Texas Education Agency

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Texas Education Agency
Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
Academies
2006 Implementation Grant, RFA
701-06-011 2007 Start-up Grants, RFA 701-06-009
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Good Housekeeping

• Restrooms
• Breaks
• Lunch
• Messages
• How to pose questions
• Please use the note cards on your table to record
  your questions.
• All questions will be handled in a systematic
  fashion to capture and create a FAQ.

T-STEM Academies
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Introductions of THSP Team

• TEA
• Christi Martin
• Barbara Knaggs
• Robin Gelinas
• Karen Harmon
• McKelvey Oeser
• Sara Weiss

• CFT
• John Fitzpatrick
• Mary Wells
• Alma Garcia
• Jan Morrison
• Telca Karen Porras
• Anne McClellan

T-STEM Academies
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Texas High School Project
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Texas High School Project

• THSP Key goals
• Increase high school graduation rates
• Promote a college-going culture and increase
  college readiness
• Build statewide capacity for supporting high
  school redesign and reform
• Create systemic changes that ensure long-term
  sustainable high school improvement

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Texas High School Project

• The Texas High School Project (THSP) is a 260M
  public-private initiative with three major
  funding streams administered cooperatively toward
  common goals
• 148M TEA118M in state and 30M in federal
  funding
• 57M Bill Melinda Gates Foundation and other
  private and corporate funding managed by THSP
  staff at Communities Foundation of Texas
• 55M Michael Susan Dell Foundation

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What has the THSP Funded?
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Overall graduation rates are improving
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however, disparities persist
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Exit level disparities are particularly troubling
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College readiness is low for all groups

• Percent of Students Meeting THECB Standard for
  Higher Education Readiness

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Negative consequences are significant

• 56 percent of jobs today require some college.
• 80 percent of the fastest-growing jobs over the
  next decade will require some college.
• Of the 50 best-paying occupations, only 2 do not
  require a college degree.
• A male with a college degree will make almost 1
  million more over his lifetime than a high school
  dropout.
• A woman with only a high school diploma earns a
  salary just above the poverty line for a family
  of three.

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How will THSP measure success?

• By the end of the 2006-07 school year, THSP will
  have preliminary data at THSP high schools
  related to near-term outcomes, such as
• Attendance rates,
• Percentages of students earning enough credits to
  advance to the next grade,
• Percentages of students taking and passing
  advanced courses, and
• TAKS results
• Three-to five-year measures of successes at THSP
  campuses include increases among all student
  groups in the following
• TAKS scores,
• Graduation rates,
• College-readiness indicators, and
• College enrollment rates
• Five-to-ten year state goals include
• Statewide increases in graduation rates,
  college-readiness indicators, and college
  enrollment rates
• Systemic support of high school redesign and
  reform and,
• Policy environment that continues to support
  alignment of high school and postsecondary and
  college readiness for all high school students

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T-STEM Academies
T-STEM Academies
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T-STEM Initiative Background

• The Texas High School Project (THSP) is launching
  a Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and
  Math (T-STEM) Initiative.
• The T-STEM Initiative partners include the
  following partners
• Governors office,
• Texas Education Agency (TEA),
• Bill Melinda Gates Foundation
• Michael Susan Dell Foundation,
• Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), and
• National Instruments.

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T-STEM Initiative Goals

• Prepare Texas students for rewarding careers in
  the 21st Century economy by improving student
  achievement outcomes in math and science and
  increasing the number of students who pursue
  postsecondary studies and careers in science,
  technology, engineering, and math
• Develop the nations leading innovation economy
  workforce by aligning high school, postsecondary
  education, and economic development activities
• Create 5-6 T-STEM Centers across the state that
  will support the transformation of teaching
  methods, teacher preparation, and instruction in
  the science, technology, engineering, and math
  fields
• Establish a statewide best practices network for
  science, technology, engineering, and math
  education to promote broad dissemination and
  adoption of promising practices from the
  initiative and to improve math and science
  performance for students across Texas and
• Establish 35 T-STEM Academies over the next five
  years in areas of high need across the state,
  each year producing 3,500 Texas high school
  graduates from diverse backgrounds, with the
  preparation to pursue study and careers in
  science, technology, engineering, and math
  related fields.

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What is STEM Education?

• Sciences integrated with other subject areas
• The Design Process driving student engagement
• Attending to science in the context of
  technology

T-STEM Centers
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STEM Education Driving Reform

• How do we help children make sense of the world
  and solve new and novel problems?

T-STEM Centers
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What is STEM Education?

• Teaching and learning strategies that integrate
  the teaching of STEM in a way that challenges
  students to innovate and invent. 
• T-STEM coursework requires students to
  demonstrate their understanding of these
  disciplines in an environment that models real
  world contexts for learning and work. 
• Students participating in T-STEM education
  graduate prepared to pursue postsecondary level
  coursework and careers in science, technology,
  engineering, and math.

