Request for Letters of Interest – Math Innovation Zones and Blended Learning Planning Grants

Request-for-Letters-of-Interest–Math-Innovation-Zones-and-Blended-Learning-Planning-Grants.pdf315.54 KB

Date:	August 20, 2020
Subject:	Request for Letters of Interest – Math Innovation Zones and Blended Learning Planning Grants
Category:	Grant opportunities
Next Steps:	Share with C&I staff and express interest if appropriate

Note: Letter of Interest Webinar THIS FRIDAY 8/21 at 12pm CT – Link Here

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is seeking school districts (districts) and open-enrollment charter schools (charters) to award up to 30 Blended Learning Planning Grants of up to $125,000 for Math Innovation Zones (MIZ) and non-math blended learning pilots. Interested districts and charters can locate the application on the TEA Grant Opportunities page and follow the process outlined to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) by Friday, September 18, 2020 at 11:59pm CT.

The Blended Learning Grant Program (BLGP) is a four-year process to design, launch, and scale a high-quality blended learning program. Beginning with a planning year (2020-21), districts and charters will grow the blended learning program from a subset of grades in year 1 (2021-22) to a full feeder pattern implementation by year 3 (2023-24). The BLGP offers options for district participation in math, through MIZ, and in non-math subjects, through the non-math blended learning pilots. Both MIZ and non-math blended learning pilot sites will focus on Fidelity of Implementation (FOI) in planning and execution to design and implement a high-quality blended learning program. Further detail on the BLGP Fidelity of Implementation Framework is available at this link. Given the long-term instructional and operational changes that COVID-19 will spur in districts and schools, the BLGP presents an exciting opportunity for districts to rethink their instructional models and design for the future.

In addition to planning grants, TEA will award status as self-funded districts to an additional 20 districts. Both grant-funded and self-funded districts meeting planning requirements will be eligible for BLGP Execution Grants of up to $100,000 in the Spring of 2021. All details are described in the LOI Overview included on the TEA Grants Opportunities page.

Next steps are outlined in the table below:

Date	Event
8/10/2020	LOI Open: Request for Letters of Interest for 2020 BLGP Planning Grants posted
8/17/2020	Questions Due: Applicants may submit questions up until this date to MIZ@tea.texas.gov. All questions will be answered in a FAQ doc that will be published by 8/24/2020
8/21/2020 at 12pm CT	LOI Webinar: 2020 BLGP Planning Grants Webinar: https://zoom.us/j/98111434147
8/24/2020	Notice of Intent to Apply Due; Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a notice of intent to apply to MIZ@tea.texas.gov
9/18/2020	LOI Due Date: All applications must be signed by an authorized official and received at loiapplications@tea.texas.gov by this date at 11:59pm CT. See General and Fiscal Guidelines, *LOI Application Due Date and Time*
9/18/2020– 10/13/2020	LOI Review See General and Fiscal Guidelines, *LOI Review Process*
10/2/2020 – 10/7/2020	Phone Interviews: TEA may conduct phone interviews with qualifying applicants if additional information is needed
10/13/2020	Award Date: Anticipated announcement of 2020 BLGP Planning Grants
10/15/2020	Self-Funded Pathway Notice of Intent Due: Districts interested in the BLGP Self-funded Pathway must submit a Notice of Intent by October 15 at 11:59pm CT.
10/23/2020	Beginning date of grant (if selected for funding); *Note:* Pre-Award Costs are permitted from announcement date See General and Fiscal Guidelines, *Grant Period*
11/12/2020 – 11/13/2020	2020 BLGP Kickoff Summit: Virtual; Attendance at the BLGP/MIZ Kickoff Summit is mandatory for all participating districts and charters and must include the district BLGP PM
3/2/2023	Final Date to Submit an Amendment (if selected for funding)
5/31/2023	Ending Date of Grant (if selected for funding) See General and Fiscal Guidelines, *Grant Period*

COVID-19 Note: We recognize the prioritization and scheduling challenges resulting from COVID-19 during the 2020-21 fall semester. Districts should spend no more than 15 total hours on this Letter of Interest application process.

Further questions can be directed to MIZ@tea.texas.gov. Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to collaborating with you to advance student achievement in Texas.

Sincerely,

Andrew Hodge
Director of Innovative Instructional Models
Texas Education Agency
1701 North Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701