NYSED / P-12 / Funding Opportunities / Model P-20 Partnerships for Principal Preparation Grant / Questions and Answers

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Questions and Answers

Model P-20 Partnerships for Principal Preparation Grant “Equipping School Building Leaders” 2018–2020

Project Period, Timeline, and Funding

1. Is there any chance you will provide an extension on the June 29 deadline? There are already two other SED deadlines that week – for Carl D. Perkins (6/28) and the Empire State After-School Program (6/27).   With the three-week time-frame, we’re also concerned about having a strong program developed and written (we stopped working on it last month after the RFA was pulled back).
   
   Answer:  No extension of the June 29^th deadline is contemplated at this time.  Note, however, that if the Department identifies weaknesses in a timely submitted application under this program, it may, in its discretion, notify the applicant and allow a reasonable opportunity to address those weaknesses and submit additional information after the deadline.
   
   
2. On page 7 under “Required Project Design Elements,” the RFA states that programs must include a minimum of 30 credit hours.  Do all of the required program elements—including all 30 credit hours and the year-long internship—need to be completed by all of the initial cohort members by September 30, 2020?
   
   Answer:  No.  Note, however, that all costs covered by grant funds must be obligated by September 30, 2020.  Program costs obligated after that date would need to be paid from a different funding source.
   
   
3. Page 11 of the RFA notes that funds from year 1 must be obligated by June 30, 2019. What does that mean? If we have an intended use for the funds, is that enough? Or do you require invoices, purchase orders, etc.?
   
   Answer:  As stated on page 15 of the RFA, the Department’s Fiscal Guidelines for Federal and State Grants explain how to determine the date that funds are obligated/encumbered.  Obligations mean orders placed for property and services, contracts made, and similar transactions during a given period that require payment during the same or a future period.  Placing an order should generate an invoice or purchase order.
   
   
4. We see SED is planning to award the total grants funds in the following allocation: about 67% in year 1 and 33% in year 2. Does that mean we should plan to use 67% of our district’s total award in year 1, and 33% in year 2? Or is there more flexibility?
   
   Answer:  As stated on page 15 of the RFA, 76% of the district’s Year 1 grant funds must be obligated by June 30, 2019.    The intent of awarding a majority of the award in Year 1 is to encourage grantees to spend more in the first year of their program.  They may have increased initial costs for planning purposes, etc., during Year 1.  If underspending does occur in Year 1, the Department may look at extenuating circumstances to determine if carryover will be allowed into Year 2.

Eligible Partnerships

5. Can we partner with more than one institution of higher education (IHE)?
   
   Answer:  Yes.  A district may form multiple eligible partnerships and create multiple pilot programs with different IHE partners, provided that each partner IHE has a graduate program in school leadership that is registered with the Department. 
   
   Alternatively, a district may form a single eligible partnership with multiple IHE partners, provided that each partner IHE has a graduate program in school leadership that is registered with the Department.  In this scenario, all partner IHEs would have to sign off on each candidate’s eligibility, and one IHE would be designated to enter the recommendation in the TEACH system. 

Required Project Design Elements

6. On page 7 under “Required Project Design Elements,” the RFA states that programs must include a minimum of 30 credit hours. Do all 30 credit hours need be earned through classes at the partner IHE?
   
   Answer:  No, coursework need not be delivered “at” the partner IHE.   The partners may design and the IHE may award up to a maximum of 6 credit hours for clinical experience.  The district, IHE, and leadership development partner entity (LDP) must jointly design and agree on program design, including the graduate coursework component.

7. Can some of those 30 credit hours be earned through professional development?
   
   Answer:  No.  Credit may only be earned for graduate coursework, not through “professional development.”  Furthermore, the partners may design and the IHE may award up to a maximum of 6 credit hours for clinical experience. 

8. Referring to the same 30-credit requirement, if a district gives credit for equivalent coursework completed by a candidate in a previous grant program, is there a limit on the total number of credit hours that can be granted in this fashion?
   
   Answer:  There is no limit on the number of credits that the partners may agree to count for equivalent coursework completed by a candidate in a previous graduate program.  Note, however, that school districts do not “give” or award graduate credit.  The district, IHE, and LDP must jointly determine and agree on what previously-completed graduate coursework will be counted as equivalent.

