ED Opens TQP Program & Update on Merging OII and OESE

Grants Resource Center – Richards Wellons

Dear Colleagues:

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has opened the competition for its popular Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program, which provides support to projects that increase the number of highly qualified teachers in high-need school districts. In the FY 19 competition, ED will only support projects that prepare teachers through the implementation of teacher residency programs.

This competition has one absolute priority, two competitive preference priorities, and one invitational priority:

  • Absolute Priority: Partnership Grants for the Establishment of Effective Teaching Residency Programs.
  • Competitive Preference Priority 1 (up to five points). Projects designed to improve student achievement or other educational outcomes in computer science (as defined in this notice) by increasing the number of educators adequately prepared to deliver rigorous instruction in STEM fields, including computer science, through recruitment, evidence-based professional development strategies for current STEM educators, or evidence-based retraining strategies for current educators seeking to transition from other subjects to STEM fields.
  • Competitive Preference Priority 2 (five points). Projects submitted by applicants that meet the definition of novice applicant (as defined in the notice) at the time they submit their application.
  • Invitational Priority: Spurring Investment in Opportunity Zones.

The absolute priority must be addressed. The competitive preference priorities provide additional points to an application and are optional – though GRC highly recommends addressing any competitive preferences, if at all possible, to remain competitive with other applicants. The invitational priority offers no additional points or preference to an application but may inform future competitions.

For more information view the Federal Register announcement and the TQP program page. Applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to submit a notice of intent to apply by May 3, 2019. Applications are dueMay 20, 2019. Pre-recorded informational webinars will be published on the TQP program page.

TQP has been located in the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) but is now listed under the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE) in the announcement. As indicated on the OII and OESE websites, ED has merged OII with OESE into one office called OESE. ED states that the move is in response to the Trump Administration’s Executive Order 13781–the Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch– from 2017, which called for greater efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability in federal agencies. As part of the merger, the two websites will also be consolidated.