Opportunity Information: Apply for CNCS GRANTS03042013
Apply for CNCS GRANTS03042013
- The Corporation for National and Community Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "School Turnaround AmeriCorps FY13" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 94.006 AmeriCorps.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 4, 2013 and posted on Mar 4, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2013 The deadline for required Letter of Intent submission is 500 p.m. Eastern Time on April 2, 2013 The deadline for eGrants application submission is 500 p.m. Eastern Time on April 23, 2013.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Special district governments City or township governments State governments.
- Public or private nonprofit organizations, including faith based and other community organizations institutions of higher education government entities within states or territories (e.g., cities, counties) Indian Tribes labor organizations or a partnership or consortia consisting of the aforementioned are eligible to apply. Intermediaries are encouraged to apply. If your organization works in just one state, please contact your State Commission, which can be found here http://www.americorps.gov/about/contact/statecommission.asp You will need to apply to them and not directly to CNCS unless otherwise instructed by the State Commission. If your organization works in more than one state, you are eligible to apply for a national grant. You will apply directly to the Corporation. If your organization is an Indian Tribe you may apply through your State Commission, or directly to CNCS.
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Opportunity Summary:
The School Turnaround AmeriCorps FY13 grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number CNCS-GRANTS03042013) was a discretionary federal grant competition run by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under CFDA 94.006 (AmeriCorps). It was designed to fund AmeriCorps State and National projects that directly support school turnaround work by improving academic outcomes for students in the nations lowest-performing schools. The overall intent was to put AmeriCorps members to work in schools where they could make measurable improvements in student academic performance, academic engagement, attendance, or a combination of these outcomes, while fitting into broader school and district turnaround strategies rather than operating as isolated volunteer efforts.
A central feature of the opportunity was its focus on a specific set of "eligible schools." These included Tier I and Tier II schools receiving School Improvement Grants (SIG) to implement one of the four SIG intervention models, schools formally notified that they would receive SIG funds for the 2013-2014 school year, and "priority schools" implementing (in 2012-2013 or 2013-2014) interventions aligned with the ESEA flexibility turnaround principles. In practical terms, CNCS was targeting schools already identified for intensive improvement under federal and state accountability systems, and it expected applicants to align AmeriCorps-supported activities with those required turnaround approaches.
The Notice made it clear that funded projects needed to either (1) serve eligible schools that were not already being served by a national service program (such as AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, Foster Grandparents, and similar programs), or (2) expand and improve coordination of existing national service efforts in those schools. In other words, CNCS was trying to avoid duplicating service investments while also encouraging stronger integration and scale where national service was already present but could be better organized or extended.
To ensure consistency with proven turnaround practice, every funded program had to include at least one of six required strategy areas. These strategies were: building ongoing mechanisms for family and community engagement; strengthening school culture and climate in ways that improve safety, attendance, and discipline while also addressing non-academic barriers to learning such as social, emotional, and health needs; accelerating reading and math skill development; increasing graduation rates using tools like early warning systems, credit recovery, and re-engagement strategies; increasing college enrollment through college preparation supports including FAFSA completion, college applications, and financial literacy for college; and supporting the implementation of increased learning time. CNCS emphasized that these areas matched the expectations placed on SIG schools and priority schools and reflected research and practice on what tends to help the lowest-performing schools improve.
The program also stressed that strong turnaround work is usually not a single-school effort. CNCS and the U.S. Department of Education encouraged applicants to partner with multiple eligible schools within a local educational agency (LEA) and coordinate efforts across multiple school sites. The rationale was that multi-school partnerships can produce economies of scale, help shift broader community and district culture, and build stronger support systems around schools, which is often necessary for sustainable improvement.
