FY2018/2019 Tribal Clean Diesel Funding Request for Applications (RFA) Changes; Deadline is April 3

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has combined fiscal year 2018 and 2019 Clean Diesel Grant funding into one Request for Applications (RFA). An additional $2.0 million in grant funding has been added to the already open FY18 Tribal RFA for a total of $4.0 million available. Under this amended grant competition, each applicant may request up to $800,000 in federal funding, and EPA is expecting to award between 5 and 12 grants. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

Please visit the Clean Diesel Tribal Grants Website for the RFA and Supporting Documents (www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-tribal-grants)

Tribal Applicants Click Here If Interested in Learning More About the VW Mitigation Trust DERA Option.

Priority – Priority is given to projects that achieve significant reduction in diesel emissions and exposure in areas designated as having poor air quality, and in areas receiving a disproportionate quantity of air pollution from diesel fleets.

Eligibility – Tribal governments (or intertribal consortiums) and Alaskan Native Villages, which have jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, are eligible to apply for Tribal Clean Diesel grants.

Use of Funding – Eligible diesel vehicles, engines and equipment may include:

School buses
Class 5 – Class 8 heavy-duty highway vehicles
Locomotive engines
Marine engines
Nonroad engines, equipment or vehicles used in construction, handling of cargo (including at ports or airports), agriculture, mining or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps).

Further questions can be send to Pat Hinckley, Maine DOE Transportation and Facilities Administrator at pat.hinckley@maine.gov.

Release of FY2018 Title IA Basic Disadvantaged and Program Improvement Funds for General Title IA Reallocation-Title IA FY2019 Summer School

The Maine Department of Education’s ESEA Federal Programs Title IA Office is announcing the availability of approximately $700,000 of FY18 Title IA Disadvantaged and Program Improvement funds for Title IA reallocation purposes.

The Application for FY2018 Title IA Funds Reallocation (Title IA FY19 Summer School Application) and Title IA Reallocation Procedures are available on ESEA Federal Programs website by clicking on the Title I Icon. The Application or FY2018 Title IA Funds Reallocation (including how the funds will be used to improve the performance of Title IA identified students along with a detailed budget) must be mailed/postmarked by April 12, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. and mailed to:

Department of Education
ESEA Clearinghouse
23 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0023

For more information regarding Title IA programs, please contact monique.sullivan@maine.gov. or jackie.godbout@maine.gov.

(On Hold) Free Training, Technical Assistance, Equipment and Materials as Part of Pilot for 3 Public Preschool Programs

The Maine Department of Education will be holding off on this opportunity while we sort out a few remaining logistics. We have taken this notice down for the time being to minimize confusion.

We hope to offer it again very soon. Thank you for your patience.

For more information, contact Nicole Madore at Nicole.madore@maine.gov

PRIORITY NOTICE: Reminder to Review and Report any District Data Errors in 2019/20 Subsidy Printouts (ED 279s) by March 15, 2019

The Maine Department of Education would like to acknowledge the hard work of school districts in ensuring that the data they submit to the Department is as accurate as possible. Each year there are a handful of data errors that districts notice after the release of the ED 279 printouts and these can have a significant impact on subsidy.

The Department encourages school districts to examine their ED 279 printouts as closely as possible to identify any possible data errors. Any districts who have found an error in their data are encouraged to report this as soon as possible to the Department of Education’s School Finance Team. Errors must be identified and reported within 30 days of the posting of the preliminary ED 279s.

While we cannot guarantee a complete financial correction for errors that have been made because of inaccurate data submitted by school districts, we will work hard to mitigate the impact on your district to the greatest extent possible. (The Department will always make fiscal corrections in the event that an error is made on our end – this notice pertains to inaccurate data submitted by school districts). As corrections are submitted, they will be placed on a list for review in the order received. As a reminder, any financial corrections in subsidy are made after the state budget has passed the legislature.

To better understand where and why errors might occur, here is a list of reports that impact the ED 279 subsidy calculation and a list of deadlines. We send out reminders around these reports, and encourage superintendents and business office staff members to carefully examine the data before submitting and certifying it; this will help to avoid issues that emerge after the release of the ED 279 printouts.

Should you have questions regarding subsidy printouts or to report an error, please contact our friendly, smart, and helpful school finance team: Tyler Backus at tyler.backus@maine.gov; Paula Gravelle at paula.b.gravelle@maine.gov; or Ida Batista at ida.batista@maine.gov.

Public Comments Sought on Maine’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Application for Federal Funds

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is seeking public comments on its annual application for federal funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which covers services to children with disabilities, ages 3-20.

The application, which covers Maine fiscal year 2020 (starting July 1, 2019) is posted on the Maine DOE’s website:

IDEA Part B Application can be found on the Maine DOE’s Office of Special Services web page.

The Part B budget is projected on the basis of Maine’s award for the current State fiscal year (2019), pending the State’s receipt of the finalized federal award for the coming year. Both documents will be posted from February 22, 2019 through May 10, 2019.