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T-STEM Academies 2006 Implementationand
2007 Start-up Grants
Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
Academies

• Applicant Information Session
• March 7, 2006

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Applicant Due Dates
begin with the end in mind!
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Program Description

• The purpose of the T-STEM Academies is to
  increase student achievement by engaging and
  exposing students to innovative science and math
  instruction while simultaneously acting as
  demonstration sites to inform math and science
  teaching and learning statewide.
• Every academy will provide a rigorous,
  well-rounded education with outstanding science
  and math instruction and with technology
  integrated across the curriculum.

T-STEM Academies
See Schedule 4 Program Requirements Page Page 6
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T-STEM Academy Design and Implementation Support

• Academies will be supported by T-STEM Innovation
  Academy Coaches and the THSP Exemplar Program.
• Innovation Coaches will provide ongoing support
  for continuous development and the achievement of
  long-term T-STEM goals through school visits,
  e-contacts, and phone contacts.
• The Exemplar Program will consist of school and
  student support organizations that have
  implemented best practices in a particular aspect
  of the Academy model.
• Grantees will host site visits for T-STEM Academy
  leadership and make available the key learnings
  from their work.

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2006-2007 T-STEM Academies Grants

• The purpose of the T-STEM Academies Start-up
  Grant is to solicit grant applications from
  eligible applicants for the opening of T-STEM
  Academies in August 2007.
• The purpose of the T-STEM Academies
  Implementation Grant is to solicit grant
  applications from eligible applicants for the
  opening of T-STEM Academies in August 2006.
• Applicants are not eligible to apply for both the
  Start-up Grant and the Implementation Grant.

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2006 and 2007 Academy Models

• New T-STEM Academy School
• Grades 6-12 serving 700 students
• Grades 9-12 serving 400 students
• New T-STEM Academy Small Learning Community
• Grades 9-12 serving 400 students

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2006 Implementation Grant Funding

• Approximately 3,500,000 is available for funding
  Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
  Academies (STEM) - during the July 17, 2006
  through February 29, 2008 project period.
• It is anticipated that approximately 4 6 T-STEM
  Academies will be awarded grants with a maximum
  of 700,000 for each academy.
• Grant funds for the 2006 program will be
  disbursed in a one time payment. Applicants
  funded through this program may qualify for an
  additional two years of funding if performance
  measures are meeting expectations
• Phase I Implementation Grant
• Academies do not need to serve every grade in its
  first years of operation, but must present a plan
  showing how the academy will scale up to
  eventually serve grades 6 12 or
• 9 12.

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2006 Implementation Grant Funding

• These funds are intended to support the
  following
• staff compensation for personnel who will
  complete the school design during the 2006-2008
  school year,
• professional development
• curriculum planning and development,
• technology funding
• travel to visit exemplars and best practice
  schools, and
• materials and supplies.

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2007 Start-up Grant Funding

• Approximately 2,850,000 is available for funding
  Texas Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
  Academies (STEM) - Startup grants during the
  August 1, 2006 through May 31, 2008 project
  period.
• Over all four years of funding, academies may
  receive a TOTAL of up to 2,000 per student.
• Grant funds for this program will be disbursed in
  two phases Start-up and Year One Implementation.
  Applicants funded through this program may
  qualify for an additional two years of funding if
  performance measures are meeting expectations.
• Academies do not need to serve every grade in its
  first years of operation, but must present a plan
  showing how the academy will scale up to
  eventually serve grades 6 12 or 9 12.

T-STEM Academies
See Part 2 Program Guidelines Page Page 33
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2007 Phase l Start-up Grant Funding

• August 1, 2006 thru July 31, 2007
• School organizations awarded the Start-up grants
  will be eligible to receive up to 120,000 per
  academy funded in Phase l.
• It is anticipated that approximately 4 6 T-STEM
  Academies will be awarded grants with a maximum
  of 630,000 for each academy.
• These funds are intended to support staff
  compensation for the person who will complete the
  school design during the 2006-2007 school year,
  curriculum planning and development, travel to
  visit exemplars and best practice schools, and
  materials and supplies.

T-STEM Academies
See Part 2 Program Guidelines Page Page 33
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2007 Phase ll Start-up Funding

• August 1, 2007 thru May 31, 2008
• Upon receipt of an approved implementation
  proposal that meets the expectations of TEA and
  the CFT, each academy will submit an amendment
  for up to 900 per student in additional funding
  for the projected capacity enrollment of the
  planned academy. Implementation funds are
  intended to primarily support professional
  development, staff positions that could not
  otherwise be funded, materials and supplies, and
  technology.

