581-017-0359 Implementation of Grant Funding (1) The Department of Education will make awards between $300,000 and $750,000 (adjusted by justifiable need) for replication of the Eastern Promise program. (2) The Oregon Department of Education shall establish a request for proposal solicitation and approval process to be conducted for the Regional Promise program funds. All proposals will comply with the requirements of ORS 327.800 and 327.820(3)(a)(D) and rules adopted to implement those sections. (3) Awards will be based on the following criteria: (a) Whether the proposal identifies how the funds will be used to reach the 40-40-20 goal by using a regional approach and strengthening relationships and aligning outcomes and expectations across education sectors to implement the 5 main components of the Regional Promise Program (based on the 5 pillars of Eastern Promise). (b) Whether the applicant proposal demonstrates support, commitment and readiness to design or revise programming specifically targeted at closing opportunity gaps. (c) Whether there is a commitment to cross-sector collaboration between education service district(s), school districts, and post-secondary institutions of higher education. (d) Whether there is a commitment and capacity to provide students with a variety of accelerated learning opportunities, such as on-campus experiences, dual credit, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and to ensuring students receive support and specific instruction around the knowledge, skills and behaviors necessary to be successful in college-level coursework. (e) Whether there is a commitment and capacity to develop cross-sector professional learning, including faculty and teachers from post-secondary institution and ESD/high schools of like disciplines. The consortium will ensure that all levels of instruction are represented and participate in discussing and establishing the appropriate curriculum, instruction, and parallel assessment to measure outcomes. (f) Whether there is a commitment and capacity to foster a college-going culture, which refers to the environment, attitudes, and practices in schools and communities that encourage students and their families to obtain the information, tools, and perspective to enhance access to and success in postsecondary education. The applicant should describe a plan for one or more, programs servicing students, beginning in middle grades, that: (A) Helps students learn about options for their future, careers and the education they require; (B) Convey the expectation that all students can prepare for the opportunity to attend and be successful in post-secondary education; and (C) Ensure schools, families, and communities give students the same message of high expectations for their future. (4) The Department shall give priority to proposals that meet the minimum criteria and: (a) Previously funded projects that will use the grant to ensure sustainability of the program. (b) The extent to which the applicant clearly documents its capacity to implement and carry out programming. (5) The Department of Education shall allocate funds for the grant program based on the evaluation of the grant application and the following considerations: (a) Programs representing the five main components of the Regional Promise Program. (b) Competitive priority will be given to applications that include both a local community college and a 4-year university in their consortium. (c) Programs that exhibit innovative and flexible ways of delivering content, awarding high school and college credit and providing development education for students in high school or in the first two years of post-secondary education. (d) The number of students the Regional Promise Program will serve. (e) Programs with a detailed process to identify, enroll, support and retain underserved students. (f) Programs that have a high level of underserved students who historically have not taken college credit in high school. (g) Geographic locations of the program organization to ensure geographic representation of the targeted student groups are included throughout the state. (6) Each award may be between $300,000 and $750,000. (7) Grant recipients shall use funds received for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the grant for activities outlined in the request for proposal. (8) Grant recipients must be able to expend the funds for allowable purposes specified in the request for proposal within the grant timeline according to acceptable accounting procedures. (9) Grant recipients will document and account for each student participating in, enrolled in, and completing accelerated college courses supported by the grant before the final distribution of grant funds. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 327.800 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 327.820 History: ODE 10-2016, f. & cert. ef. 2-5-16 ODE 29-2014, f. & cert. ef. 6-24-14 ODE 3-2014(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 2-19-14 thru 8-17-14