SEAs and LEAs are encouraged, however, to share their knowledge with private schools. A school cannot decrease state, local, and federal funds if it receives grant funds, and this requirement cannot be waived. Any eligible school can apply, so each school will have to make its own decision based on the amount of time it will take to write the grant, the commitment of the faculty to the model, the need for comprehensive change in the school, and other priorities or activities in which the school is involved. Because there is a limited amount of funding available, schools can always look to other sources to support this effort. A school cannot pay a firm or group directly for its proposal development work nor may it reimburse itself for those costs after it receives a grant.
Grant funding is to be used only for program implementation.
Grant funds cannot be used to reward a proposal writing firm for its help in developing a comprehensive school reform implementation grant that is funded. Grant funds can only be used for program implementation. If multiple schools submit applications drafted by outside firms or groups and these applications are basically similar, this will result in applications being eliminated from consideration. There is also the question of staff buy-in. Yes, An LEA could charge indirect cost charges to this grant, but the rate must be consistent with each LEA's prescribed rate for other federal funds.