2009-10 ARRA Funding for Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems

  • Organizations: Data Quality Campaign
  • Date: 06/2010
  • Description: 

    On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) providing billions of dollars in new education funding to states and localities, including funds to implement statewide longitudinal data systems to improve student achievement. The economic stimulus funding is divided into distinct funding streams and will be accounted for separately. Information and guidance on how this process will work, the timeline for distribution, and guidance on how states and localities should apply for funds is posted here for your convenience, and on the U.S. Department of Education’s Recovery Act Web site for more information.

     

    What’s New

     

    Race to The Top: Phase 2

     

    State Finalists and Timeline

    On July 27, 2010, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the 19 finalists for more than $3 billion available in the second round in of funding in the Race to the Top program: Arizona, Califormia, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

    The finalists chosen today will travel to Washington during the week of August 9th to present their plans to the peer reviewers who scored their applications. After the state's presentations and an extended question-and-answer period, the peer reviewers will finalize their scores and comments. 

    The Department intends to announce the winners of the competition in September.

    For your convenience, the full press release covering this news can be found as a resource on DQC's website here.

    Race to The Top: Phase 2

    States' Applications, Scores and Comments for Phase 2

    As part of its commitment to transparency in governance, the Department is providing the public with the applications it received from states applying to the Race to the Top program. In order to make the information available to the public as quickly as possible, while fulfilling the legal obligation to protect certain information, including personal information, that may have been included, the U.S. Department of Education will be posting the applications in two stages. At this time, the Department is releasing only the states' narrative responses to the application criteria here

     

    Data.ed.gov

    As part of the Administration’s Open Government Initiative, the Department launched a new web site, which for your convenience is posted as a resource here . Ultimately, this website will serve as a one-stop shop for eduaction data. The agency plans to make the grant-making process more transparent to the public through this web site -- by providing substantial amounts of easily accessible data about applications, applicants, and their partners, while still protecting privacy and proprietary information.

     

    Investing in Innovation Fund

    The first competitive grant program featured on the Data.ed.gov website is the Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund, which received nearly 1,700 applications last month. The public can now view detailed information on all i3 applicants, as well as run customized reports and summary analyses on subsets of applicants.

    Posted on the Data.ed.gov website you will find a new i3 summary report including information on the applications received by the Department and the last addendum to i3's Frequently Asked Questions (questions intending to clarify the program's matching requirement).

     

    Race to the Top:Phase 2

    The second phase of the Obama administration's Race to the Top competition drew applications (deadline June 1st, 2010) from 35 States and the District of Columbia seeking to win a share of $3.4 billion provided by Congress to drive education reform. Between the current phase and the first phase, which drew 41 applications, 47 states have applied to this program.

    The Department will select the Phase 2 winners over the summer using the same process as Phase 1. In the panel review stage, five expert reviewers will read and discuss each application. They will then score and comment on each application independently, and the applicant will be given a score based on the average of the five scores. The Department will look for a natural break in the scores to identify finalists and invite them to D.C. to make in-person presentations to their review panels. Each reviewer will then submit final scores, and the Secretary will select awardees. Depending on the size of the winning states, 10-15 states could win Race to the Top grants. The administration will announce the winners before the end of September when the money must be legally obligated.

    For more information and the list of the 35 applicants, read the press release by the U.S. Department of Education.

     

    Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grants

    SLDS grants were awarded to 20 states in May 2010 (FY 2010 ARRA Grantees): Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

    SLDS grants were awarded to 14 states in November 2005, 12 additional states and the District of Columbia in June 2007, 27 states-including 15 new states- in March 2009, and 20 states in May 2010. Based on the four rounds of funding, 41 states and the District of Columbia have received at least one SLDS grant.

