This opportunity is open to all operating New Jersey public school districts serving students in grades three (3) and/or grade four (4). Additional grades can be serviced within the grant. However, per the NGO, applications serving grades 3 and 4 will receive priority scoring.

The applications should prioritize 3rd and 4th grades but can expand beyond those grades if a need is demonstrated and justified within the application.

American Rescue Plan (ARP) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds

Priority consideration will be given to applicants who can demonstrate that the applicant either anticipates, through participation in this program, or has already obligated or expended American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funding in service of learning acceleration beyond the twenty percent minimum allocation for addressing learning loss.

Minimum Score

This NGO is a Limited-Competitive notice of grant opportunity open to all operating New Jersey public school districts serving students in grades three (3) and/or grades four (4). An applicant must score a minimum of 70 out of 100 points to be considered for funding.

Districts Not Serving Students in Grades 3 and 4

We are encouraged by Governor Murphy and the New Jersey State Legislature's commitment to accelerate learning through this grant opportunity. As future opportunities are released, they will be announced through the Department's Broadcast delivery system. We recommend that local education agencies (LEAs) visit the Department's Learning Acceleration webpage (available in the Quick Links section) for additional up-to-date resources, guidance, and tools.

Established High-Impact Tutoring Programs Funded by ESSER Funds

This NGO prioritizes applicants who have already obligated or expended American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funding in service to learning acceleration beyond the twenty percent minimum allocation for addressing learning loss. Please review Section II.4.b. Project Requirements, Commitment, and Capacity of the NGO for more information.

Board Approval

The EWEG application requires LEAs to enter the date the Board Approved the application for submission. If the approval date by the Board of Education, Board of Directors, or other similar governing body is subsequent to the application submission date, the applicant is responsible for obtaining institutional approval and maintaining a record of it as part of the audit file. The New Jersey Department of Education reserves the right to request proof of approval, such as a copy of the Board Resolution or a Certified Copy of the Board minutes showing the Approval Action.

Grant Period

The grant period for this program is October 11, 2023, to August 31, 2024. All grant-funded high-impact tutoring programs must take place within this time frame. It is recommended that LEAs review Section II.4.a Program Quality Criteria to develop high-impact tutoring programs that are in service to research-based best practices that address the particular needs of their LEA.

Notification of Award

A successful applicant will be notified via the Electronic Web-enabled Grant (EWEG) system to the emails listed in the Contacts Tab, and a list will be posted on the NGO web page within the NJDOE website. Preliminary Approved Applications will be notified via EWEG with instructions on proceeding with Pre-award Revisions (PAR).

Reporting Periods

The Project Activity Plan Tab in the application is where the applicant identifies when the activity will take place during the grant term. The applicant will indicate the activity and select the appropriate quarter in which the activity is going to be conducted. This differs from the Reporting Periods listed in Section II.4.a for the Interim Activity, Section III.3 and Fiscal Interim Reports. In Section III.4, the applicants submit will report on the outcomes of the activities listed in the Project Activity Plan tab and reconcile their reimbursements during that timeframe of the reporting period.

Grant funds may only be used during the grant period, from October 11, 2023, to August 31, 2024.

Administrative Costs

Refer to Section II.8. Apportionment of Grant Funds of the NGO for the maximum administrative cap. Additionally, Section II.10 Ineligible Costs lists routine operating/administrative costs: costs for the routine operation or administration of the organization are not eligible.

Award Amount

The allocation amount in the EWEG application should display zero for discretionary grants. Please provide a budget up to your maximum funding amount for your LEA found on the Eligible Agencies list on the Office of Grants Management, New Jersey Accelerated Learning Program: High-Impact Tutoring webpage. (available in the "Quick Links" section)

Applicants may submit a budget up to the maximum funding amount for their LEA. The budget must be well-considered, necessary for the implementation of the project, remain within the funding parameters contained in the NGO, and demonstrate prudent use of resources. The budget will be reviewed to ensure that costs are customary and reasonable for implementing each project activity.

Eligible Costs

Per Section II.9 of the NGO, eligible costs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• instructional materials;
• instructional services (e.g., after-school tutoring); and
• Professional Development opportunities.