T-STEM Academies
See Part 2 Program Guidelines Page Page 33
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2006 Eligibility Criteria
A Texas school district on behalf of a single
eligible campus or open enrollment charter school
in Texas is eligible to apply for the T-STEM
Academies Implementation Grant if the school
district or open enrollment charter school

• Is a high-performing school district or
  open-enrollment charter school, as demonstrated
  by a rating of Exemplary or Recognized under the
  2005 state accountability rating system,
• and
• Serves greater than 39 percent () economically
  disadvantaged students.

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2007 Eligibility Criteria
A Texas school district on behalf of a single
eligible campus or open enrollment charter school
in Texas is eligible to apply for the T-STEM
Academies Start-up Grant if the school district
or open enrollment charter school

• Serves a student population of greater than
• 75 percent () economically disadvantaged
  students or,
• Serves a student population of greater than
  30,000 students.

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Additional Eligibility Requirements
All applicants must attend TEA information and
technical assistance sessions or secure a video
tape of the TEA sessions in order to remain
eligible.

• 2007 Start-up
• The districts/charters listed on pages 21-25 are
  eligible to apply for the T-STEM Academies
  Start-up Grant

• 2006 Implementation
• The districts/charters listed on pages 20-22 are
  eligible to apply for the T-STEM Academies
  Implementation Grant

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Additional Eligibility Requirements
District or Open Enrollment Charters

• A district or open enrollment charter applying
  for this grant must be financially viable as
  determined through fiscal review by the Division
  of Financial Audits at TEA
• Districts and open-enrollment charter schools
  that received a rating of Academically
  Unacceptable under the 2005 state accountability
  rating system are not eligible
• An open enrollment charter school applying for
  this grant must have the proper approved
  amendment request to the open enrollment charter
  from the commissioner
• Campuses receiving funds under this grant program
  must be rated under the standard accountability
  rating system
• An open enrollment charter campus shall become
  ineligible for grant funding (or if a campus has
  applied for and received funding for this grant,
  will have its grant funding placed on hold) if
  the commissioner notifies the campus charter
  holder of the commissioners intent to (1)
  revoke or non-renew such charter under TEC
  Chapter 12, or (2) close the campus under TEC
  Chapter 39, for any of the reasons set forth in
  either statutory provision. If the commissioner
  ultimately revokes or denies renewal of an open
  enrollment charter of a charter holder or closes
  a campus that has been awarded funds under this
  grant program, grant funding shall be
  discontinued and
• A district or open enrolment charter school
  receiving a rating of academically unacceptable
  under the Texas Accountability Rating System in
  2005 is not eligible.

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2006-2007 Eligibility Criteria

• Campuses receiving the following grants from
  either TEA or Communities Foundation of Texas/
  THSP are not eligible to receive funds under this
  grant program
• Redesign and Restructuring grant
• Early College High School grant
• New Schools grant

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T-STEM Academy Grant Programs

• Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements
  may apply for only one of the following grants
• Start-up Grant RFA 701-06-011
• or
• Implementation Grant RFA 701-06-009

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Program Goals

• The goals of the T-STEM Academies are to
• Align high school, postsecondary education, and
  economic development activities across the areas
  of STEM and the broader high school curriculum
• Establish T-STEM academies in areas of high need
  across the state that will produce Texas high
  school graduates from diverse backgrounds with
  the preparation to pursue careers in STEM related
  fields and
• Establish a statewide best practices network for
  STEM education to promote broad dissemination and
  adoption of promising practices from the
  initiative and to improve math and science
  performance for students across Texas.

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Program Goals

• School Design
• Academy Size
• They will be smallapproximately 100 students per
  gradeand encompass a personalized learning
  environment with explicitly high expectations.
• Academy Structure
• Grades 6 12
• Grades 9 12 and will actively work with feeder
  middle schools

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Program Goals

• Organizational Support
• Academies do not need to serve every grade in its
  first years of operation, but must present a plan
  showing how the academy will scale up to
  eventually serve grades 6 12 or 9 12.
• Academies will be a mix of charter schools,
  traditional public schools, and schools created
  in partnership with an institute of higher
  education (IHE).
• Academies may be stand alone campuses or small
  learning communities within a larger school or
  grade.

T-STEM Academies
See Part 2 Program Guidelines Page Page 33
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Program Goals

• Student Selection Criteria
• T-STEM Academies will be open enrollment and
  non-selective
• All students must be eligible to apply
• T-STEM Academies will host lotteries for
  admission and
• The academy school population will be comprised
  of a majority of high-need students.