A major expectation in the Notice was that grantees would be data-driven and closely connected to school leadership. CNCS signaled that awards would go to organizations that use data to identify needs, collaborate directly with principals and district leaders, and design interventions that clearly align with the LEA and school turnaround plans already in place. Programs also had to use AmeriCorps members to deliver evidence-informed interventions (as defined in the Notice), meaning applicants needed to justify their approach with credible evidence or rationale rather than relying on informal or ad hoc activities.
Eligible applicants were broad and included public or private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and other community groups), institutions of higher education, government entities within states or territories (cities, counties, and similar), Indian Tribes, labor organizations, and partnerships or consortia of these entities. The listing of eligible applicant types included state and local governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, tribal governments and tribal organizations, and both public and private colleges and universities. The opportunity also encouraged intermediary applicants, which typically means organizations capable of managing multiple sites or subgrants and coordinating service efforts across regions or systems.
The Notice also included a practical application pathway distinction: organizations operating in a single state were generally expected to work through their State Service Commission (unless the commission directed otherwise), while organizations working in more than one state could apply directly to CNCS for a national grant. Indian Tribes had flexibility to apply through a State Commission or directly to CNCS. This structure reflects how AmeriCorps State and National funding is often administered, with a mix of state-commission competitions and national competitions depending on scope.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the total estimated funding available was listed as $5,000,000, and the grant required cost sharing or matching. While the summary does not specify match percentages, the explicit statement that matching was required means applicants needed to budget for non-federal resources (cash and/or in-kind) as part of their proposal, consistent with standard AmeriCorps grant rules.
The timeline for the FY13 competition included two key deadlines: a required Letter of Intent due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 2, 2013, and the full eGrants application due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 23, 2013. The opportunity was posted and created on March 4, 2013, and archived on April 24, 2013. Applicants were directed to review the full official announcement on CNCS's website, with an additional information link provided to a PDF notice (http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/schoolturnaroundacnotice.pdf), and a contact phone number (202-606-7508) for access issues.
Finally, the opportunity framed AmeriCorps members as the core delivery mechanism. AmeriCorps members serve in approved national service positions and may receive a living allowance and other benefits, and members who complete their terms earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. The grant was essentially a way to finance and organize those member positions so that they directly contribute to measurable school improvement priorities in schools undergoing formal turnaround interventions.
School Turnaround AmeriCorps FY13 (CNCS-GRANTS03042013) FAQs
What is the School Turnaround AmeriCorps FY13 grant opportunity?
It was a discretionary federal grant competition run by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) under CFDA 94.006 (AmeriCorps). The competition funded AmeriCorps State and National projects designed to directly support school turnaround work in the nation's lowest-performing schools.
What was the main purpose of this funding?
The intent was to place AmeriCorps members in eligible schools to make measurable improvements in student academic performance, academic engagement, attendance, or a combination of these outcomes. Funded projects were expected to fit into broader school and district turnaround strategies rather than operate as isolated volunteer efforts.
What funding opportunity number identifies this competition?
Funding Opportunity Number: CNCS-GRANTS03042013.
Which program and CFDA number did this opportunity fall under?
It was part of AmeriCorps (CFDA 94.006).
Which schools were considered "eligible schools" under this Notice?
Eligible schools included: Tier I and Tier II schools receiving School Improvement Grants (SIG) to implement one of the four SIG intervention models; schools formally notified they would receive SIG funds for the 2013-2014 school year; and "priority schools" implementing (in 2012-2013 or 2013-2014) interventions aligned with the ESEA flexibility turnaround principles.
Did projects have to focus only on SIG schools?
No. The Notice also included "priority schools" implementing interventions aligned with ESEA flexibility turnaround principles, in addition to certain SIG-related categories.
Could a project serve schools that already had national service programs in place?
Yes, but with conditions. Funded projects needed to either (1) serve eligible schools not already being served by a national service program (such as AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, Foster Grandparents, and similar programs), or (2) expand and improve coordination of existing national service efforts in those schools.
What was CNCS trying to avoid by setting those conditions?
