# Presentation: 224753

## Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM) Discretionary Grant Program 

**FY 2006 ERCM Application: **
**Question and Answer Session**
**U.S. Department of Education**
- Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools
- 400 Maryland Avenue, SW
- Washington, DC 20202

## Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant: Overview

- Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM) Grant Program
- Discretionary grant program funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools to assist with school crisis planning.
- Purpose is to provide resources to local educational agencies (LEAs) to improve and enhance crisis response plans.
- Since fiscal year 2003, 336 LEAs have received ERCM grants.

**Notes:**
1. As discussed this morning....

## Emergency Response and Crisis Management Grant: Overview

- FY 2003:  First cohort of ERCM grants awarded
- 134 local education agencies (LEAs) awarded
- Grants ended 3/31/05, with many extensions through 3/31/06
- FY 2004:  Second cohort of ERCM grants awarded
- 109 LEAs awarded
- Grants end on 3/31/06
- FY 2005:  Third cohort of ERCM grants awarded
- 93 LEAs awarded
- Grants end on 3/31/07
- FY 2006:  Fourth cohort of ERCM grants expected be awarded in August 2006

## Slide 4

## FY 2006 ERCM Grant Competition

**Fiscal Year 2006 Grant Overview**
- $24M available
- Estimated: 71 new awards
- Eligible Applicants: Local educational agencies (LEAs)
- Expected Application Release: Early May 2006
- Expected Award Notification: No later than September 30, 2006

## FY 2006 ERCM Grant Competition

**Priority:**  Improve and strengthen emergency response plans at the district and school building level to include training for school staff and students, coordination with community partners, and a plan for communicating crisis response plans to parents/guardians.
**Competitive Preference #1:**  LEAs located within Urban Areas Security Initiative jurisdictions and that have not yet previously received funding under this program.
**Competitive Preference #2**:  LEAs that have not previously received funding under this program.

## FY 2006 ERCM Grant Competition

**Fiscal Year 2006 Grant Requirements**
- Applications must include partner agreements from local law enforcement, public safety, public health, mental health, and local government.
- Crisis plans should be coordinated with state Homeland Security Plan.
- Applicants must support the implementation of the FY 2006 NIMS requirements.
- Crisis plans must take into consideration the needs of individuals with disabilities.
- Applicants must develop a written infectious disease plan, to include pandemic flu.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How much is a typical ERCM grant award? **
- A typical award for small districts (i.e., districts with 1-20 school facilities) is about $100,000 for an 18-month period.
- A typical award for medium districts (i.e., 21-75 school facilities) is about $250,000.
- A typical award for large districts (i.e., more than 75 school facilities) is about $500,000.
- Applicants must provide careful and detailed justification for any amounts in excess of these averages.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What are the requirements for community collaboration? **
- Grant applications must demonstrate collaboration with local government agencies, fire departments, police departments, health agencies, mental health agencies, and homeland security agencies.
- Grant applications must demonstrate partnerships related to supporting National Incident Management System (NIMS) implementation. Applicants must also demonstrate that their ERCM plans are coordinated with their state or local homeland security plan.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is there a cap on the amount that grantees can spend on technology or equipment? **
- There is no specific cap; rather the amount of funds proposed will vary from applicant to applicant depending on their proposed project and needs.
- Any equipment purchases should be directly related to district needs and the costs should be reasonable and allocable to the project.
- Applications that rely solely on equipment (and do not demonstrate a comprehensive approach to crisis planning) are not likely to score highly in the peer review process.

**Notes:**
1. For example, the budget of a small school requesting funds for radios would reflect that expense as a larger percentage of their overall grant than the budget of a very large school district requesting funds for the same purchase. 

## Resources Available to Support FY 2006 ERCM Applicants

- Frequently Asked Questions Available at: _[http://](http://www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event=fy06_ERCM_DGCF)__[www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event](http://www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event=fy06_ERCM_DGCF)__[=fy06_ERCM_DGCF](http://www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event=fy06_ERCM_DGCF)_
- FY 2006 ERCM Grant Q & A Calls
- Monday, May 1 at 3:00 pm (EDT)
- Monday, May 8 at 12:00 pm (EDT)
- Friday, May 19 at 1:00 pm (EDT)
- Tuesday, May 23 at 2:00 pm (EDT)
- Wednesday, May 31 at 3:00 pm (EDT)
- Tuesday, June 6 at 10:00 am (EDT)
- Friday, June 9 at 4:00 pm (EDT)
- Wednesday, June 14 at 11:00 am (EDT)
**For Dial-In Information visit:** _[http://](http://www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event=grantQnA_Calls)__[www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event](http://www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event=grantQnA_Calls)__[=](http://www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event=grantQnA_Calls)__[grantQnA_Calls](http://www.ercm.org/index.cfm?event=grantQnA_Calls)_

## OTHER QUESTIONS??

## THANK YOU!!!

**For More Information Contact:**
- Sara Strizzi: _[Sara.Strizzi@Ed.gov](mailto:Sara.Strizzi@Ed.gov)_
- Tara Hill: _[Tara.Hill@Ed.gov](mailto:Tara.Hill@Ed.gov)_
- Michelle Sinkgraven: _[Michelle.Sinkgraven@Ed.gov](mailto:Michelle.Sinkgraven@Ed.gov)_
-  or call: 202-708-4850