9. Can we use these funds to support two different cohorts? While one cohort is developing proficiency with the competencies, can a second cohort be engaging in a year-long internship? (With the understanding that when the first cohort has demonstrated proficiency that they will then begin a one-year internship.)
   
   Answer:  Yes.  Note, however, that all costs covered by grant funds must be obligated by September 30, 2020.  Program costs obligated after that date would need to be paid from a different funding source.   

10. Do all of the candidates within the cohort need to complete the year-long internship?
    
    Answer:  Programs are required to enroll at least the minimum number of candidates in a cohort, and no candidate will be considered to have successfully completed the program unless he or she completes the year-long internship.  To the extent that the approved budget is based on the number of candidates, the Department would anticipate reducing the project budget pro rata to account for any reduction in the number of candidates that may occur during the program.  If fewer than the minimum number of candidates complete the program, the Department will view that as a negative factor when considering whether to register the program to continue in operation beyond the pilot grant period. 

11. How do we handle drop-outs?
    
    Answer:  If one or more candidates drop out of the program, the partners have the option to “backfill” by enrolling new candidates, if doing so would contribute to the success of the program. 

12. What if it is determined that a candidate does not have the requisite competencies to become a principal?
    
    Answer:  Such a candidate may be counseled out of the program.  The partners have the option to “backfill” by enrolling a new candidate, if doing so would contribute to the success of the program.

13. We see on page 8 where the RFA states that the internship must be during the regular school year and not “around the edges.” We are planning a 600-hour internship that does include some internship hours during the regular school year. What is the minimum number of hours SED would find acceptable for principal candidates to serve during the regular school year (vs. outside the regular school day)?
    
    Answer:  The Department is not defining the internship in terms of hours.  In accordance with the grant’s purpose, the Department’s expectation is that each candidate will be engaged for a minimum of one full school year in intensive clinical practice embedded in an authentic school setting, where he or she will take on substantial leadership responsibilities.  As stated in the RFA, “The internship must be designed to encompass the full-day experience throughout the regular school year, when students are in session” (emphasis added).  A 600-hour internship of any kind does not meet this requirement. 

14. We envision our principal preparation model as a three-year program. During the first two years the aspiring principals would engage in coursework to develop proficiency and in the third year they would participate in a year-long internship. Is this plan an acceptable use of grant funds?
    
    Answer:  Yes.  Note, however, that all costs covered by grant funds must be obligated by September 30, 2020.  Program costs obligated after that date would need to be paid from a different funding source.  

15. You state that “course sequence, format and required content may vary depending on each individual candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.” Can we design a program that allows candidates within the same cohort to begin their year-long internships at different times depending upon their proficiency, or is it expected that the cohort will remain on the same time schedule?
    
    Answer:  Programs may allow candidates within the same cohort to begin their year-long internships at different times, depending on their proficiency.

16. Item 11 on page 9 of the RFA mentions in the future shifting financial responsibility away from the candidates. Does this mean the expectation is in the future P-20 partnerships would pay for college tuition for candidates pursuing certification?
    
    Answer:  Not necessarily.  It is up to each eligible partnership to define and describe a workable sustainability plan.  The Department’s vision for the future is that internships would someday be available at no cost to the candidate, but that is not a required project design element for this grant.

Other (Optional) Program Characteristics

17. Page 9 of the RFA, paragraph a under “Other program characteristics to consider” states that under ESSA, use of Title IIA funds must be evidence-based and include a logic model. Should we be including a logic model with our application?
    
    Answer:  Not necessarily. The Department’s overall plan for using New York State’s Title II, Part A setaside funding to support its Principal Preparation Project is governed by a logic model, and this pilot is included in that model. 
    It is important, however, for the project partners to describe in their Memorandum of Agreement the evidence basis for why they expect the project they are designing to be successful and to result in improved principal preparation.
    

Allowable Expenditures

18. May these funds be used to pay for graduate tuition, fees and books?
    
    Answer:  Yes.

19. Non-Allowable Expenses are listed on page 10.  There is no reference to meals/light refreshments.  Please clarify if meals/light refreshments are allowable.
    
    Answer:  No.  Under Title IIA, food and refreshments, including working lunches, are not allowable expenses.

Last Updated: June 18, 2018 4:08 PM