Section 1085.70  Continuation Grant

 

a)         A consortium that has received an implementation grant award or a continuation grant pursuant to this Part for a cohort of candidates in the prior fiscal year shall be subject to the requirements of this Section with respect to continued funding for that cohort in subsequent years. 

 

1)         The responsibility and roles of each partner in the consortium shall be set forth in a written agreement signed by each partner to be submitted with the application annually.  The written agreement shall address at the least the following:

 

A)        The process and responsibilities of each partner for the recruitment, selection and assessment of candidates;

 

B)        The establishment of support systems and the specific roles of each partner in providing those supports. This may include, but shall not be limited to, tutoring, peer mentoring, professional development workshops, etc.; and

 

C)        The process to develop an evaluation plan to measure the progress and success of individual candidates, as well as an evaluation of the partnership, and the role of each partner in making improvements based on the results of the evaluations.

 

2)         In addition to the application requirements of Section 1085.40, the application for a continuation grant must include the following:

 

A)        An end-of-year report from the project director on the following: 

 

i)          Current status of the program and the status of each cohort member;

 

ii)         The activities and support provided to date, including monetary and in-kind; and

 

iii)        The degree to which candidates are achieving the program's objectives.

 

B)        An updated proposal including: 

 

i)          Objectives, activities, timelines and evaluation procedures for the renewal year, showing that it continues to meet all of the requirements set forth in Section 1085.60;

 

ii)         Results/outcomes that have been achieved to date; and

 

iii)        The relationship of results to any changes proposed for program operations from the previous year. 

 

C)        An updated budget including:

 

i)          Budget summary;

 

ii)         Payment schedule; and

 

ii)         Narrative budget breakdown that describes any needed variances from the budget proposed in the prior year of funding.

 

b)         When the consortium membership has changed or there is a plan in place to replace one or more of the partners, the consortium must contact GYOI prior to submitting an application for a continuation grant.  The consortium must submit written notification of the membership change.  GYOI will prescribe the form or format when releasing the Request for Proposals (RFP).  GYOI will review the notifications consistent with the following:

 

1)         If the 4-year institution of higher education with an Illinois accredited teacher education program is replaced or the school district or group of schools is replaced, the consortium is not eligible for a continuation grant.  The newly formed consortium may be eligible for a planning or implementation grant and may be eligible for continuation grants in the years following the receipt of a planning or implementation grant. 

 

2)         If the partners want to add a school district or group of schools to the consortium, GYOI shall consider whether this change is viable and what impact this will have on the candidates.  If the reorganization appears viable and there is no apparent risk that this change will interfere with the progression of candidates through the program, GYOI shall recognize the reorganized consortium.  The reorganized consortium may be eligible for a continuation grant.

 

3)         A consortium may replace or add community organizations as it deems appropriate.  If there is no apparent risk that the reorganization will interfere with the progression of candidates through the program or harm the consortium, GYOI shall deem that the reorganized consortium is eligible for a continuation grant. 

 

c)         A consortium that has received an implementation grant award or a continuation grant pursuant to this Part for a cohort of candidates in the prior fiscal year shall be subject to the requirements of this Section with respect to continued funding for that cohort in subsequent years. 

 

1)         The responsibility and roles of each partner in the consortium shall be set forth in a written agreement signed by each partner to be submitted with the application annually.  The written agreement shall address at the least the following:

 

A)        The process and responsibilities of each partner for the recruitment, selection and assessment of candidates;

 

B)        The establishment of support systems and the specific roles of each partner in providing those supports. This may include, but shall not be limited to, tutoring, peer mentoring, professional development workshops, etc.; and

 

C)        The process to develop an evaluation plan to measure the progress and success of individual candidates, as well as an evaluation of the partnership, and the role of each partner in making improvements based on the results of the evaluations.

 

2)         In addition to the application requirements of Section 1085.40, the application for a continuation grant must include the following:

 

A)        An end-of-year report from the project director on the following: 

 

i)          Current status of the program and the status of each cohort member;

 

ii)         The activities and support provided to date, including monetary and in-kind; and

 

iii)        The degree to which candidates are achieving the program's objectives.

 

B)        An updated proposal including: 

 

i)          Objectives, activities, timelines, and evaluation procedures for the renewal year, showing that it continues to meet all of the requirements set forth in Section 1085.60;

 

ii)         Results/outcomes that have been achieved to date; and

 

iii)        The relationship of results to any changes proposed for program operations from the previous year. 

 

C)        An updated budget including:

 

i)          Budget summary;

 

ii)         Payment schedule; and

 

ii)         Narrative budget breakdown that describes any needed variances from the budget proposed in the prior year of funding.

 

d)         GYOI shall, contingent upon appropriation or allocation of funds for this initiative, provide continuation funding to consortia that:

 

1)         Demonstrate that a majority of the candidates in the cohort served have completed coursework required under the teacher preparation program during at least one semester of the preceding year, as described in Section 1085.50(b);

 

2)         Demonstrate success in providing the supports necessary to retain candidates in the program; and

 

3)         Demonstrate that their programs continue to comply with the provisions of the Act and this Part. 

 

e)         If, for any reason, the amount of funds available for release is not sufficient to distribute the continuation grants in a given fiscal year, GYOI shall distribute prorated shares to grantees.

 

f)         In the event that an audit or other evidence establishes that the consortium failed to perform and/or the expenditure of grant funds was not consistent with the consortium's proposal and the Grant Agreement, a full or partial reimbursement to the State, through the Board, shall be required. For example, if an auditor finds that any amount of funds were not used or were used in a manner inconsistent with the proposal, GYOI will seek reimbursement for that amount of funds.

 

(Source:  Amended at 44 Ill. Reg. 11419, effective June 24, 2020)