    For detailed information on the amount of statewide grants, please visit the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grant Program Website

     

     

     


    Data Quality Campaign Analyses and Information

     

    Race to the Top

     

    • Race to the Top (RTT): DQC Analysis of Final Requirements Pertaining to State Data Systems, November 2009
      23 DQC partners submitted comments on August 28, 2009 in response to the Notice of Proposed Priorities for the Race to the Top Fund (ED-2009-OESE-0006); the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) released the final requirements on November 12. This analysis provides an overview of how these requirements compare to the comments provided to the Department from DQC Partners.
    • DQC Comments on the Race to the Top Fund, August 2009
      This letter provides comments and recommendations in response to the notice published in the Federal Register of July 29, 2009 regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top Fund.
    • DQC Race to the Top Preliminary Analysis, July 2009
      Preliminary analysis conducted by the Data Quality Campaign of the proposed priorities released by the U.S. Department of Education related to the Race to the Top Fund.

     

     

    Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grants

     

     

     

    State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Grants

    • State Fiscal Stabilization Fund: DQC Analysis of Final Requirements Pertaining to State Data Systems, November 2009
      23 DQC partners submitted comments on August 28, 2009 in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (ED-2009-OESE-0007); the U.S. Department of Education released the final requirements on November 9. This analysis provides an overview of how the final requirements compare to the comments provided to the Department from DQC Partners.
    • DQC Comments on the Statewide Fiscal Stabilization Fund, August 2009
      This letter provides comments and recommendations in response to the notice published in the Federal Register of July 29, 2009 on State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

     

    Investing in Innovation Fund

    • DQC Comments on the Investing in Innovation Fund, November 2009
      This letter provides comments on the proposed priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for the Investing in Innovation competitive grants published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2009.

     

    More DQC Information

     

     
    Leveraging Federal Funding for Longitudinal Data Systems - A Roadmap for States. (September 2009). This interactive roadmap transforms the printed version and will be continually updated, so check back often. This roadmap provides a starting point for state plans by identifying federal funding sources that can be used for data-related activities.
     
     
    Leveraging ARRA and Other Federal Funding Sources for P-20/Workforce Longitudinal Data Systems--Webcast. (September 2009). This meeting served to position the linkage of student-level data across sectors as integral to the national education improvement agenda and will showcase a state that has accomplished critical linkages in a short time through strong leadership and vision.
     
     
    ARRA Webinar PowerPoint: RTT, SFSF, and SLDS Grants. (August 2009). This presentation was prepared for a webinar presented by the DQC on August 7, 2009 to discuss the July 24th Federal Register release of the Race to the Top notice, State Fiscal Stabilization Fund metrics, and Student Longitudinal Data System grants.
     
     
    A Briefing Prepared for the 2009 Governors Education Symposium. (June 2009). This brief recommends actions for states to improve their longitudinal data systems to meet the ARRA assurances and ultimately to improve student achievement.
     
     
    ARRA Support for State Longitudinal Data Systems. (June 2009). This document offers a synthesis of the statutory language and subsequent guidance around data and the ARRA, including a comparison between the America COMPETES Act and the DQC 10 Essential Elements.
     
     
    DQC Summary of the Education and Training Provisions in ARRA. (April 2009). This document is a DQC summary of the Education and Training provisions in ARRA.
     
     
    Phase II and Stimulus Funding Presentation. (March 2009). This presentation covers the opportunities for data funding under ARRA.
     

     

     


    Federal Guidance and Information

     

    The U.S. Department of Education publishes instructions and policy guidance on how to apply for economic stimulus funding and on the uses of funds under the Act. Here is the official guidance issued by the Department for use, in particular, by state and local education officials applying for the funds.

     

    Race to the Top

    On July 24, 2009, President Obama announced draft guidelines for applying for the $4.35 billion Race to the Top (RTT) Fund. The Secretary determines which states receive grants based on information from the State Fiscal Stabilization applications in 2009, which demonstrate the state’s progress towards implementing significant education reforms across four “assurance” areas – one requiring states to build data systems that measure student success and inform teachers and principals how they can improve their practices. Comments were due August 28, 2009. Applications for the first round were due January 19, 2010.

    In addition, with the Fiscal Year 2011 budget request President Obama announced his intention to make a significant new investment - more than $1.3 billion to continue the Race to the Top. The President also announced his intention to expand the competition to include local school districts that are committed to reform.

