OpportunityTitle: Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services: Race to the Top: Early Learning Challenge CFDA Number 84.412A
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: States must meet the following requirements:      (a) The State has not previously received an RTT-ELC grant.      (b) The Lead Agency must have executed with each Participating State Agency a memorandum of understanding or other binding agreement that the State must attach to its application, describing the Participating State Agency&apos;s level of participation in the grant. At a minimum, the MOU or other binding agreement must include an assurance that the Participating State Agency agrees to use, to the extent applicable--      (1) A set of statewide Early Learning and Development Standards;      (2) A set of statewide Program Standards;      (3) A statewide Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System; and      (4) A statewide Workforce Knowledge and Competency Framework and progression of credentials.      (c) There must be an active MIECHV program in the State, either through the State under section 511(c) of Title V of the Social Security Act, as added by section 2951 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-148), or through an eligible non-profit organization under section 511(h)(2)(B).
Description: Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Race to the Top--Early Learning Challenge (RTT-ELC) program is to improve the quality of early learning and development and close the educational gaps for Children with High Needs.\1\ This program focuses on improving early learning and development for young children by supporting States&apos; efforts to increase the number of low-income and disadvantaged children in each age group of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are enrolled in high-quality Early Learning and Development Programs. The program also supports States&apos; efforts to design and implement an integrated system of high-quality Early Learning and Development Programs and services. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Defined terms are used throughout the notice and are indicated by capitalization. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.412A. Applicants for a grant under this competition must submit: (1) An electronic copy of the application; and (2) signed originals of certain sections of the application. Applicants must submit their application in electronic format on a CD or DVD, with CD-ROM or DVD-ROM preferred. We strongly recommend that the applicant submit three CDs or DVDs. Each of these three CDs or DVDs should include the following four files: (1) A single file that contains the body of the application narrative, including required budget tables, that has been converted into a searchable .PDF document. Note that a .PDF created from a scanned document is not searchable; (2) A single file in a .PDF format that contains all application appendices; (3) A single file in a .PDF format that contains all of the required signature pages. The signature pages may be scanned and turned into a PDF. Applicants should also include all signed MOUs or other binding agreements for each Participating State Agency in the application; and (4) A single, separate file of the completed electronic budget spreadsheets (e.g., .XLS or .XLSX formats) that includes the required budget tables and budget justifications (the spreadsheets will be used by the Departments for budget reviews). Each of these items must be clearly labeled with the applicant&apos;s name, city, state, and any other relevant identifying information. Applicants also must not password-protect these files. Additionally, please ensure that: (1) All three CDs or DVDs contain the same four files; (2) the files are not corrupted; and (3) all files print correctly. The Departments are not responsible for reviewing any information that is not able to be opened or printed from your application package. In addition to the electronic files, applicants must submit signed originals of section IV of the application and one copy of that signed original. The Departments will not review any paper submissions of the application narrative and appendices. All applications must be submitted by mail or hand delivery. Whether you submit an application by mail or hand delivery, you must indicate on the envelope the CFDA number, including suffix letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your application. The instructions for each delivery method are provided below. The Departments must receive the application by 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on October 16, 2013. If we receive an application after the application deadline, we will not consider that application.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: e-Mail: Program Mailbox
GrantorContactText: Julius Cotton &lt;br/&gt;ED Grants.gov FIND Systems Admin. &lt;br/&gt;Phone 202-245-6288 &lt;br/&gt;EducationGrantInquiries@ed.gov &lt;br/&gt;Program Manager: &lt;br/&gt;Miriam Lund &lt;br/&gt;U.S. Department of Education &lt;br/&gt;400 Maryland Ave., SW., room 3E330 &lt;br/&gt;Washington, DC 20202-6200. &lt;br/&gt;Telephone: 202-401-2871 or by email: RTT-ELC.P3.Competition@ed.gov.
CloseDateExplanation: Applications Available: August 30, 2013.     Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: September 30, 2013. We will be able to develop a more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if we know the approximate number of applicants that intend to apply for funding under this competition. Therefore, the Departments strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us of the applicant&apos;s intent to submit an application for funding by emailing Miriam Lund at RTT-ELC.P3.Competition@ed.gov. This short email message should provide (1) The name of the State applying, (2) the contact person (name, phone number, and email), and (3) all competitive preference priorities the applicant intends to address. Applicants that do not submit an ``Intent to Apply&apos;&apos; email may still apply for funding. Note: Submission of a notice of intent to apply is optional. Date of Technical Assistance Planning Workshop: September 10, 2013. To assist States in preparing the application and to respond to questions, ED and HHS intend to host a Technical Assistance Planning Workshop with potential applicants on September 10, 2013, to review the priorities, requirements, and selection criteria for this competition. To minimize travel burdens associated with this workshop and to maximize the number of potential applicants who can participate, the Departments will also broadcast this workshop live at edstream.ed.gov. The purpose of the workshop will be to allow teams of participants responsible for developing applications to review with Federal program staff the priorities, requirements, and selection criteria for this competition and to ask questions about the RTT-ELC competition. We strongly encourage all interested State applicants to participate in the workshop, either in Washington, DC. For those who cannot attend the workshop in person, a video recording of the workshop will be available on the RTT-ELC Web site at www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-earlylearningchallenge. The Departments may host additional conference calls, workshops, or Webinars to answer applicant questions and will be posting Frequently Asked Questions and responses on the RTT-ELC Web site. The Departments will make available all registration information and additional details for the September 10, 2013, workshop and any other technical assistance events on the RTT-ELC Web site at www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-earlylearningchallenge. Note: Please refer to the Department of Education&apos;s RTT-ELC Web site   (http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-earlylearningchallenge/index.html) for meeting details. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: October 16, 2013.