Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) Ready to Learn Television CFDA Number 84.295A | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Ready to Learn Television grant (CFDA 84.295A)?

The Ready to Learn Television grant (CFDA 84.295A) is a discretionary U.S. Department of Education funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement by the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII). It supports educational television and related interactive media designed to improve school readiness and academic achievement for preschool and elementary-age children.

2) What is the overall purpose of this program?

The overall aim is to improve school readiness and academic achievement for preschool and elementary-age children, with a particular emphasis on reaching disadvantaged children at a national scale. The program pairs high-quality content with outreach and community-building so families and educators can use the materials in practical, learning-focused ways.

3) What age group does the grant focus on?

The program focuses on preschool and elementary-age children, and also supports resources intended for parents, caregivers, and educators who help children learn.

4) Is the program only about television shows?

No. While educational television is central, the program also supports interactive media that complements broadcast content. It is designed to go beyond stand-alone shows or apps by connecting media content to outreach materials and ongoing engagement.

5) What are the three main goals of the Ready to Learn Television program?

The program is built around three connected goals:

• Develop and nationally distribute educational and instructional programming for young children and their parents, including interactive media that complements broadcast content.
• Create and disseminate educational outreach materials and conduct outreach efforts that deepen and extend the impact of the programming.
• Build social and virtual communities of parents, educators, and children organized around using these media resources.

6) What kinds of activities does the outreach component include?

Based on the opportunity description, outreach includes creating and disseminating educational outreach materials and carrying out outreach efforts intended to help parents, caregivers, and educators turn media content into real learning experiences that strengthen learning outcomes.

7) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally involves a closer working relationship with the U.S. Department of Education than a typical grant. Recipients should expect substantial federal involvement consistent with the terms of the award and the governing notice, such as coordination, oversight, or joint planning.

8) How much funding was available and how many awards were expected?

Total estimated funding for the competition was $25,621,000, with an expected three awards.

9) Is cost-sharing or matching required?

No cost-sharing or matching requirement is listed in the provided information, meaning applicants were not required to contribute non-federal matching funds as a condition of award.

10) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited and highly specific. Applicants must be a public telecommunications entity as defined in the official notice and must be able to demonstrate required capacities related to development, distribution, contracting, and outreach.

11) What core capacities must an eligible applicant demonstrate?

The opportunity states that an eligible applicant must demonstrate:

• The ability to develop and nationally distribute high-quality educational and instructional television programming that is accessible by a large majority of disadvantaged preschool and elementary school children.
• The ability to contract with children’s television producers to develop high-quality educational programming.
• The ability, consistent with the organization’s mission and nonprofit nature, to negotiate contracts that return to the entity an appropriate share of ancillary income from sales of program-related products.
• The ability to localize programming and materials to meet state and local needs and provide educational outreach at the local level.

12) What does "national distribution" and "accessible by a large majority of disadvantaged children" imply for applicants?

The program expects applicants to have the capability to distribute programming nationally and to ensure that disadvantaged preschool and elementary-age children can access the content at scale. The specific definition and standards are tied to the official notice.

13) Does the program require working with children’s television producers?

Yes. One of the required capacities listed is the ability to contract with children’s television producers to develop high-quality educational programming.

14) Why does the opportunity mention ancillary income from program-related products?

The eligibility requirements include the ability (consistent with the organization’s mission and nonprofit nature) to negotiate contracts that return an appropriate share of ancillary income from sales of program-related products to the public telecommunications entity.

15) Does the program expect localization for states and communities?

Yes. Eligible applicants must demonstrate an ability to localize programming and materials to meet state and local needs and provide educational outreach at the local level.

16) How were applications submitted?

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the downloadable application package tied to the CFDA number.

17) What CFDA search term was required to find the application package on Grants.gov?

Applicants were instructed to search using "84.295" (without the "A" suffix) to locate the correct Grants.gov application package.

18) What were the key dates for this opportunity?

The provided timeline includes:

• Posting date: March 25, 2015
• Applications available: March 25, 2015
• Notice of intent to apply due: April 9, 2015
• Deadline for transmittal of applications: May 26, 2015
• Opportunity archived: June 25, 2015

19) Was there a notice of intent to apply? When was it due?

Yes. A notice of intent to apply was due April 9, 2015.

20) Was there a pre-application webinar?

The Department indicated that a pre-application informational webinar would be announced on the Ready to Learn Television program website.

21) Where can applicants find the authoritative requirements for this grant?

The opportunity emphasizes that the authoritative requirements are those published in the Federal Register, with free access available online through GPO Access.

22) Who should applicants contact for help with electronic submission through Grants.gov?

Applicants needing help with the electronic submission process were directed to the Grants.gov Helpdesk at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

23) Who are the program contacts listed for questions about the opportunity?

Program and application questions could be directed to Department of Education contacts listed in the notice, including:

• Joyce Mays, Management Analyst: 202-245-6122, joyce.mays@ed.gov
• Brian Lekander, Program Manager: 202-205-5633, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC

24) Which office within the Department of Education is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII).

25) What does it mean that the opportunity is archived?

The opportunity was listed as archived on June 25, 2015, indicating the listing is no longer an active open competition as of that archive date.