Section 210.230  Application Procedures

a)         When an appropriation is made for the IHOPE incentive grant, the State Superintendent of Education shall release a request for applications (RFA) specifying the information that applicants shall include and requiring that proposals be submitted no later than the date specified in the RFA.  The RFA shall provide at least 30 calendar days in which to submit applications.

b)         It is the intention of the State Superintendent of Education to approve IHOPE incentive grants for a three-year period.  Funding in each subsequent year is subject to a sufficient appropriation for the program and satisfactory progress of the grantee in the previous grant period.  (See Section 210.80 of this Part.)

c)         Each application shall include evidence that the plan, and any continuation plans, for the IHOPE program have received approval from the State Superintendent of Education.  An applicant whose plan has been submitted to the State Superintendent of Education, but who has not yet received approval, shall submit a copy of the plan with its application for funding.

d)         The application shall require the completion of a budget summary and payment schedule as well as a budget breakdown, i.e., a detailed explanation of each line item of expenditure.

e)         Each application shall include such certifications, assurances and program-specific terms of the grant as the State Superintendent of Education may require, to be signed by each applicant that is a party to the application and submitted with the proposal. 

f)         Applicants may be requested to clarify various aspects of their applications.  The contents of the approved application shall be incorporated into a grant agreement to be signed by the State Superintendent of Education or designee and the regional superintendent of education or, in the case of CPS, by the chief executive officer of the district.