Section 205.50  Proposal Review and Approval

a)         Proposals submitted for initial funding under this Part shall be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria and points:

1)         There is sufficient need for the program/services, as evidence by the number or proportion of students identified as eligible for program services (see Section 205.20(b) of this Part). (20 points)

2)         Criteria and indicators for identifying students who are eligible for the program are clearly established and likely to target those students most in need of services.  (20 points)

3)         Program objectives and activities are well-defined, linked to identified needs, and likely to lead to improved outcomes for the students served in the program. (20 points)

4)         The program is cost-effective as evidenced by the cost of proposed services in relation to the numbers to be served and the services to be provided.  (20 points)

5)         The evaluation strategies will effectively gauge the success of the program and yield sufficient data that can be used to improve the program.  (10 points)

6)         The proposal demonstrates strategies, other than those routinely offered by the regular school program, that will be effective in decreasing the dropout rate and increasing school attendance.  (10 points)

b)         Proposals submitted for a renewal period shall be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

1)         The evaluation of the current year's project indicates that its stated objectives are being met, that the project has been conducted in conformance with the proposal approved by the State Superintendent of Education, and that a sufficient need continues to exist for the truant's alternative  and optional education program; or

2)         In instances where certain objectives of the project are not being met, the grantee has described the relative status of each such objective, the reason(s) for incomplete achievement, and either:

i)          the steps to be taken to ensure that the objective will be met during the renewal period, if the objective remains a valid part of the proposal for renewal; or

ii)         if the grantee has determined that the objective should be deleted from its plan or altered in light of the previous year's experience, then the grantee has provided its rationale for such deletion or change and has described how the program's goals for the renewal period will be met in light of the change.

c)         The selection of proposals for funding may be based in part on geographic distribution and/or the need to provide resources to public school districts and communities with varying demographic characteristics.

d)         Priority consideration may be given to proposals with specific areas of emphasis, as identified by the State Board of Education in a particular RFP.

e)         The State Superintendent of Education will make final determinations in accordance with the criteria stated in subsections (a) and (b) of this Section.

(Source:  Amended at 25 Ill. Reg. 2399, effective January 25, 2001)