Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Program CFDA Number 84.351D | Apply Online

Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD) Program (CFDA 84.351D) - FAQs

1) What is the AEMDD program?

The Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD) program, CFDA 84.351D, is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII). It focuses on strengthening arts education in elementary and middle schools by supporting proven, research-based approaches.

2) What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?

The central goal is to move beyond isolated arts activities and support cohesive arts education models that already show evidence of effectiveness, then enhance, expand, document, evaluate, and widely share those models so others can understand, replicate, and use them across the country.

3) What types of projects does AEMDD fund?

AEMDD funds projects that enhance, expand, document, evaluate, and disseminate cohesive arts education models that are research-based and already demonstrate evidence of effectiveness.

4) What does the program mean by a "cohesive arts education model"?

Based on the program description, a cohesive model is one that is more than standalone activities. It is an approach that can be clearly explained, documented, and evaluated, and that is designed to be replicated and used by other schools or organizations.

5) What are the program's three stated purposes?

The program purpose is threefold: (1) support models that integrate standards-based arts education into the core curriculum for elementary and middle grades; (2) strengthen standards-based arts instruction in those grades; and (3) improve student academic performance, including arts-specific skills such as creating, performing, and responding to the arts.

6) What grade levels are targeted by this program?

The program targets elementary and middle school grades.

7) Does the program focus on arts integration into the core curriculum?

Yes. One of the explicit purposes is to support models that integrate standards-based arts education into the core curriculum, meaning the arts are connected to the broader instructional program rather than treated as an add-on.

8) Does AEMDD also support strengthening arts instruction itself?

Yes. Another explicit purpose is to strengthen standards-based arts instruction in elementary and middle grades, which can include improving the quality, consistency, and alignment of arts teaching with recognized standards.

9) What student outcomes does the program aim to improve?

The program aims to improve student academic performance, including arts-specific skills such as creating, performing, and responding to the arts.

10) Is dissemination beyond the grantee part of the expectation?

Yes. A key emphasis is increasing the amount of nationally available information about what works in arts integration and standards-based arts education so that benefits extend beyond the individual grantee.

11) Who is eligible to apply as an applicant?

Eligibility is structured around partnerships with two main entry points: (1) one or more local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that qualify as LEAs under state law and regulations; and (2) one or more state or local nonprofit or governmental arts organizations (with required LEA partnership).

12) Can an LEA apply by itself, or is a partnership required?

LEAs may apply on their own or in partnership with other entities such as nonprofit or governmental arts organizations, state educational agencies (SEAs) or regional educational service agencies, institutions of higher education, and other public or private agencies or organizations (including community-based or faith-based organizations).

13) If a nonprofit or governmental arts organization applies, is an LEA partner required?

Yes. State or local nonprofit or governmental arts organizations must partner with one or more LEAs to be eligible, and they may also include other allowable partners.

14) What types of partners can be included in an application?

Potential partners include state or local nonprofit or governmental arts organizations, SEAs, regional educational service agencies, institutions of higher education, and other public or private agencies or organizations, including community-based or faith-based organizations.

15) Are charter schools eligible?

Charter schools are eligible if they qualify as LEAs under state law and regulations.

16) Are consortium or group applications allowed?

Yes. The notice allows group or consortium applications, but applicants forming a consortium must follow the federal procedures for group applications in EDGAR (34 CFR 75.127 through 75.129).

17) Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?

The listing indicates that eligibility includes nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). For detailed rules and definitions, the official Federal Register notice is identified as the controlling source.

18) How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated making about six awards.

19) What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $2,047,326.

20) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.

21) When was the opportunity posted, and when were applications available?

The opportunity was posted on February 20, 2013, and applications were available the same day.

22) Was a notice of intent to apply required?

No. A notice of intent was not mandatory, but the Department strongly encouraged applicants to submit a short email notice of intent to apply.

23) What was the deadline for the notice of intent to apply, and where was it sent?

The encouraged (but not required) notice of intent to apply was due by March 22, 2013. It was sent by email to the program contact Diane Austin at artsdemo@ed.gov. The email was meant only to signal intent and not to describe the proposal.

24) What was the deadline for submitting the full application?

The final deadline for submitting applications was April 22, 2013.

25) What does the archive date mean in this listing?

The archive date listed for this opportunity was May 22, 2013. (The listing provides the date but does not define it further.)

26) How were applications required to be submitted?

All applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.

27) Can applicants submit an application by email?

No. The Department stated that applications could not be submitted by emailing an electronic copy.

28) How do applicants find the application package on Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed to locate the application package by searching the CFDA number without the letter suffix, meaning applicants should search for 84.351 rather than 84.351D.

29) Is the synopsis considered the official source for all requirements?

No. The synopsis emphasizes it is not a substitute for the official Federal Register notice, and applicants are advised to review the Federal Register notice for complete requirements.

30) What kinds of details are found in the official Federal Register notice?

The synopsis indicates the Federal Register notice contains complete requirements including priorities, performance measures, application and pre-application requirements, submission instructions, and program contact details.

31) Who should be contacted for Grants.gov or technical submission issues?

For Grants.gov and systems issues, the listing directs applicants to Julius Cotton (ED Grants.gov FIND Systems Admin) at (202) 245-6140 or julius.cotton@ed.gov.

32) Who should be contacted for programmatic questions?

For program questions, the listing directs applicants to Diane Austin at the U.S. Department of Education at (202) 260-1280 or artsdemo@ed.gov.