T-STEM Academies
See Part 2 Program Guidelines Page Page 33
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Program Goals

• The T-STEM Academies program will accomplish the
  following outcomes
• Provide a rigorous, well-rounded education
• Require all academy students to take four years
  of high school math Algebra, Geometry,
  Trigonometry, Calculus or another advanced math
  elective, such as Statistics
• Require all students in the academy to take four
  years of high school science Life Sciences,
  Biology, Chemistry and Physics
• Incorporate work-based, contextual learning with
  a global perspective into the curriculum
• Participate in existing extra-curricular academic
  activities centered around math, science, and
  technology, such as UIL competitions (robotics,
  math) or science fairs and
• Require all students in the academy to complete
  an internship primarily focused in the states
  economic development clusters and/or a senior
  project or capstone project, presentation, and
  defense.

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Program Goals

• Establish a personalized, college- and work-ready
  culture
• Create university or college partnerships for
  mentoring, fostering a college-going culture, and
  the provision of college level courses/dual
  credit, teacher training, etc.
• Implement a college-going culture with the goal
  that all students in the academy graduate with 12
  to 30 college credits
• Create partnerships with employers to expose
  academy students to careers in science, math,
  engineering, healthcare, biotechnology and
  technology
• Implement an Advisory requirement that is
  non-graded and focused on personalizing the
  student experience, ensuring academy students
  meet the goals of their Individual Graduation
  Plan (IGP), building relationships with students
  and parents, and providing character-building
  experiences and
• Ensure every academy student has and uses an IGP.

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Program Goals

• Provide teacher and leadership development
• Make continued investments in math and science
  teacher professional development, bringing
  together math/science, high school, and higher
  education faculty and private businesses
• Require weekly common planning time for academy
  teachers
• Require external networking opportunities for
  academy teachers and school leaders and
• Commit to sharing best practices and
  participating in network activities to improve
  STEM education throughout the state.
• requiring external networking opportunities for
  teachers
• requiring school leadership participation in the
  T-STEM Innovation Academy Coaching model

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T-STEM Academies
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Program Requirements

• T-STEM Academies should serve a population with a
  majority representation of high-need students
• economically disadvantaged,
• at-risk,
• Title I, Part A eligible,
• African-American,
• Hispanic,
• limited English proficient, or
• first generation college-goer.

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Program Requirements

• A T-STEM Academy must reflect todays work
  environment by
• incorporating project and work-based, contextual
  learning with a global perspective into the
  curriculum
• integrating technology into all aspects of the
  school culture school curriculum, co-curriculum
  and daily operation
• creating and using applied and team learning and
• providing opportunities primarily focused in the
  states economic development clusters
  (teacher-externships and student internships,
  apprenticeships, co-ops, service learning and/or
  a senior project or capstone project,
  presentation, and defense for students to
  seriously consider careers in science, math,
  engineering, healthcare, biotechnology and
  technology.

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Program Requirements

• T-STEM Academies should ensure that every student
  is provided a relationship-based, relevant and
  rigorous educational program.
• T-STEM Academies should provide a structured
  student support system for academic acceleration.
• T-STEM Academies should be small, serving
  approximately 100 students per grade. (Academies
  do not need to serve every grade in its first
  years of operation, but must present a plan
  showing how the academy will scale up to
  eventually serve grades 6 12 or 9 12.)

T-STEM Academies
See Part 2 Program Guidelines Page Page 33
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Program Requirements

• A T-STEM Academy must provide leadership and
  school innovation development through
• making continued investments in math and science
  teacher coaching-based professional development
  model
• bringing together math/science high school and
  higher education faculty and private businesses
  requiring weekly common planning time for T-STEM
  content teachers and providing training to ensure
  common planning time is well utilized
• serving as a math/science demonstration sites as
  proof points for improved practices
• disseminating T-STEM outreach to middle schools
  and the greater district

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Program Requirements

• Rider 59, Texas High School Initiative, requires
  that funds be expended on programs that show the
  most potential to improve high school completion
  and success.
• Rider 59 requires that funds be expended on
  programs that encourage students toward
  postsecondary education and training.
• Applicants must describe the strategies that will
  be used to improve the number of students
  enrolling in higher education plans with the
  intent for postsecondary education.

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Program Requirements

• Individualized Graduation Plan
• Rider 59 requires that schools receiving funds
  under this grant program ensure that all students
  participating in the grant program (i.e., academy
  students) on each participating campus have an
  individualized graduation plan (IGP). Available
  sources of student-level performance data should
  be utilized in the development of IGPs.
• The IGP for each student should address the
  students academic strengths and weaknesses,
  including TAAS/TAKS scores, coursework, and
  credit accrual.
• The campus will implement changes in the
  counseling staff or counseling staff structure
  and use technological tools to support the
  development and monitoring of graduation plans.