    For additional details about the Race to the Top program, please review the following:

     

    Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Grants

    In conjunction with the Race to the Top announcement, the U.S. Department of Education released the Request for Applications for the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Grants under ARRA. The economic stimulus package included new funding totaling $250 million for statewide longitudinal data systems. The Institute of Education Sciences will distribute the $250 million in competitive grants to states to help states implement and use statewide longitudinal data systems that include not only education data for elementary and secondary students, (reflecting the 10 essential elements promoted by the Data Quality Campaign), but also pre-k, postsecondary, and workforce information. The submission deadline for applications was December 4, 2009.

     

     

     

    State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Grants

    The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund program provides approximately $48.6 billion in formula grants to States to help stabilize State and local budgets in order to minimize and avoid reductions in education and other essential services, in exchange for a State’s commitment to advance essential education reform in key areas. Almost $36.8 billion have already been awarded during SFSF Phase I. Approximately $11.5 billion will be awarded under SFSF Phase II.

     

     

     

    In March 2009, the U.S. Department of Education announced the first phase of the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.

     

     

     

    Investing in Innovation Fund

    The U.S. Department of Education released priorities for grants under the $650 million Investing in Innovation Fund (i3). The fund, which is part of the $5 billion investment in school reform in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will support local efforts to start or expand research-based innovative programs that help close the achievement gap and improve outcomes for students. Comments were due November 9, 2009.

    Individual school districts or groups of districts can apply for i3 grants, and entrepreneurial nonprofits can join with school districts to submit applications. Colleges and universities, companies and other stakeholders can be supporters of the projects. Applicants must demonstrate their previous success in closing achievement gaps, improving student progress toward proficiency, increasing graduation rates, or recruiting and retaining high- quality teachers and principals. Grant recipients will be required to match federal funds with public or private dollars. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate how their programs will be sustainable after their federal grants are completed.

    The i3 program is built around five key design principles: outcomes—student achievement, matriculation and graduation; evidence—quality and relevance; learning—quality and importance of potential insights; sustainability—financial and stakeholder support; and scalability—strategy, capacity and feasibility.

    Applications will be due in mid-May and grants will be awarded in September. In March officials from the Department's Office of Innovation and Improvement will hold informational workshops in Atlanta, Baltimore and Denver that will be web-accessible. President Obama has proposed an additional $500 million of the i3 program in his fiscal 2011 budget.

     

     

    Additional Federal Grant Opportunities

    IDEA, Section 611 and Title I, Part A Proposed Notice, August 2009
    The proposed adjustments would allow State educational agencies (SEAs) to reserve State administrative funds from their fiscal year (FY) 2009 ARRA allocations under Title I, part A and section 611 of IDEA to help defray the costs of data collections that are specifically related to ARRA funding for these programs (including, for Title I, part A, data collection related to waivers). Comments were due September 16, 2009.

    School Improvement Grant Proposed Notice, August 2009
    On August 27, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced draft requirements for $3.5 billion in Title I School Improvement grants to turn around the nation's lowest performing schools. Proposed requirements for the grants have been published in the Federal Register, providing a 30-day comment period on the criteria. Title I School Improvement Grants are funded by $546 million in the fiscal year 2009 appropriation and an additional $3 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to support the transformational changes that are needed to turn around the nation's lowest-achieving schools.

     

     

    More Federal Guidance

     

     
    Recovery Act Web Site. (Updated Regularly). This site provides additional information on applications and guidance for other programs in the stimulus package not directly tied to data system implementation and use for improving student achievement being monitored by the Data Quality Campaign.
     
     
    Stimulus Programs Fact Sheet. (March 2009). This face sheet provides additional information regarding the stimulus program.
     
     
    Initial Guidance on How and When Stimulus Funding Will be Made Available. (March 2009). On March 7, 2009, the Department of Education issued initial information on the timetable for distributing most stimulus funding and how states and localities should apply for funds. Information about how funds should be used was not included in this release, but is included in the individual program application guidelines.
     
     
    Other Education Programs – Excerpts from the Law. (March 2009). These excerpts are parts of ARRA that relate to programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education (other than the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, which is provided in a separate document).
     
     
    ARRA Presentation – Goals, Deadlines, Content and Funding Levels. (March 2009). This presentation on ARRA discusses goals, deadlines, content, and funding levels.
     

     

     

     

     

    Additional Information and Explanations of Funding Opportunities

     

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