After-school Tutoring

Section II.9 Eligible Costs lists instructional services: costs for compensating existing LEA staff for implementing high-impact tutoring services as an eligible cost. Additionally, consult Section II.4.a. Program Quality Criteria for research-based best practices on designing a high-impact tutoring program related to "schedule." An after-school tutoring program is not disallowed; however, it may not be a research-based best practice. An LEA must justify the need for this schedule in the application with supported evidence.

Instructional Materials

These are costs associated with obtaining instructional materials, tutoring platforms, and other resources for high-impact tutoring purposes.

Professional Development Opportunities

These are costs associated with LEA staff participation in professional development opportunities focused on supporting the implementation of high-impact tutoring services. Any professional learning for educators to help them support a tutoring program will be an allowable cost if they receive training on leveraging data from tutoring assessments, integrating an instructional response, etc.

Transportation Costs

Transportation costs for students are not "Ineligible Costs" as described in Section II.10 of the NGO. However, all costs in the applicant's budget must be:

• well-considered;
• necessary for the implementation of the project;
• remain within the funding parameters contained in this NGO; and
• demonstrate prudent use of resources.

Grade Levels

This opportunity prioritizes districts serving students in grades three (3) and/or grade four (4) but will allow LEAs awarded the grant to serve additional students as needed.

Meals/Food

The grant is partially funded through a federal funding source. Generally, there is a very high burden of proof to show that paying for food and beverages with Federal funds is necessary to meet the goals and objectives of a Federal grant. While these determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis, and there may be some circumstances where the cost would be permissible, it is likely that those circumstances will be rare. Grantees, therefore, will have to make a compelling case that the unique circumstances they have identified would justify these costs as reasonable and necessary.

Monitoring Virtual Tutorials

Using certified staff or coordinators to monitor virtual tutorials is allowable. However, according to Ineligible Costs listed in the NGO, costs for salaries, services, or media covered under other federal, state, or private funding are considered supplanting. It is recommended that the LEA consult with their business administrator regarding solutions to use grant funds for duties above and beyond their existing contract hours.

Reimbursement

The New Jersey Accelerated Learning Program: High-Impact Tutoring Grant is a Limited-Competitive grant opportunity that will reimburse LEAs for grant-associated costs. For additional information, please refer to Section III.4, Fiscal Reimbursement and Fiscal Report Requirements of the NGO.

Staff

Compensating Teaching Staff

According to Ineligible Costs listed in the NGO, costs for salaries, services, or media covered under other federal, state, or private funding are considered supplanting. It is recommended that LEAsconsult with their business administrator or other administrators for solutions such as paying an hourly stipend to teachers who offer tutoring during their prep time or during before/after school to work with students.

Re-assigning Full-time Staff

Using certified staff such as basic skills teachers or home instructors as trained high-impact tutors is allowable. However, according to Ineligible Costs listed in the NGO, costs for salaries, services, or media covered under other federal, state, or private funding are considered supplanting. It is recommended that the LEA consult with their business administrator regarding solutions to pay teachers/staff with grant funds for duties above and beyond their existing contract hours.

Unexpended Funds

The program period for this grant opportunity is October 11, 2023, to August 31, 2024. Any unexpended funds remaining after the grant period will be returned to the Department when the LEA completes a final expenditure report, due September 30, 2024.

Vendors

Budget Line

• Contracting: If the LEA is contracting (has terms, conditions, and outcomes) with a service provider, and the tutor is an employee of the provider, it is 100-300.
• Purchasing: If the LEA purchases tutoring services (per diem rates, software, etc.), it is a 100-400.

Hourly Rates

Contact the vendors directly for information regarding their platform of services, including costs, to determine which vendor best fits your LEA's needs.

Academic Subject(s)

The NGO does not specify a certain subject(s) an LEA should concentrate its high-impact tutoring. Each high-impact tutoring program is based on the unique needs of the LEA and its student population. It is recommended that LEAs examine data from its New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) for English Language Arts and Mathematics. In the Statement of Need, an applicant should substantiate the stated conditions and/or needs, describe the target population (including academic subject(s)), and provide documentation.

