The Grants Resource Center – by Wellons, Richard
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has recently opened two programs of interest to GRC members – Centers for International Business Education Program and the Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program.
The Centers for International Business Education Program (CIBE) (deadline June 13, 2018) provides funding to institutions of higher education (IHEs) (or consortia of the same) for curriculum development, research, and training on issues of importance to U.S. trade and competitiveness. GRC recommends that members address both of the competitive preference priorities in order to gain additional points in a highly competitive program: 1) Collaboration with a Professional Association or Business (up to 5 points); and 2) Collaboration with Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) or Community Colleges (up to 5 points). ED also includes an optional invitational priority that applicants may also address (though it will not provide an application with any competitive advantage). It calls for programs or activities focused on language instruction and/or performance testing and assessment to strengthen the preparation of international business professionals.
Approximately 16 CIBE awards ranging from $265,000 to $305,000 each per year are available to support projects lasting up to 48 months. Non-federal cost sharing or matching is required: the federal portion of projects costs cannot exceed more than 90 percent the first year, 70 percent for the second year, and 50 percent for the third and additional years. Potential CIBE applicants may view previously funded applications at this link (scroll to the bottom). Guidelines are available at the Federal Register link. Additional program information is available at the ED CIBE page.
The Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) Grant Program (deadline June 26, 2018) provides funding to eligible partnerships in order to improve student achievement; improve the quality of prospective and new teachers by improving the preparation of prospective teachers and enhancing professional development activities for new teachers; hold teacher preparation programs at IHEs accountable for preparing teachers who meet applicable State certification and licensure requirements; and recruit highly qualified individuals, including minorities and individuals from other occupations, into the teaching force.
There are two absolute priorities in this round, which all applicants must address: 1) Partnership Grants for the Preparation of Teachers; and 2) Partnership Grants for the Establishment of Effective Teaching Residency Programs. There are also three optional competitive priorities that GRC strongly recommends members address to receive up to eight additional points: 1) Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) Education, With a Particular Focus on Computer Science (up to three points); 2) Promoting Effective Instruction in Classrooms and Schools (up to three points); and 3) Novice Applicants (up to two points).
Approximately 20 awards ranging from $300,000 to $1 million will be available to support projects lasting up to 60 months. Optional notices of intent are requested by June 11, 2018. Program guidelines are available at the Federal Register link. ED will post information on upcoming TQP pre-application webinars here. Additional program information is available at the ED TQP page.