Questions and Answers

Is the funding level for the transition year consistent with this year, or is the amount open and competitive?

The new Perkins IV Act starts a new program and year effective July 1, 2007. Any previous funding levels are not pertinent to this open competitive grant application.

What is the procedure for existing consortia? Is it "from scratch," with all the forms completed, or is there an abbreviated process?

There is no abbreviated process. All Perkins eligible agencies must complete all the required forms.

In the past, consortiums applying for Tech Prep funds included $1,000 in their budgets payable to the Research Foundation of SUNY for NYS Tech Prep Staff Development. Are we expected to continue this practice with Perkins IV funds?

New Programs will be expected to have technical assistance in establishing their new programs of study (POS) and will need to purchase services accordingly.

Although it is titled "transition" I see no language suggesting the "new" RFP requests transition from the current TP to the new, aside from the "career cluster" section. Also, I thought we were supposed to be able to write it for more $165K is the same as the 06-07, is this a mistake or an initial amount that will be increased before the final budgets are do? Many grant agencies request an "intent to apply" with a short (usually one page outline) description of general objectives/goals/program and then based on this, upgrade the funds/grant to reflect the interest and/or specify the number of grants to be funded.

The State Plan Transition Year refers to the option the law provides that NYS chose. It will be followed by a 5-year plan for the years 2009-2013. The funds will be distributed as per the RFP criteria and availability. The application procedures are stated in the RFP.

Since many members of our Advisory Board are medical/research professionals in various cities/states is it acceptable to have them sign individual member sheets rather than mailing one form to 10+ people? The chance of getting everyone together for a sign off on short notice is not realistic. On the same topic, can we submit letters of support?

Yes, the steering committee signature sheet indicated you can duplicate the form for submission as necessary. Letters of support are not necessary.

Concerning the big 5 districts: I assume NYC doesn't have to work with a BOCES. Please advise if I'm wrong. Do we know how the City will be delineated for the next grant? I think it is important to know this so our "transitional grant can address how we plan to transition into additional career clusters, our focus, staff, advisory board....If we are going to be one or five or more consortia, then I assume the reader/evaluators of the 07-08 grant would like to know how we are going to plan for the future and who our "partners" may be? Also, if we are going to partner/expand to include other current consortia, then our "transition" should be aware of staff, areas of expertise, etc. etc.

No. NYC does not have to work with BOCES. NYC will receive no more than 7 grants contracts as delineated as per the RFP. There is a one year grants contract that requires program fiscal agent applicants to decide on partners.

According to Federal Perkins Act Title II, only a consortium may receive funds from the state. Is there any limitation in NYS RFP that shall exclude certain educational entity to be the fiscal agency in the consortium (e.g. SUNY Research Foundation)? We used to be the fiscal agency in the last Perkins.

Yes. It is a consortium application, but requires an eligible fiscal agency. CUNY/SUNY Research Foundations are not excluded on behalf of a specific campus.

Is there a required "cash match" element for The Career Pathways and Perkins Title II program?

A cash match is not required.

Is a cash contribution required in the 2007-08 grant RFP?

No cash contribution is required.

What will be the criteria for student data collection with the new Perkins II legislation? Reason for inquiry: Since New York State data collection in the past has been strict about not co-mingling CTE and Tech Prep students, how will NYSED count students enrolled in innovative and enriched CTE programs, programs with well-defined career pathways? Will they be CTE or Career Pathways Tech Prep?

The signing of the Tech Prep Enrollment Form indicates intent by a student and designates the student as being a Tech Prep participant as differentiated from a CTE participant. Both Tech Prep and CTE will need to follow Career Pathways Programs of Study (POS).

Do we need a BOCES partner? We did not need them in the Tech Prep grant in the past.

Yes, as in the earlier Tech Prep grant, except in NYC.

May schools be reimbursed for supplies, transportation, curriculum development, etc. related to special projects they are doing that meet Tech Prep/CPP goals? May funds ever be used to support awards for outstanding Tech Prep/CPP students within our consortium?

Yes, but the associated costs must be allowable activities and expenditures.

Must the steering committee contain all types of representatives listed in the application, including not only school representatives at various levels, but also business and organized labor representatives, parents, and students?

Yes, see Steering Committee Form in RFP.

What if we have multiple career pathways for each cluster? Should we list them all or just choose one for each?

Yes, you may choose up to 3 Career Pathways for one cluster or 3 different Career Pathways for 3 different clusters.

What if we have some programs of study that overlap with others, since several courses may be used across different clusters/pathways (such as marketing, business law, accounting, and office management/computer applications courses that are part of a comprehensive 5-credit business program; or digital technology students who do a mix of video production, interactive media, digital photography, computer science, and drafting that are part of a 5-credit art or technology sequence).

Choose Programs of Study (POS) and Career Pathways that are prominent. Overlap is acceptable.

Do you want us to have a maximum of 3 career pathways that we work with? Would our count of career pathway students only be the students in these 3 career pathways? In years past, it looks like many of the consortia have reported students in many different career pathways. Do you want students in previously established career pathways reported?

To align Career Pathways with Programs of Study should be an extensive effort and to do one well would be an accomplishment. More than 3 would be excessive. Please re-read the law on what constitutes a Program of Study for Perkins IV. Yes, students in previously established career pathways should be reported.

Since this is planning grant, is there a possibility of using the 2007-08 funds to develop a new career pathway? (i.e., new courses, new internships, etc.) without counting students the first year?

It is not designated as a planning grant. You may wish to develop a prototype Program of Study in a newly selected Career Pathway in 2007-08, but not plan to include serving students the same year.

Do you want signatures of the consortium members (schools, colleges, businesses)? I know you want signatures of the steering committee members, but what about the consortium members?

Only with respect to any articulation agreements.

Can you give us a rough idea of how many objectives you would like us to have in our proposal?

No. Remember, it is a one year transition grant.

Under code 40, the guidelines say that an agency cannot purchase services from itself. Can a BOCES purchase printing, public relations, phone, O & M, etc. from itself under 490?

In order to encourage school districts to participate in Tech Prep, we have always had a service agreement with them. Is it still possible to have a service agreement with participating school districts and colleges?

There are no new stipulations for entering into agreements.

Since we are allowed to purchase instructional materials, is it allowable to purchase on-line courses for the students?

Can funds from the Career Pathways grant be used to establish a new CTE course at the BOCES center?