDE by Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at 4:00 pm. Proposal should be sent to: Camila Zardo Colorado Department of Education Office of Federal Program Administration 1560 Broadway, Suite 1450 Denver, CO 80202 In addition to the 4 hard copies, an electronic copy of the proposal and electronic budget must be submitted to: CompetitiveGrants@cde.state.co.us. The electronic version should include all required components of the proposal as one document. Please attach the electronic budget workbook as a separate document. Faxes will not be accepted. Incomplete or late proposals will not be considered. Application materials and budget are available for download on the CDE Website at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/early/earlychildhoodprofessionaldevelopmentteam 16

17. Application Format • The total narrative (Sections A – C) of the application cannot exceed 8 pages. • All pages must be standard letter size, 8-1/2” x 11” using 12-point font and single-spaced with 1-inch margins and numbered pages. • The signature page must include original signatures of the lead organization/fiscal agent. • Successful applicants will be required to submit disclosure and assurance pages with original signatures. • Staple the pages of the original and each copy of the proposal. Please do not use paperclips, rubber bands, binders or report covers. 17

18. Contact Information For program questions contact: Kasey Herndon (herndon_k@cde.state.co.us or 303-866-6573) Nancie Linville (linville_n@cde.state.co.usor 303-866-6239) For fiscal/budget questions contact Marti Rodriguez (rodriguez_m@cde.state.co.usor 303-866-6769) For RFP specific questions contact: Lynn Bamberry (bamberry_l@cde.state.co.us or 303-866-6813) 18