GRAD 701 Grant Opportunity

Provide a narrative of your school district's readiness to improve graduation and student outcomes by describing current reality, describing current needs, demostrating the importance of improvement approaches to address the needs, showing the school personnel's capacity and willingness to engage in the work and relate how BARR training program will increasae student outcomes in each of the area listed below:

• Attendance (absenteeism rate, instructional time lost, response to absenteeism, etc.)
• Academic Outcomes (success rates in core academic subjects, course failture in core classes, intervention structure, etc.)
• Behavioral Outcomes (signs of disengagement, number of documented behavioral incidents, positive behavioral supports in place, number of suspensions/expulsions, etc.)
• Graduation/Dropout Rates (student graduation and dropout rates reviewed over time and by subgroup)
• School Level Outcomes (continuous improvement model, school climate, monitoring and refining system, professional development opportunities, coaching, etc.)
• Family Engagement (addressing diverse student needs, family involvement and knowledge of the educational system, etc.)

BARR charges schools $80,000 a year for three years. Grant funds through GRAD 701 will provide partial payment for the BARR training program each year* (Year 1 -75% ($60,000), Year 2 - 50% ($40,000), Year 3 - 25% ($20,000). Describe your school districts/buildings additional sources of funding that will be used to fully fund the BARR program over the three-year span. *Funding is dependent on the state receiving the State Personnel Development Grant.

The building principal will address a signed application letter to the review committee addressing the following:

• Interest in the GRAD 701 grant and desire to improve student outcomes and graduation rates for students with disabilities.
• Interest in implementing the BARR training program reflecting on the staff and student needs relating to data driven improvement approaches.
• Authority and autonomy to make leadership decisions about scheduling professional development selection, required grant participation, and budget expenditures.

Please outline the goals this building will strive to achieve through strategic work to increase student engagement and improve graduation rates. Align these goals with the GRAD 701 goals. How will the success of implementation be measured and evaluated? Upload as a PDF document.

Specific assurances are required to qualify for this grant competition. Please confirm that this building is willing and able to meet the following by checking "yes".

• Implement the BARR program with fidelity.
• The commitment of the school building administration to engage as the educational leader with the training sessions offered by BARR. This includes ensuring days at the start of the school year for BARR training.
• Learn about and implement Early Warning Systems and Evidence-Based Practices with fidelity.
• Maintain building principal's engagement in leading and supporting the initiatives.
• Maintain educator participation in the continuous improvement model.
• Engage families in the implementation of these practices and update families on school implementation.
• Participate in the following grant required activities:
  • Yearly Early Warning System (EWS) survey (spring)
  • Yearly Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) inventory (spring)
  • Capacity assessment (twice a year)
  • EBP fidelity observations (based on training needs)
  • Stakeholder survey (yearly)
  • Stakeholder interview (yearly)
• Cooperate and comply with grant requirements, including responding appropriately to performance feedback and engaging in a continuous improvement process.
• Adhere to IDEA Fiscal Rules: Maintenance of Effort, Supplement, not supplant, and Excess Cost (Funding Your Plan page 7)
• Allocate additional funds to cover the entirety of the BARR contract for a three-year term*.  For schools already implementing the BARR program, the number of years in the BARR program needs to equal a three-year term. *Funding is dependent on the state receiving the State Personnel Development Grant. 
• Allocate reasonable funds for personnel, consulting contracts, supplies, professional development, travel, etc., according to the needs and goals set forth in the program narrative, and account for all grant requirements.