I have become aware of this RFP that will be of interest to our membership.
I pasted the RFP below. Because I heard about this on Friday at AERA,  I
requested that ACTE extend the proposal deadline to allow our members to be
notified of this. They have extended it until May 31, 2001.  Please
consider applying or forwarding this to colleagues who would be interested.

Lee Shumow



American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
2001 AACTE - Metropolitan Life Foundation Parental Engagement Project

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS


AACTE and Metropolitan Life Foundation (MetLife Foundation), are pleased to
announce The AACTE - Metropolitan Life Foundation Parental Engagement
Project. The project's goal is to create teacher education programs that
prepare teachers to build partnerships with families and communities. A
national network of teacher education programs will be developed to build
preservice teachers' knowledge and skills in working with parents. The
Project will operate in collaboration with the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), and the National PTA.

The AACTE-MetLife Foundation Parental Engagement Project will provide five
$20,000 grants to selected AACTE member schools, colleges, and departments
of education (SCDEs) that are ready to  develop policies and practices to
advance teacher preparation in parental involvement. The ability of the
SCDE to pursue multidisciplinary dialogue and collaboration (within the
SCDE or beyond) and to implement program evaluation will be key factors for
consideration. An independent Advisory Panel will select grant recipients.


Eligibility

AACTE member SCDEs who meet the following criteria are invited to submit a
proposal. Specifically, they are SCDEs that

· Are situated in, and/or produce teachers for PK-12 school systems that
serve students in, high-risk, urban, or rural environments;
· Show evidence of, or capacity to, produce significant work and
accomplishment in the infusion of issues regarding parental engagement into
the curricular program and/or field experiences of teacher education
candidates;
· Are committed at the institutional level to parental involvement;
· Have documented partnership with a public PK-12 school district committed
to implementing the program collaboratively.;
· Are prepared to formally assign a faculty member as a co-facilitator,
along with a National Board Certified teacher, to the project. The faculty
member should be  an authority on (be an expert in/specialize in) parental
engagement issues in teacher preparation.






Grant Award

Each SCDE selected to participate in the project will receive $20,000,
divided over periodic intervals based on reporting requirements and
progress toward goals.

Application Requirements

· Submit a proposal describing a specific program to infuse effective
parental engagement into teacher preparation that can be easily adapted by
other institutions;
· Provide a cover letter from the heads of the partnering institutions
outlining demonstrated commitment to the project (e.g. letter from K-12
superintendent, principal, local PTA [or parent/group organization], etc.);
· Provide a description of the general organization of the project,
including the roles, responsibilities, and relationships among staff and
advisory groups; each site should also provide for a coordinator and an
advisory body;
· Prepare a budget that reflects the college or university as the fiscal
agent for the grant and how monies will be allocated. The budget must also
detail what other public and private resources each of the parties will
contribute to the project;
· Create and implement a plan for publishing and disseminating program
outcomes;
· Agree to meet with other grantees on an annual basis;
· Present project progress and outcomes at the AACTE - Metropolitan Life
Foundation National Parental Engagement Conference and live video
broadcast, and at AACTE' s annual meeting;
· Provide an annual narrative and financial report of activities; Develop
high quality products for incorporation into a whole-institute product and
presentation;
· Develop an internet/web-based resource page that will become part of the
Institute's overall information dissemination plan.


Proposal Guidelines

Proposals should not exceed 15 double-spaced pages (not including
appendices), and must include the following:

1.      Statement of the problem:

Identify key elements and barriers to effective teacher preparation in
parent engagement, and provide SCDE approach and philosophy to them.

2.      Program design, including:

· A description of current or proposed efforts, activities, or programs to
support parental engagement;
· A description of how the project funds will enhance proposed or existing
efforts;
· A description of how practicing and prospective educational professionals
and others will be involved in the project;
· A description of how the project and its results will be publicized to
other departments and programs at participating SCDE.
· A description of how the proposed efforts can be replicated by other
SCDEs and partnering agencies.



3.      Management and staffing, including:

· A description of the general organization of the project, including the
roles, responsibilities, and relationships among staff and advisory groups;
each site should also provide for a coordinator and an advisory body
· A description of how the program will be monitored, with a timeline and
benchmarks clearly identified.

4.      Program Assessment

Describe how the program will be assessed, including an assessment strategy
that will be used to validate project claims.


5.      Budget, including:

· A budget that reflects the college or university as the fiscal agent for
the grant and how monies will be allocated. The budget must also detail
what other public and private resources each of the parties will contribute
to the project. The budget should be divided into sections titled
"personnel" and "other-than-personnel" and show contributions by all
parties of the agreement. The personnel section should list funds requested
from the grant as well as local sources that would support the time and
fringe benefits or other expenses. The "other-than-personnel" section
should also list both grant and local funds to be allocated, for such items
as office supplies and services, travel and related costs, telephone,
printing, postage, and fees for managing the funds. Contributions should
include any in-kind contributions. Indirect costs of no more than 10% of
the grant will be considered.
· Evidence of 501(c)(3) or nonprofit tax status for all partnering agencies
and institutions.


Proposal Review

Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of experts. Final awards will be made
by AACTE. Submissions will be reviewed on the following scale:


  Program Design                60%
  Staffing and Management       15%
  In-kind contributions         10%
  Program Assessment            15%


Proposal Deadline and Submission

Proposals should be postmarked no later than April 16, 2001, and submitted to:

Mary Dilworth, Vice President
Research and Information
AACTE
1307 New York Avenue, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005


Proposals are to be submitted under cover of a letter from the proposed
fiscal agent (AACTE member institution), accompanied by signatures or
separate authorizing letters from the heads of the other participating
partners. Please do not fax or e-mail proposals.

Please direct inquiries to Ira Thomas (phone) 202-293-2450 ext. 501 or
(e-mail) [log in to unmask]

Announcement of grant awards will be made no later than May 14, 2001.