DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 167
July 25, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Project
Graduation Academic Year Grants |
As
part of the state's Project Graduation initiative, I am pleased to announce a
remediation grant opportunity to assist students who need to earn verified
credits to complete their diploma requirements.
Grant proposals will be accepted from individual school divisions and
from partnerships of school divisions within a Superintendents' Regional Study
Group.
Proposals must address the
needs of high school seniors, juniors, and sophomores who have not yet earned
verified credits in English: Reading, English: Writing, Algebra I, Geometry,
History, and/or Science, but have received passing grades for the specific
courses bearing those assessments. Special consideration should be given to
students in subgroups whose graduation rates fall below that of the subgroup
with the highest graduation rate.
Participants may include seniors who are pursuing a
Modified Standard Diploma but have not yet met the literacy and numeracy
requirements of that diploma. Please
note that students who complete a Modified Standard Diploma can continue their
enrollment in school as the Modified Standard Diploma is not a terminal
diploma. School divisions and regions
should review their graduation data to justify a focus on particular subgroups.
Each
Superintendent's Regional Study Group is eligible to receive approximately
$75,000 to implement a Project Graduation Academic Year Academy Grant for the
Academic Year of 2008-2009. The standard
model is for one school division to act as the fiscal agent for each grant;
however, several sites within the region may serve students. In addition, more than one grant application
from a region will be accepted.
Individual school divisions are eligible to apply, although each
division may participate in only one grant application per region.
The
final grant awards will be based upon approval of the proposal, including all
required forms and signatures, and meeting the submission deadlines. Regions with very high population densities
may be eligible for additional funding.
The funds will be disbursed on a cost reimbursement basis. Grant
letters of intent are due on August 25, 2008, and the completed proposals are
due at the Department on September 12, 2008. Additional information including grant requirements
and timelines can be found in Attachment A.
The
Academy must focus on student instruction that is based on data derived from
diagnostic instruments and previous assessment results for each student as well
as individual subgroups. Data from
previous academies should be used to identify effective strategies and
practices.
Assessment
records for participating students must be properly identified as Project
Graduation participants. Specific
details of how to code assessment records will be provided to project
coordinators and division directors of testing.
If
you have questions regarding this grant opportunity, please contact Tracy Fair
Robertson, English coordinator, Office of Middle and High School Instruction,
by e-mail at Tracy.Robertson@doe.virginia.gov
or by telephone at (804) 371-7585.
BKCJr/TFR/yba
Attachment
a. Project Graduation Academic Year Academy Grant
Application 2008-2009 (Word)