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Q:  Does this apply only to schools with bilingual programs or can schools that just have a small # of ESL students apply?

A:  The school must have a dual language program or plan to start one upon receipt of the funds. The district must also have an approved CR Part 154 program in order to be eligible.

Q: Can this grant be used to expand an existing program to Pre-Kindergarten?

A:  The funding can only be used for grades K -12.

Q: If we replicate an existing program into a second school, can we spend Jan- Aug, 2007 conducting recruitment and professional development of new teachers and actually begin classes in Sept. 2007 with a K-1 class and expand into a K, 1, 2 program in year 3?

A:  The funds can only be used for implementation not for planning purposes.

Q: Can you tell me how many applications were submitted for this grant last year and how many were funded? Also-do you anticipate the same amount of funding for this round?

A:  This is a new RFP and applications are currently being submitted.

Q: Will you allow the use of an APPENDIX for student schedules, endorsement by Parent Advisory Council, specimen letters sent to non-public schools, to parents announcing invitation to participate and student acceptance, etc.?

A:  An appendix should not be submitted. Schools must adhere to the 10 page limit.

Q: Can a school build on a preexisting Two-Way Bilingual Education Program? That is, can a school develop an intermediate level program that leads to more advanced courses?

A:  Yes, schools may build on pre-existing two way bilingual programs so long as they adhere to the RFP guidelines.

Q: Can parents be paid stipends to participate in related conferences?

A:  The use of funds to support parent leadership is a local decision. Like all use of funds it must have a justification that is directly related to the two way program.

Q: When will the grants be awarded; will they be awarded prior to the second half of the year?

A:  The anticipated date of payment will be approximately February 2007.

Q: We would like to start a new two-way bilingual program at a school. If the funds are awarded for 7/1/06-6/30/07 period we will be able to hire a program coordinator, recruit students/families, conduct staff development and parent involvement activities, develop curriculum and purchase materials once the funds are awarded. We will not be able to enroll and actually teach students until September 2007. Would this model/timeline be considered an implementation grant?

A:  The funds can only be used for implementation not for planning purposes.

Q: Is it correct that if several schools within one district are applying for the funds, that the District will submit one package with the eight required forms for each participating school?

A:  If there are several schools applying in one district, the district will submit one comprehensive packet on behalf of all of those schools within the district that are applying. The district should submit the following documents for all of its schools: the cover page with supt signature, the student/school data report, and the list of teachers. In districts with more than one school applying, it should be viewed in a similar fashion as a Title 3 application where there is a district overview and then each school has a SHORT narrative. The district is the applicant and the fiscal agent, not a school. The district will send one application with as many or as few schools they wish to include in their application. There should be only one budget per district submitted.

Q: Do schools write the grant individually or as a team of schools? Some schools want to collaborate as a team and then distribute the grant evenly if awarded.

A:  For schools within the same district, where there will be one consolidated application for the district schools should be aware of the “big picture” in the district. Funds will be awarded to districts for specific schools.

Q: The RFP states "English proficient (EP) students may not exceed 50% of the participating students. EP students must be English proficient upon enrollment in the program." Some of the schools in the region have both, a G&T DL class and regular DL class in Kindergarten and First grade. Presently, the number of EPs in the G&T classes exceed the ELLs at the entry point/enrollment (Kindergarten) due to the nature of the selection criteria set by the by the G&T department at central, not by the school itself. The balance of students in the other Kindergarten and First grade classes meet the requirement for the grant. Since the schools have no control over who is selected for their G&T DL program, can an exception/modification be made to the requirement to give these schools an opportunity submit an application? If an exception is made, should the G&T program be included in the grant application? If yes, should the grant be used for both programs?

A:  If a school has a pre-existing two way program, funds can be used to facilitate an equitable distribution of EP and LEP students. There can be no exemptions or modifications made to this RFP. If the proposed program meets the guidelines for this RFP it will be eligible for competition for these funds.

Q: Does the district/region write a description of all the DL programs in the district/region?

A:  It would make sense for the region/district to submit one overview of its programs in general so that each school does not need to write this overview individually. Think of it as one big Title 3 application; the district has an overview and then each school has a narrative.

Q: Will the State provide guidelines for the annual report for awarded schools?

A:  Schools that are awarded the grant will have a coordinator's meeting at some point during the contract. Each school will receive more info when they receive the award.

Q: Are schools that are awarded the grant, within the NYC empowerment zone, required to report to the Region/District or Central for accountability purposes?

A:  School must follow the reporting guidelines of the RFP. Local decisions for accountability and oversight in NYC are determined by NYC and do not affect application for this RFP.

Q: Can unspent funds be carried over from one year to the next?

A:  No. These funds can be used only between 7/1/06 to 6/30/07. These are Bilingual Education State funds and we cannot use these funds after June 30, 2007.

Q: Is the $5000 max for program evaluation per year or for the 3 years combined?

A:  The $5,000 max for program evaluation is for each year.

Q: We have children that come in Kindergarten and first grade that are not deemed ELLs because they pass the LAB-R upon registration. Schools classify them as EPs because once child passes the LAB-R, the school does not have to administer the (Spanish) LAB to determine Spanish language proficiency. We know that if most these children were tested with the LAB, they would also be proficient in Spanish, therefore deeming these children bilingual. The question is, for the grant writing purposes, are these children considered only EPs because the schools are abiding to the NYCDOE intake process for new entrants and therefore, the school might not qualify for the grant? Can the schools explain that although this happens frequently, they can justify somehow, that these children are bilingual at the entry point?

A:  Students who pass the LAB-R are not considered LEP by both the New York State Ed Dept. and NYCDOE. The students in question must be considered EP students.

Q: In the Instructional, Parental Involvement and Staff Development Components of the RFP, we are to provide detailed objectives, activities, timeframe, performance standards, assessment method, etc. As this could easily take up many pages, is it allowable to provide that information as an attachment, or must it be included in the 10-page narrative?

A:  Do not exceed the 10 pages for each school or include attachments.

Q: A classroom at the 7th and 8th grade level would gradually be phased in but they would focus on providing one social studies class in Spanish and all other content areas in English, while also offering accelerated Spanish language classes. Is this model in keeping with two-way bilingual models for the middle school level?

A:  There is no particular type of program in terms of focus on NLA, content areas, etc that is favored over another.

Q: Does each school applying need to complete an application of up to 10 single spaced pages? We have 4 schools, hence would we be submitting up to a 40 page comprehensive district application. Or, is the district application limited to 10 pages that includes information germane to the 4 schools applying?

A:  The district can submit 10 pages for each school but it is not recommended. The comprehensive district application should be viewed in the same manner as a Title III consolidated application. There will be general information that applies to all schools in the district in terms of vision and philosophy; each school should have a school specific narrative that addresses implementation in each school.

11/02/2006