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Program Requirements

• A T-STEM Academy must provide teacher development
  through teacher mentoring and induction programs
  that include the following components
• formative assessments to identify teachers
  needs, assess their classroom practice, and
  create steps for improvement
• classroom observations and in constructive
  feedback
• demonstrations of effective teaching methods
• assistance with lesson plans
• assistance with analyzing student work and
  achievement data
• mentors who are on the same campus, same grade
  (if applicable), and if possible teaching in the
  same subject matter mentors who are selected
  based on having no less than three years of
  teaching experience and having a proven record of
  engaging students and, as a whole, in achieving
  growth in student performance
• mentors must be trained in a research-based
  training program and
• must have common planning time and collaboration.
  

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Program Requirements

• The T-STEM Academies Grant requires that the LEA
  (i.e., district central office) provide technical
  assistance, evaluation data, and flexibility to
  the campuses that receive this grant. Each
  applicant must demonstrate in the application how
  technical assistance, evaluation data, and
  flexibility will be provided by the central
  office to the participating campus.
• The T-STEM Academies Grant requires that the
  school district identify how other resources
  (federal, state, local, and private) available to
  the school will be utilized to coordinate
  services to support and sustain the T-STEM
  Academy. Coordination of federal, state, and
  private funds will be ensured during the grant
  negotiation process.

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Program Requirements

• The T-STEM Academies - Start-up Grant requires
  that high school campuses receiving funding under
  this grant participate in the T-STEM Best
  Practices network through the CFT.
• T-STEM Academies - Start-up Grant requires that
  the creation of the T-STEM Academy be supported
  by school faculty, administrators, and staff.
  Campuses must receive the support and approval of
  the faculty and staff, parents, and the community
  as reflected in the minutes from a campus-based
  decision-making team meeting by May 19, 2006.
  Applicants must attach a copy of minutes for the
  application to be considered complete.

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Program Requirements

• The T-STEM Academies - Start-up Grant requires
  that the T-STEM Academy program include a plan
  for the evaluation of the implementation of
  school reforms and the student results achieved.
• Applicants must incorporate into their grant
  application all activities conducted with funds
  from this grant program and the program
  requirements listed in this RFA. The grant
  application must be approved by the
  superintendent and the local board of trustees.
  Submission of the application will indicate the
  superintendents approval of the T-STEM Academy
  design. Local board of trustee approval of the
  campus grant application must be reflected in
  the board of trustees meeting or board workshop
  minutes by May 19, 2006.
• Applicants must attach a copy of minutes for the
  application to be considered complete.

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Program Evaluation

• In the design of programs under this grant,
  applicants must show a strong strategic alignment
  between grant program goals and performance
  measures.
• The applicant must also describe how it will
  conduct periodic evaluations to assess its
  progress toward achieving its stated goals and
  objectives. The results of these evaluations
  should be used to refine, improve, and strengthen
  the program or activity, and to refine the
  performance measures.

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Grant Instructions

• The following components are provided for you to
  describe your approach, rationale, and major
  activities as they relate to the listed statutory
  regulations, SBOE rules, and/or other
  regulations
• Abstract
• Needs and Objectives
• Project Management
• Research Review
• School Model
• Design Team and Proposal Development
• Organizational Capacity
• Overview of Resources and External Funding
• Curriculum and Instruction Model
• Professional Development
• Higher Education Connections
• Community, Business and Parent
• Organizational Capacity Involvement
• Technology Integration and Infrastructure
• Accountability

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Schedule 4BProgram Description

• In planning and designing the grant program, the
  applicant should conduct a needs assessment to
  determine the local needs that exist within the
  context of the stated program goals and establish
  local program objectives based on the stated
  program goals and local needs.
• Local program objectives should reflect the
  desired results of the project and must be
  measurable, realistic, and achievable during the
  grant period.
• The grant program should be designed around these
  local program objectives.

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Schedule 4BProgram Description

• Part 1 Target Population, Grade Level
• For each type of participating school, enter the
  number of targeted students by grade level (6th
  through 12th grade), as applicable to this grant
  program.
• Enter the number of targeted Public School
  students per grade level.
• Enter the number of targeted Open Enrollment
  Charter School students per grade level.
• Enter the number of targeted Public Institution
  students per grade level. (TYC, School for the
  Deaf, etc.)
• Enter the number of targeted Private Nonprofit
  School students per grade level, if applicable.
• Enter the number of targeted Private For-profit
  School students per grade level, if applicable.

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Part 2 Need Statement

• Provide a well-documented, compelling description
  of the problem or need(s) that the proposed
  T-STEM Academy model aims to address.
• Describe how your district is uniquely positioned
  to make use of a STEM academy.
• What is your teams vision of a STEM-focused
  Academy?

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Part 3 Student Population

• Project the demographics of the targeted student
  population and the process you will use for
  student selection.
• Provide a chart of the representing the
  year-by-year roll-out of grade levels to be
  served upon opening and at full enrollment.
• Describe the process for marketing and
  recruitment to the target student population.

