Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Professional Development for Arts Educators (PDAE) Program CFDA Number 84.351C | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Professional Development for Arts Educators (PDAE) Program?

The Professional Development for Arts Educators (PDAE) Program is a U.S. Department of Education discretionary grant competition administered through the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII). It is identified as CFDA 84.351C and is intended to strengthen arts instruction in high-poverty K-12 schools by investing in strong, standards-based professional development for arts educators and other arts instructional staff.

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

The main purpose is to improve arts instruction in high-poverty K-12 schools by supporting the creation and implementation of high-quality, standards-based professional development models. The overarching goal is to strengthen arts education programs so more students, especially in under-resourced settings, can meet challenging State academic content standards and State achievement standards in the arts.

3) What does “standards-based” professional development mean in this program?

Within this competition, “standards-based” signals that professional development should be connected to State arts standards (what students should know and be able to do). The intent is for educator learning to translate into improvements in classroom instruction and student learning aligned with those State standards.

4) Which arts disciplines are included under PDAE?

The program highlights key arts disciplines including music, dance, drama, media arts, and visual arts, with an explicit inclusion of folk arts.

5) Who is the target population for the program?

The target population is educators serving students in high-poverty schools. The program emphasizes equitable access to strong arts learning opportunities for students in under-resourced settings.

6) Who is eligible to apply for this grant?

Eligibility is centered on local educational agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that qualify as LEAs under State law and regulations. LEAs apply on behalf of one or more individual schools that meet the poverty criterion described in the official application notice.

7) Can charter schools apply?

Yes. Charter schools may apply if they qualify as LEAs under State law and regulations, and if they are applying on behalf of one or more schools meeting the required poverty criterion described in the official notice.

8) Does an LEA apply for the district as a whole or for specific schools?

The LEA applies on behalf of one or more individual schools that meet the required poverty criterion described in the official application notice.

9) Is a partnership required to apply?

Yes. The applying LEA must work in partnership with at least one other entity. The partnership requirement is meant to ensure projects draw on specialized arts expertise, training capacity, and community resources rather than relying on the school system alone.

10) What kinds of partners are allowed or encouraged?

The opportunity lists several examples of eligible partner types, including:

• State or local nonprofit or governmental arts organizations
• State educational agencies (SEAs) or regional educational service agencies
• Institutions of higher education
• Other public or private organizations

Examples mentioned include museums, arts education associations, libraries, theaters, and community-based or faith-based organizations.

11) What is meant by “model” professional development in this competition?

The grant is intended to support professional development that is not generic or one-size-fits-all. Instead, the professional learning is expected to be deliberately designed and implemented as a high-quality model that can improve classroom practice and strengthen arts education programs.

12) How does this opportunity connect professional development to student outcomes?

The emphasis on standards-based arts education indicates that proposals are expected to connect professional learning to State arts standards and translate educator training into measurable improvements in instruction and student learning.

13) How were applications submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov under the CFDA listing 84.351. Applicants could download the application package, complete it offline, and then upload it for submission through Grants.gov.

14) Can an application be submitted by email to the Department of Education?

No. The instructions explicitly stated that applications could not be submitted by emailing a copy to the Department.

15) How should applicants search for the opportunity on Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed not to include the letter suffix when searching. In other words, they should search for “84.351” rather than “84.351C.”

16) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The competition did not require cost sharing or matching funds.

17) How many awards were anticipated?

The competition anticipated 29 awards.

18) What were the key dates for the FY 2011 competition?

The timeline provided for FY 2011 was:

• Applications available: February 17, 2011
• Deadline for transmittal of applications: April 8, 2011
• Notice of intent to apply (encouraged, not required): March 21, 2011

19) Was a notice of intent to apply required?

No. The Department strongly encouraged, but did not require, a brief notice of intent to apply. Applicants who did not submit a notice of intent were still allowed to apply.

20) What had to be included in the notice of intent to apply?

The notice only needed to state the applicant’s intent to apply. It did not need to describe the proposed project.

21) How was the notice of intent submitted?

The notice of intent was submitted by email to pdae@ed.gov.

22) Why did the Department encourage a notice of intent?

It was positioned as a practical step to help the Department plan for a smoother review process.

23) Who should applicants contact for technical problems accessing the announcement or using Grants.gov?

Technical access issues related to the full announcement or Grants.gov were directed to a Grants.gov systems administrator: Julius Cotton.

24) Who should applicants contact for program-related questions?

Program-related oversight was associated with a program manager: Isadora Binder at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC. Communication was also available through a program mailbox (as referenced in the listing).

25) Where are the authoritative requirements, priorities, and submission details found?

The opportunity stresses that the authoritative requirements, priorities, performance measures, and submission details are those published in the official Federal Register notice. Applicants were advised to rely on that notice for the complete and controlling rules for the competition.