Written comments will be accepted from March 1, 2019 until 4 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2019. Please send comments to Ann Belanger at ann.belanger@maine.gov or 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME. 04333.

EPS High-Cost Out-of-District Report (EF-S-214) Open for Reporting on March 1, 2019; Deadline is April 15, 2019

The EF-S-214, also known as the EPS High-Cost Out-of-District Report will be open for data entry to Maine public schools on March 1 in the Maine DOE’s NEO Portal.

The report can be located by logging into NEO at: https://neo.maine.gov/DOE/NEO/Accounts/Account/Login then Navigate to→ Special Education → Forms → EFS-214.

School districts should sign into the report as early as possible to allow time for data entry as well as the two-step submission process. The deadline to complete the report is April 15. The Department must approve the report by April 15 to allow time to make possible EPS adjustments.

This report is required for all publicly funded school districts, including districts that do not meet the High-Cost Out-of-District tuition threshold of $16,214 (see further details below).

Below are a few important things to note about the EF-S-214 report:

School districts will need to project the tuition cost for the full fiscal year.

Fiscal Year 2019 tuition/board cost that total above $16,214 for each student should be included in the report.

Adjustments to the Special Education High-Cost Out-of-District allocation will be based on costs above $16,214 for placements in Regional Special Education Programs, $24,321 for placements in other school administrative units, and $32,428 for placements in private schools.

Questions about the report should be direct to Stephanie Clark (Fiscal Compliance Specialist) for the Maine Department of Education at 207-624-6807 or (Stephanie.clark@maine.gov).

PRIORITY NOTICE: 2019/20 Subsidy Printouts (ED279s) Now Available with Explanation of Funding Changes

The fiscal year 2019-2020 ED 279 subsidy printouts are now available at: https://neo.maine.gov/DOE/NEO/eps/public/ed279.aspx

The subsidy printouts are provided based on the $1.1 Billion in General Purpose Aid funding recommended for FY 2019-2020 by Governor Janet Mills in her FY 2020-2021 biennial budget. This amount is an additional $41.3 million from last year, and reflects the Governor’s commitment to increase the state’s share of education funding.

Below is a list of changes to the funding formula, enacted during the second session of the 128th Legislature:

The Minimum Special Education Adjustment has increased from 40% to 45%.
Each town’s valuation is provided by the Maine Revenue Service annually and utilized as the calculation of fiscal capacity to determine the town’s ability to pay its required local share. Previously the amounts used were determined based on the average valuation of the 2 most recent years prior to the year of funding for each town. For FY 2019-2020, the calculation of fiscal capacity will be based on the average of the 3 most recent years, prior to the year of funding or, the most recent year, whichever is less.
The allocation for system administration is $47 per pupil.
The additional allocation for members of regional service centers, as formed under M.R.S. 20-A, Chapter 123, is $94 per pupil, indexed to the member unit’s state share percentage on the ED 279, with a member unit receiving no less than a 30% state share and no greater than a 70% state share.
We are pleased to announce that the increased state share in funding this year has resulted in a change to the mill expectation. The mill expectation determines a unit’s required local share when multiplied times its fiscal capacity. This year it is 8.28 mills, down from 8.48 in FY 2019.
Remember, an increase or decrease in student enrollment, disadvantaged student population, special education costs, and other key factors in the formula have a major impact on funding for each district as the EPS model is a student-centered funding model.
School units that have either paid off or have begun to pay principal or interest payments for State approved new school construction will realize changes in funding if either a payment no longer needs to be made or if a new payment has begun.

The ED 279 Subsidy Printouts are calculated using the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) Funding Formula. The Department is proud to be offering one of the most equitable school funding formulas in the nation. It is based on years of research and information, designed to respond to student needs, and to direct resources to the communities with the most need. That said, the Department understands that the formula is not responsive to every need a school administrative unit may have, especially given the different priorities in schools and communities throughout the state.

Should you have questions regarding subsidy printouts, please contact the School Finance Team: Tyler Backus at tyler.backus@maine.gov; Paula Gravelle at paula.b.gravelle@maine.gov; or Ida Batista at ida.batista@maine.gov.

PRIORITY NOTICE: Update Regarding the Release if the ED 279 Subsidy Printouts

The Maine Department of Education has been working as quickly and efficiently as possible to calculate and prepare the ED 279 Subsidy Printouts as we know that school districts rely on this information to set their local budget.

The Department is pleased to report that the technology issues that were identified earlier on in the process have been completely cleared up. The only remaining element needed to complete the printouts is the General Purpose Aid (GPA) amount. That amount will come from the Governor’s budget which is scheduled for release on February 8th.

Once we receive this amount, we will be able to load it into the formula to complete the process. The anticipated release of the ED 279 Subsidy Printouts is February 15, 2019 at the very latest. We sincerely hope to complete them even sooner.