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Schedule 4B - Program Narrative Project
Management

• Management of Grant Activities
• Describe the plan for how grant activities will
  be managed and monitored on a day-to-day basis to
  ensure successful implementation and operation of
  the grant program

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Supplement-Not-Supplant

• Describe specifically how services and activities
  provided by this grant program will be
  supplemental to existing state and local services
  and activities, and
• Not used for any services or activities required
  by state law, State Board of Education rule, or
  local policy.

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Activity Timeline

• List the major activities to be conducted related
  to implementing this Project Management
  component.
• Enter an estimated date for this activity to
  begin during the grant period. (mm/yyyy)
• Enter an estimated date for this activity to end
  during the grant period. (mm/yyyy)

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Research Review

• Provide a review of the research and the body of
  practice used to structure and support your
  T-STEM academy.
• Provide a list of resources used to design your
  T-STEM proposal.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
School Model

• Describe the academy model and design and the
  grades to be served in the academy. Describe how
  this model will change over the next 5 years as
  the school grows to full capacity.
• How will your school design incorporate the core
  principles of effective small schools? For
  information about effective small schools please
  refer to www.smallschoolsproject.org and Making
  the case for small schools at http//www.gatesfou
  ndation.org.
• Describe how you will create a culture of high
  expectations for all academy students, with a
  focus on a relationship-based, rigorous,
  relevant, and standards-driven curriculum.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Design Team and Proposal Development

• Describe the formation of the Design team.
  Provide a list of each of the members and a short
  biography of each in an attachment.
• Describe the activities that were conducted to
  develop this proposal

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Organizational Capacity

• Briefly describe the mission of your school
  district or open enrollment charter school, and
  the strengths and expertise it brings to this
  project that make it uniquely qualified to
  produce high quality results.
• Please include data related to performance with
  accelerating low income student achievement
  (particularly in math and science), producing
  outstanding student results (particularly in math
  and science), and describe any other innovative
  programs already developed related to science,
  technology, engineering and math, with their
  accompanying results.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Organizational Capacity

• To the extent your school district or open
  enrollment charter school has undertaken a
  similar project in the past describe its
  measure(s) of success, as well as lessons
  learned.
• Describe your school districts or open
  enrollment charter schools strategies for
  sustaining the T-STEM Academy. Specifically,
  what actions will your organization and project
  partners implement during the planning grant term
  to develop sustainability and if known, who will
  be responsible for providing oversight to the
  school when the planning grant period has ended?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Curriculum and Instructional Model

• What is the academy instructional model? Please
  refer to both cognitive and school-based research
  to support your selection of this model.
• What is the advantage of such a model when
  teaching STEM and other core disciplines?
• What evidence is there of this?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Curriculum and Instructional Model

• Describe the curriculum content model with
  emphasis on STEM.
• Describe how you will incorporate work-based,
  contextual learning with a global perspective
  into the curriculum creating and using applied
  and team learning and providing opportunities
  primarily focused in the states economic
  development clusters (such as internships,
  apprenticeships, co-ops, service learning and/or
  a senior project or capstone project,
  presentation, and defense) for students to
  seriously consider careers in science, math,
  engineering, healthcare, biotechnology and
  technology.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Curriculum and Instructional Model

• What qualitative and quantitative benchmarks will
  be used by the school to ensure the instructional
  model is pervasive and effective?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Curriculum and Instructional Model

• How does this model align with Texas Essential
  Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)? Please provide a
  draft example of a four-year plan which outlines
  the science, technology, engineering and math
  requirements along with the core content
  requirements?
• What partnerships do you propose to establish to
  support your instructional model and curriculum
  design? Include expectations of work with
  experts in STEM and education reform as well as
  collaborations anticipated with higher education
  institutions?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Professional Development

• Please provide references in text to support the
  research basis of the model components.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Professional Development

• What plans do you have for school-based
  professional development, job-embedded coaching,
  focused and reflective inquiry, looking at
  student work and other continuous learning
  opportunities for teachers and administrators?
  How will your model support the mentoring of your
  teachers? What expectations do you have for your
  teachers in addition to their classroom
  responsibilities?
• How will professional development support
  teachers as they implement the curriculum and
  instructional model?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Higher Education Connections

• Design an articulated plan for academy students
  to earn 12 hours or more through multiple
  educational pathways such as dual credit, IB and
  AP.
• What is the plan for acquisition of college
  credit (dual credit, AP, IB, etc.)? Schools
  should either provide a plan for articulating the
  acquisition of college credits through dual
  credit or outline the offering of AP/IB courses
  that will be available to academy students.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Higher Education Connections

