The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announces the availability of funds for local school districts to apply through a competitive grant process for the development of parent involvement. One million dollars will be available for distribution to the districts to establish programs that actively engage parents in the education of their children and to develop a partnership between the home and school. The Parent Involvement Grant aligns with the Poverty Index funds that may include services for parents of children age 3 through Grade 4. The involvement of parents is a major thrust in the Smart Start Initiative and the ADE is committed to the development of these programs across the state.
In the past fiscal year, sixty-five local school districts and education service cooperatives were awarded with funding to either continue their previous year's efforts or initiate the Parent Involvement Program for the first time. The priority for the Parent Involvement Grants for this funding period will target those districts that have NOT received funding within the past 12 months.
Only one grant will be available per district regardless of the number of elementary schools within the district. Education service cooperatives may also be eligible for funding to assist district(s) within their region.
The original application and three (3) copies must be received no later
than 4:30 p.m. on November 17, 2000, Please return to Brazier Watts, Special Grants Unit, Arkansas Department of Education, #4 Capitol Mall Room 401B, Little Rock, AR 72201. Incomplete applications, faxed applications or applications received after November 17, 2000, will not be reviewed.
In order to answer questions and to elaborate on the instructions of the Request for Proposal, a video conference will be offered through the compressed video system at local education cooperatives on
October 27, 2000, from 10:00 am until 11:30 am. Please complete the attached registration form and fax to Karen Ghidotti, Arkansas Department of Education, Fax # 501-682-9026. The registration form must be faxed no later than October 23, 2000. Registration is required.