Delivery of Program

Design

It is recommended that LEAs follow research-based best practices outlined in Section II.4.a Program Quality Criteria to design high-impact tutoring programs while also meeting the unique needs of the LEA and its students. All proposed high-impact tutoring program plans may be customized for each LEA however, they should include data/evidence/narrative to justify the delivery of the model.

Delivering Tutoring During the School Day

The Department's resource, Maximizing Schedules to Support Learning Acceleration (available from the "Quick Links" section) provides information on the advantages of flexible scheduling, with the purpose of adding time for a learning acceleration block designed to meet students' needs.

Hybrid Model (Approved Vendor and LEA staff)

The Project Description section of the NGO states, "Identify the needs and current staffing and scheduling capacity to support the program and identify how your program will be implemented (partnering with a provider (see approved provider/vendor partner list), creating your program or a hybrid model) as a result of this grant." Therefore, tutoring programs can be implemented in various ways: partnering with a provider (see approved provider/vendor partner list), creating your program, or using a hybrid model. 

Summer-only Tutoring Programs

It is recommended that LEAs follow research-based best practices to design high-impact tutoring programs outlined in Section II.4.a Program Quality Criteria while meeting the unique needs of the LEA and its students. As stated in the NGO, providing high-impact tutoring closer to the time of aligned instruction is shown to be most beneficial for students. All proposed high-impact tutoring program plans should include data/evidence/narrative to justify the delivery of the model.

LEA Request for Proposal or Bid Process

The LEA is responsible for contracting with the vendor providing tutoring services. All LEAs must follow local policies and procedures for contracting with vendors as well as the Public School Contracts Laws (N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1, et seq.) and associated regulations found at N.J.A.C. 5:34-1 et seq.

Staffing

Fingerprinting for Approved Vendor Tutors

Refer to New Jersey State Statute Title 18A — Education, Chapter 6, Section 18A:6-7.1, Criminal record check in public school employment, volunteer service. Background checks are required for all tutors interacting with students. Vendors were made aware of the NJ laws and regulations around this, but it is up to the LEA to confirm.

Hiring New Staff (not allowed)

Existing staff members are permitted but hiring new staff members exclusively for this purpose would not be allowable.

Using Existing Staff

If a district elects to utilize existing staff members to offer tutoring services and incurs additional costs as a result, they may do so. They may be reimbursed for costs associated with tutoring provided by the LEA if the tutoring comports with the evidenced-based requirements detailed in this Notice of Grant Opportunity.

STEAM After-school Program

The goal of this grant opportunity is to prioritize high-impact tutoring interventions for students who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. It is recommended that LEAs review section II.4.a Program Quality Criteria of the NGO to develop and prioritize research-based best practices when designing high-impact tutoring programs.

Supervising Tutoring Sessions (on-line or in-person)

Since tutors will be working with students on or around school grounds, the school district has the primary responsibility for both apprising tutors of all rules and regulations regarding their expected conduct with students and confirming that they adhere to these rules and regulations through consistent supervision. School districts must refer and adhere to their Board of Education (BOE) approved policies and regulations concerning the safety, welfare, and supervision of students by certified teaching staff.

Vendors

Department-Approved Vendors

Please encourage any current partners to apply through the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process located on the NJDOE Purchasing for inclusion on the Vendor List. The RFQ application deadline to become an approved vendor is September 8, 2023.

The Department will update the Approved Vendor List weekly as new vendors are approved.

Vendor Contract

Section II.5, Application Component Required Uploads, requests applicant LEAs to furnish a vendor contract, if applicable, which may include, but is not limited to, the description of scope and tutoring services in return for compensation (frequency of services, number of students served, scheduling, staffing, method of delivery, curriculum, and data requirements, etc.).

The vendor contract or letter may indicate or be contingent upon the LEA receiving a New Jersey Accelerated Learning Program: High-Impact Tutoring grant award.

If a contract or letter of partnership is unavailable, the LEA must demonstrate in the grant application its intent to partner with a vendor on the approved vendor list and include the bid proposal with identified vendors.

(Funding beyond August 31, 2024)

The Department is encouraged by the response to this notice of grant opportunity. As future opportunities are released, they will be announced through the Department's Broadcast delivery system. The Department's Maximizing Schedules to Support Learning Acceleration (available from the Quick Links section) provides resources, guidance, and tools related to accelerated learning opportunities.