611.23—What are the program's general selection criteria for full applications?

In evaluating the quality of applications, the Secretary uses the following selection criteria.

(a) Quality of project design. (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the project design.

(2) In determining the quality of the project design, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent of evidence of institution-wide commitment to high quality teacher preparation that includes significant policy and practice changes supported by key leaders, and which result in permanent changes to ensure that preparing teachers is a central mission of the entire university.

(ii) The extent to which the partnership creates and sustains collaborative mechanisms to integrate professional teaching skills, including skills in the use of technology in the classroom, with strong academic content from the arts and sciences.

(iii) The extent of well-designed and extensive preservice clinical experiences for students, including mentoring and other forms of support, implemented through collaboration between the K-12 and higher education partners.

(iv) Whether a well-planned, systematic induction program is established for new teachers to increase their chances of being successful in high-need schools.

(v) The strength of linkages within the partnership between higher education and high-need schools or school districts so that all partners have important roles in project design, implementation, governance and evaluation.

(vi) Whether the project design is based on up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice, especially on how students learn.

(b) Significance of project activities. (1) The Secretary considers the significance of project activities.

(2) In determining the significance of the project activities, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) How well the project involves promising new strategies or exceptional approaches in the way new teachers are recruited, prepared and inducted into the teaching profession.

(ii) The extent to which project outcomes include preparing teachers to teach to their State's highest K-12 standards, and are likely to result in improved K-12 student achievement.

(iii) The extent to which the partnership has specific plans to institutionalize the project after federal funding ends.

(iv) The extent to which the partnership is committed to disseminating effective practices to others and is willing to provide technical assistance about ways to improve teacher education.

(v) How well the partnership will integrate its activities with other education reform efforts underway in the State or communities where the partners are located, and will coordinate its work with local, State or federal teacher training, teacher recruitment, or professional development programs.

(2) In determining the quality of resources, the Secretary considers the extent to which—

(i) Support available to the project, including personnel, equipment, supplies, and other resources, is sufficient to ensure a successful project;

(ii) Budgeted costs are reasonable and justified in relation to the design, outcomes, and potential significance of the project; and

(iii) The applicant's matching share of the budgeted costs demonstrates a significant commitment to successful completion of the project and to project continuation after federal funding ends.

(d) Quality of management plan. (1) The Secretary considers the quality of the management plan.

(2) In determining the quality of the management plan, the Secretary considers the following factors:

(i) The extent to which the management plan, including the work plan, is designed to achieve goals and objectives of the project, and includes clearly defined activities, responsibilities, timelines, milestones, and measurable outcomes for accomplishing project tasks.

(ii) The extent to which the project has an effective, inclusive, and responsive governance and decision-making structure that will permit all partners to participate in and benefit from project activities, and to use evaluation results to ensure continuous improvements in the operations of the project.

(iii) The qualifications, including training and experience, of key personnel charged with implementing the project successfully.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1840-0007)

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.)

CFR

611.23—What are the program's general selection criteria for full applications?

Code of Federal Regulations