Q1. Are K through 12 institutions eligible to apply for the "Expanding Access to Climate Change Education and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards through Climate Change Learning Collaboratives" grant? The grant speaks to two-year and four-year institutions of higher education, but would a K through 12 institution be eligible if they were able to develop an outreach or training program at the institution?

Unfortunately, districts are not eligible entities for this grant opportunity. Please visit the grant opportunity website to see opportunities districts are eligible to apply for.

Q2. Has there been any discussion on extending the deadline?

At this time, the application due date will not be extended.

Q3. Beyond signing off on some parts of the application (e.g., appendices), what is the role of the “lead applicant?” How is this or can it be different from a “project director?” Can they be the same person, or should they be different people? Are there any eligibility criteria for a project director? Is a project director even required?

Please refer to Section II of the Notice of Grant Opportunity document found on the Notice of Grant Opportunity webpage for guidance on creating grant program staff positions. The New Jersey Department of Education requires the designation of a lead applicant to sign, where applicable, the forms to be uploaded as part of the application. Any additional responsibilities assigned to this individual are at the applicant's discretion.

Q4. Can a university center that focuses on science, mathematics, and technology education be considered a “science, technology, engineering, or mathematics department/school” for the purpose of the staff eligibility requirement?

The staff member must work within a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics department/school.

Q5. The grant document states that the "Climate Change Learning Collaboratives (CCLCs) must partner with local education agencies (LEAs) that receive fiscal year (FY) 2024 climate change education grant opportunities administered by the Program Office". Does this mean that the LEAs an institute of higher education plans to partner with must have received funding through another Department of Education opportunity? Additionally, can the CCLC also work with LEAs who have not received FY 2024 funding?

Please refer to Section II of the Notice of Grant Opportunity document found on the Notice of Grant Opportunity webpage for guidance on the LEA partnership objective. The CCLCs must provide equitable access to CCLC services to all eligible LEAs in the CCLC’s regional area. The CCLCs are encouraged to assist and work with all interested and eligible LEAs, as able. Although CCLC services will be available to all eligible LEAs, not all LEAs will elect to use or participate in CCLC services.

However, as a condition of their funding, LEAs who receive FY 2024 funding from the Climate Change Education Unit (Program Office) are required to “initiate a partnership” with CCLCs by completing at least one of the following tasks:

1. Participate in a professional development event offered by the CCLC.

1. Seek guidance and mentorship from CCLC staff, community-based non-profit organization (CBO) partners, and other participating LEAs (e.g., regarding instructional materials, technical assistance, evaluation strategies, etc.).
2. Engage with experiential learning opportunities or technical training provided through the CCLC and CBO partner(s).

In the case of the “LEA partnerships” objective, the only LEAs that would be “partners” of the CCLCs in the sense described in this grant opportunity are those who receive FY 2024 funding from the Program Office, but the CCLC is still expected to provide equitable access to CCLC services to all eligible LEAs and to assist and work with all interested and eligible LEAs, as able.