• Describe your educational partner(s) who will
  assist in the delivery of coursework bearing
  college credit.
• How will this plan map to the economic workforce
  clusters (semiconductor industry, information and
  computer technology, microelectromechanical
  systems, manufactured energy systems,
  nanotechnology, and biotechnology)?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Higher Education Connections

• What is the role of the educational partner(s)?
• Provide evidence of the success of the
  partner(s) work.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Higher Education Connections

• How will campus teachers and higher education
  faculty work together for purposes of
  professional development and curriculum planning?
• For dual credit, provide the plan for the
  development of the MOU between the school,
  district or governing organization and higher
  education partners.
• For IB/AP, describe the plan for assuring academy
  student scores earn college credit.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Community, Business and Parent Involvement

• How will you ensure family and community
  involvement in the school?
• Describe how you will partner other schools and
  the greater district to expand T- STEM capacity.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Community, Business and Parent Involvement

• Describe how you will bring together corporate
  and business partners.
• Describe business partnerships and external
  supports for your program. How will these
  partners participate in supporting the curricular
  academic activities centered around math,
  science, and technology, such as service
  learning, internships, UIL competitions
  (robotics, math) or science and technology fairs?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Operational ModelComponent Description

• Describe the proposed school leadership and
  governance structure of the academy. Identify
  the people who will assume the school leadership
  roles and their qualifications, or outline the
  design teams plans for recruiting qualified
  leaders.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Operational ModelComponent Description

• Provide a flow chart for this governance
  structure, demonstrating accountability as well
  as leadership.
• Project what the academy will look like in terms
  of staff, students and facilities in the first
  year and in the subsequent 4 years Number of
  teachers, number of students, size and nature of
  facilities (stand alone school building, school
  within a school, small learning community within
  comprehensive high school, shared facility on a
  college campus, technology infrastructure,
  laboratories, etc.).

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Operational ModelComponent Description

• Describe the recruitment and hiring process for
  teachers.
• Are there any unique design features?
• What is the role of parents, partners and higher
  education?
• What is the role of central administration? What
  support activities will be provided?

86
Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Overview of Resources and External Funding

• If a new school, please describe the financials
  of the school over the first five years including
  investment, revenues and costs. Include major
  assumptions (such as number of students, average
  state, local and federal funding per student,
  number of teachers and average salary,
  administrative positions and salaries, estimated
  start-up infrastructure and capital costs,
  estimated major categories of ongoing operational
  expenses).
• If a new school, in what year of operation will
  the school break even from governmental revenues?
  How much total funding is necessary prior to the
  school achieving break even?
• Outline the facilities funding plan. NOTE TEA
  will not provide funds for facilities.

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Overview of Resources and External Funding

• Discuss how you will address any funding gap
  beyond the potential 2,000 per student both
  during and beyond the grant period.
• How will you coordinate the use of federal,
  state, district, and private funds to ensure that
  the P-16 education programs they support are
  complementary and are consistent with the shared
  vision for improvement of STEM education?
• To the extent key partners have been identified
  or secured to support the project, please
  indicate, by organization, the funding
  commitments you have secured to date. Describe
  any anticipated partners and the stage of
  negotiation with each potential partner.
  Indicate, by organization, the amounts you
  anticipate receiving. Please provide a brief
  description of any significant non-cash
  contribution.

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Charter Schools

• Address the following
• How many schools do you intend to open over the
  next five years (through school year 2010/2011).
• Please outline in detail the role of the central
  office or charter management team and the support
  it will provide to schools
• What instructional materials will be created by
  the central office or charter management team, if
  any?

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Charter Schools

• Will campuses be required to use these materials
  or will it be optional?
• What assessment content, processes, and analysis
  will be created by the central office or charter
  management team? Will campuses be required to
  use these materials and processes or will it be
  optional?
• What training and professional development will
  be conducted centrally for all academy staff?
• What back office, HR, start-up and operational
  support, if any, will your central office or
  charter management team provide individual
  schools? How will these services be delivered
  (i.e., local staff, national staff, etc.)?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Technology Integration and Infrastructure

• Propose a plan which provides school-wide access
  to technology. How does this plan map to
  district standards?
• How will you integrate technology into all
  aspects of the academy culture academy
  curriculum, teaching strategies and daily
  operation?

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Schedule 4B - Program Description Narrative
Accountability

• The Texas accountability system will serve as the
  standard for accountability purposes. What other
  performance-based outcome measures will you
  utilize for academy students, including
  subjective-based models, and how will it be
  utilized?
• What intermediate outcome measures will you use
  to ensure that you are on track throughout the
  year?
• How will you use data from evaluations to improve
  the academy model?

