The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is authorized under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), 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 $1.8 million is available for funding up to 12 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 (USDOE).
An MSP Grant Application Workshop will be held from 1:00-3:15 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2008. New applicants are strongly encouraged to attend this important meeting. The workshop will be held in the auditorium of the Arkansas Department of Education, #4 Capitol Mall, in Little Rock. 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 an existing partnership grant recipient. The Intent to Submit form (included in the RFP package) must be submitted by Friday, October 10, 2008. Proposals for MSP grants must be submitted by Friday, November 14, 2008. The RFP will be posted on the ADE website (http://ArkansasEd.org) on or before June 4, 2008.
The early announcement of the MSP Request for Proposals is intended to give interested applicants time over the summer months to establish a partnership and discuss proposal ideas. If there are questions, please contact Judy Trowell, MSP Program Manager, at 501-682-4247 or by email at judy.trowell@arkansas.gov.