Further information will be available as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine DOE Awards Third Round of EMBRACE Grants for Regional Efforts

Augusta – The Maine Department of Education today announced that four new EMBRACE grants have been conditionally awarded to school districts and other education agencies. Made available as part of the statewide regionalization initiative, the round-three EMBRACE grants prioritize Enabling Maine students to Benefit from Regional and Coordinated approaches to Education. The awardees are partnering on a regional level to improve educational opportunities for students.

A total of 17 applications were received by the Department for the second competitive grant opportunity funded through the Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Educational Services (FEDES), which was made available to districts last summer. Of those 17 applications, four have been conditionally awarded. Based on the funding requests, totaling $4.2 million, the four awardees have projected savings of over $7 million in a 5-year period.

The first two rounds of EMBRACE grant funding in 2017 and the spring of 2018, had 19 grantees being awarded over $7.5 million in funds for regionalization efforts.

Round three EMBRACE (FEDES) grant project descriptions:

Down East Maine Career and Technical Education (CTE) Collaborative

This project will support the expansion of career and technical education programming opportunities to western Washington County. The project aims to increase student enrollment in CTE programs at the high school level and provide introductory and exploratory sessions for middle school students.

Participants:

Lead SAU – RSU 37/MSAD 37 (Addison, Columbia, Columbia Falls, Harrington, Milbridge)
Cherryfield Public Schools
Machias Public Schools
Moosabec CSD #17/School Union 103 (Beals Public Schools, Jonesport Public Schools)
Washington Academy

Kennebec Valley Multiple Pathways Academy II

This project will support a high school alternative education program that aims to reduce dropout and truancy rates by providing new and improved opportunities for at-risk students with multiple pathways for achievement.

Participants:

Lead SAU – RSU 83/MSAD 13 (Bingham, Moscow)
RSU 59/MSAD 59 (Madison)
RSU 74/MSAD 74 (Anson, Embden, New Portland, Solon)

Maine Center for Leadership and Innovation (MCLI)

This project will support the creation of a Leadership Academy that aims to provide a high-quality, research-based system of professional learning experiences and support for school- and district-level leaders.

Participants:

Lead SAU – RSU 6/MSAD 6 (Buxton, Frye Island, Hollis, Limington, Standish)
Brunswick Public Schools
Cape Elizabeth Public Schools
Gorham Public Schools
Portland Public Schools
RSU 14 (Raymond, Windham)
RSU 15/MSAD 15 (Gray, New Gloucester)
Scarborough Public Schools
South Portland Public Schools
Westbrook Public Schools

Valley Unified Learning Transformed

This project will support three components for the Valley Unified Integrated, Consolidated 9-16 Educational Facility: the merger of software systems that feed into the common student information and payroll/accounting systems; a comprehensive enrollment study, educational visioning, concept approval, and site approval; and develop programming options that link regional workforce needs to the regional education goals.

Participants:

Lead SAU – Madawaska Public Schools
MSAD 27 (Ft. Kent, New Canada, Saint Francis, Saint John Plantation, Wallagrass)
RSU 33/MSAD 33 (Frenchville, Saint Agatha)

Maine DOE Seeks Proposals for 21st Century Community Learning Center Programs

The Maine Department of Education is pleased to announce the release of a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids from interested parties to implement comprehensive 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) programs in 2019-2020. It is anticipated that an estimated $1.75M will be available to issue grant awards later this year.

21st Century Community Learning Center Programs RFP (PDF)

Authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Act of 2015, the 21st CCLC program provides competitive grant funding to support before school, after school, and summer learning programs that focus on improving the academic performance of students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12.

The primary purpose of Maine’s 21st CCLC program is to provide school and community partnerships with funding to establish or expand programs that provide students in high-need, economically-disadvantaged communities with academic enrichment opportunities designed to complement their traditional school day curriculum. In addition, these programs can provide a broad array of additional support services related to overall student health and well-being.

Local 21st CCLC programs – which can be located in elementary schools, secondary schools or similarly accessible community facilities – provide high quality support services to students during non-school hours. As such, these programs also support working parents and families by providing safe, supportive learning environments for students at times when school is not in session.

The request for proposal (RFP), which includes information regarding eligibility, program requirements, and more, is available here. An informational webinar for this RFP will be posted to the Department’s application website on January 17, 2018. It is strongly encouraged that interested parties view this presentation prior to completing an application for 21st CCLC program funding.

Below is the anticipated timeline for the Department’s 2019 21^st CCLC grant competition:

Date	Task
January 8, 2019	Grant Application Released to Public
January 17, 2019	Informational Webinar Posted Online
January 31, 2019	Deadline for Submission of Questions in Response to RFP
February 14, 2019	Interested Parties Submit Letter of Intent to Apply
April 4, 2019	Application Deadline
April 2019 – May 2019	Peer Review of Applications
May 2019	Grant Award Notifications
July 1, 2019	Grant Award Start Date

Please be advised that the dates above are subject to change. Interested parties must consult the RFP document for the most accurate dates and deadlines regarding this opportunity.

For more information on the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21^st CCLC) Program, contact Federal Grant Coordinator, Travis Doughty, at travis.w.doughty@maine.gov.