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Allowable Use of Grant Funds

• The authorizing statute permits expenditures for
  post-award planning, design, and implementation
  of programs to improve high school completion and
  success and encourage students toward
  postsecondary education and training. Funds
  expended under this grant program should be used
  for costs associated with implementing a T-STEM
  Academy that is research-based and implements in
  a coherent manner the required components of the
  grant program, with a strong emphasis on
  improving student performance, expose and engage
  students in innovative math and science
  instruction, instituting a rigorous curriculum
  for all students, redesigning structural and
  management practices, developing the skills and
  knowledge of teachers and school leaders,
  involving parents and the community, and
  establishing a long-term plan for sustaining the
  T-STEM Academy or SLC.
• Implementation funds are intended to primarily
  support professional development staff positions
  that could not otherwise be funded, materials,
  supplies, and technology.
• Applicants are encouraged to coordinate federal,
  state, and local programs to eliminate
  duplication of resources. Applicants may elect
  to use additional resources and other sources of
  financial support to help maximize the
  effectiveness of project goals and objectives.

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Unallowable Use of Grant Funds

• See Application Guidelines
• Part 1 General and Fiscal Guidelines for more
  information regarding the use of funds. Although
  this is not an exhaustive list, examples of ways
  in which funds from this grant may not be used
  include the following
• Construction of new buildings
• Renovation/remodeling of existing structures
• Fundraising activities of any kind
• Field trips
• Payment to a student who has not graduated for
  services as a tutor or a mentor
• Lease-Purchase agreements
• Lease-Purchase of vehicles
• Lease-Purchase of portable buildings
• Purchase of furniture, except for computer
  tables
• Indirect costs
• Writing grants to obtain other grant funds and,
• Training on grant writing.

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Application Review Criteria

• A. Need for the Proposed Project 7 points
  possible
• B. Quality of the Project Design 33 points
  possible
• C. Quality of Project Services 10 points
  possible
• D. Quality of Management Plan 28 points
  possible
• E. Quality of Project Evaluation 10 points
  possible
• F. Appropriateness of Budget 12 points possible

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Implementation Grant Application Priority Points

• T- STEM Specific Review Criteria 30 points
  possible
• Applicants that provide evidence of prior
  planning and implementation in preparation for
  the STEM Academy opening in August of 2006 may
  receive between 0 to 10 priority points,
  depending on the quality and scope of the
  progress cited (10 points)
• Applicants that provide data related to prior
  success in implementing math and science programs
  with low income and minority student populations
  may receive between 0 and 10 priority points,
  depending on the quality of the data and the
  scope of the prior math and science programs
  implemented (10 points)
• Applicants that provide a plan for teaching and
  learning in STEM coursework that is research
  based and that includes designs for new
  integrated STEM courses and/or strategies for
  intensive interventions to support students who
  are performing below grade level may receive
  between 0 and 10 priority points, depending on
  the quality of the plan (10 points)
• Total Maximum Number of Points 130 Grant
  Total

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Start-up Grant Application Priority Points

• T- STEM Specific Review Criteria 10 points
  possible
• Applicants that provide a plan for teaching and
  learning in STEM coursework that is research
  based and that includes designs for new
  integrated STEM courses and/or strategies for
  intensive interventions to support students who
  are performing below grade level may receive
  between 0 and 10 priority points, depending on
  the quality of the plan.
• Total Maximum Number of Points 110 Grant Total

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Due Dates 2006 Academy Implementation Grant
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Due Dates2007 Academy Start-up Grant
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Grant Update Information

• Applicants Please Note
• You are responsible for periodically checking the
  DISCRETIONARY GRANTS website below
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/opge/disc/index.html
• (Select the specific RFA/RFP from the pull-down
  menu.)
• View Current Funding Opportunities Grants and
  Contracts for any postings of Frequently Asked
  Questions (FAQs), Additional/Clarifying
  Information, or Errata Notices that pertain to
  this RFA/RFP.

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T-STEM Academies Grants

• To Download the 2006 and 2007 RFAs
• http//www.tea.state.tx.us/opge/disc/index.ht
  ml
• (Under Current Discretionary Grant
  Opportunities)
• Please be aware that TEA does not have the
  resources to provide technical assistance to
  those who experience difficulty accessing and
  using these forms.
• The forms are being made available only for those
  whose computer system is compatible with the
  forms and wish to utilize this flexibility.
• The forms may be completed on the computer,
  saved, and printed for mailing to TEA as per
  instructions on each individual RFA. Currently,
  there is no electronic submission of these
  application forms.
• Any eligible entity submitting these forms is
  responsible for ensuring that the printed forms
  maintain the TEA's format.

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Clarifying Information

• Any person wishing to obtain clarifying
  information about this for grant application may
  submit questions in writing to
• Program Information
• tstemgrant_at_cftexas.org
• Funding Information
• karen.harmon_at_tea.state.tx.us
• Contact information for Regional Education
  Service Centers and the Texas Regional
  Collaborative for Excellence in Science Teaching
  is on the back table.

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