The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is authorized under No Child Left Behind, Title II Part B to administer a Mathematics and Science Partnership (MSP) competitive grant program to establish mathematics and/or science partnerships between institutions of higher education (IHE) and local schools in need of improvement. Other service providers such as education cooperatives, ERZ (Education Renewal Zone) directors, university math/science centers, colleges of education, two-year colleges, and community organizations may also share in the partnership. Proposals must focus on improved achievement of students in mathematics and/or science by enhancing the content knowledge and teaching skills of teachers. Each partnership is required to have a partner from the College of Arts and Sciences or College of Engineering within the IHE and must have at least one high needs school district partner (LEA). For the purposes of the MSP program, ADE defines a high-need LEA as follows: the LEA has 25% or more of the students on free or reduced lunch and one or more schools identified in school improvement.
Approximately $1.9 million is available for funding up to 15 new grant awards. Awards may be renewed for up to two additional fiscal years pending acceptable performance and evaluation of grant activities and receipt of continued funding from the U.S. Department of Education.
All applicants for the Title II Part B MSP grants are required to send at least one representative to the MSP Grant Application Workshop to be held on Friday, October 5, 2007. The workshop will be held at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, in the Brewer-Hegeman Conference Center, Room 5 AB. (For location and directions, go to http://www.uca.edu/brewerhegeman )
The workshop session for Title II Part B MSP grants will include an overview of the requirements for the proposal and information and recommendations from a project director of one of the existing partnerships. The Intent to Submit form (included in the RFP package) must be submitted by Friday, October 26, 2007. Proposals for MSP grants must be submitted by Monday, December 3, 2007. The RFP proposal will be posted on the ADE website (http://ArkansasEd.org) no later than Wednesday, October 3, 2007.
The MSP Workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. An afternoon session for new proposals for Title II Part A grants administered by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education will take place in the same location from 12:45-3:30 p.m. For additional information about the Title II Part A grant program, contact Dr. Suzanne Mitchell at susannem@adhe.edu.
A light lunch will be provided for participants who attend and register in advance. The Grant Application Workshop registration form is attached. Please fax the registration form to ADE at 501-682-9026 no later than Tuesday, October 2, 2007.