Improving Teacher Quality 2009 Competition

January 22, 2009

TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE IN 2009

 

We want to let you know that the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) will release its 2009 Improving Teacher Quality Request for Proposals (RFP) later this spring.  Release of the RFP is the first step in awarding grants to Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) in partnership with high-need school districts to provide high quality teacher professional development.  Grants are funded under Title II-A of the No Child Left Behind Act to help teachers improve their practice and support increased achievement by their students.

 

Tentative plans are to release the RFP in mid-March, with a proposal deadline likely in late May.  We hope to fund proposals before September 30.  The RFP will offer two targeted initiatives, but details are still being finalized.  Additional information, including a firm date for release of the RFP, will be available in February. 

 

What can you do now?

 

1.      Please share this announcement with any colleagues you believe might be interested in seeking grants for teacher professional development projects.

 

2.      Keep an eye out for future e-mails.  This list will be used to send a second advance reminder in February; a final e-mail will go out in March to announce availability of the RFP online. 

 

3.      You can start now to determine whether you have or can form an eligible partnership, especially whether a potential school district partner qualifies as “high need” (see http://www.cpec.ca.gov/FederalPrograms/SchoolDistricts2009.xls to learn more).  Grants may be awarded ONLY to partnerships of a School/Department of Education AND a School/Department of Arts and Sciences in Institutions of Higher Education, along with a “high-need” school district, as determined by census and teacher qualification data.

 

4.      If potential partners are eligible, you may want to hold discussions to gauge their interest. 

 

5.      You may send us any additional names (including e-mail addresses) that you would like to add to our notification list; just reply to this e-mail. If you would like to be removed from the list, please reply to sender with “Unsubscribe” in the subject line.    

 

For information on the Improving Teacher Quality Program, including prior RFPs, please visit our website at www.cpec.ca.gov/FederalPrograms/TeacherQuality.asp.  If you have specific questions, you may e-mail us at Teacher_Quality@cpec.ca.gov.