The Notice signaled an intent to avoid duplicating national service investments, while encouraging stronger integration, coordination, and scale where national service was already present.
Were there required program strategies for funded projects?
Yes. Every funded program had to include at least one of six required strategy areas described in the Notice.
What were the six required strategy areas?
The six strategy areas were: (1) building ongoing mechanisms for family and community engagement; (2) strengthening school culture and climate to improve safety, attendance, and discipline and address non-academic barriers (social, emotional, and health needs); (3) accelerating reading and math skill development; (4) increasing graduation rates (for example, early warning systems, credit recovery, and re-engagement strategies); (5) increasing college enrollment (for example, FAFSA completion, college applications, and financial literacy for college); and (6) supporting implementation of increased learning time.
Why did CNCS emphasize those specific strategy areas?
CNCS stated these areas matched expectations placed on SIG schools and priority schools and reflected research and practice on what tends to help the lowest-performing schools improve.
Were applicants encouraged to partner with multiple schools?
Yes. CNCS and the U.S. Department of Education encouraged applicants to partner with multiple eligible schools within a local educational agency (LEA) and coordinate efforts across multiple school sites.
What was the rationale for coordinating across multiple school sites?
The Notice indicated multi-school partnerships can create economies of scale, help shift broader community and district culture, and build stronger support systems around schools, which can be important for sustainable improvement.
What were the expectations for using data and aligning with school leadership?
Grantees were expected to be data-driven, use data to identify needs, collaborate directly with principals and district leaders, and design interventions that clearly align with LEA and school turnaround plans already in place.
Did the Notice require evidence for the proposed interventions?
Yes. Programs had to use AmeriCorps members to deliver evidence-informed interventions (as defined in the Notice), meaning applicants needed to justify their approach with credible evidence or rationale rather than relying on informal or ad hoc activities.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included public or private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and other community groups), institutions of higher education, government entities within states or territories (such as cities and counties), Indian Tribes, labor organizations, and partnerships or consortia of these entities.
Did the eligible applicant list include school districts and colleges/universities?
Yes. The Notice explicitly included independent school districts and both public and private colleges and universities among eligible applicant types.
Were intermediary applicants encouraged?
Yes. The opportunity encouraged intermediary applicants, described as organizations capable of managing multiple sites or subgrants and coordinating service efforts across regions or systems.
How did the application pathway differ for single-state versus multi-state organizations?
Organizations operating in a single state were generally expected to apply through their State Service Commission (unless the commission directed otherwise). Organizations working in more than one state could apply directly to CNCS for a national grant.
How could Indian Tribes apply under this opportunity?
Indian Tribes had flexibility to apply through a State Commission or directly to CNCS.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The total estimated funding available was listed as $5,000,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The Notice stated that cost sharing/matching was required, meaning applicants needed to budget non-federal resources (cash and/or in-kind) as part of their proposal, consistent with standard AmeriCorps grant rules.
What were the key deadlines for this FY13 competition?
The Letter of Intent was due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 2, 2013, and the full eGrants application was due by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 23, 2013.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The opportunity was posted/created on March 4, 2013, and it was archived on April 24, 2013.
Where were applicants directed to find the official announcement and additional details?
Applicants were directed to review the full official announcement on CNCS's website, and an additional information link to a PDF notice was provided at: http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/schoolturnaroundacnotice.pdf
Who could applicants contact for access issues?
The contact phone number provided for access issues was 202-606-7508.
What role did AmeriCorps members play in funded projects?
AmeriCorps members were the core delivery mechanism. The grant financed and organized approved national service positions so members' service directly contributed to measurable school improvement priorities in turnaround schools.
What benefits for AmeriCorps members were mentioned?
The Notice described that AmeriCorps members may receive a living allowance and other benefits, and members who complete their terms earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award.
What outcomes did CNCS emphasize as measurable targets?
The Notice emphasized measurable improvements in student academic performance, academic engagement, attendance, or a combination of these outcomes.
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