Victoria LeBeaux, Ph.D National Program Leader

Outline Fiscal Year 2016 and 2017 Budgets Relevant RFAs USDA partnerships and resources of note

FY16 Budget Final Appropriations = $552,000 OC 40 Funds – discretionary funds that are released as part of NIFA’s operating budget AITC Account Populated Feb 22 Final amount for FY16: $398,028

To find the budget proposal

AITC is mentioned 3 times in the FY17 Explanatory Notes : o Page 13 o Page 49 o Page 81

Federal Administration (direct appropriation) -Provides a portion of the general operating funds for the Federal staff, and national program planning, coordination, and program leadership for the extension work in partnership with the States and territories. Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) program is administered under the federal administration line. AITC advances agricultural literacy through a grassroots network of State coordinators, school teachers, agribusiness leaders, and other educators by supporting initiatives that include expanding outreach to underrepresented populations; regional demonstration projects; integration of information technology to reduce program delivery costs; and outstanding teacher recognition initiatives. Pg. 13 of the Explanatory Notes

“A decrease of $552,000 for Agriculture in the Classroom ($552,000 available in 2016) as follows: This program is part of a government-wide initiative to consolidate STEM programs to reduce the number of duplicative programs. Funding for STEM related programs will be requested as part of other agencies’ budgets. Funding for this program could be provided under AFRI thru professional development opportunities for K-12 to promote engaged learning and positive youth development in their classrooms.” President’s FY 17 Budget Page 49

Agriculture in the Classroom. The program helps advance agricultural literacy through a grassroots network of State coordinators, school teachers, agribusiness leaders, and other educators by supporting initiatives that include expanding outreach to underrepresented populations; regional demonstration projects; integration of information technology to reduce program delivery costs; and outstanding teacher recognition initiatives. Page 81

Funding Opportunities

FY 16 SPECA RFA Secondary Education, Two-Year Postsecondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom (SPECA) Challenge Grants Program Request for Applications Released January 19 th Funding Amount: $858,500 Deadline: March 18th Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom is still an ‘Educational Need Area’: Projects specifically developed by or for the state Agriculture in the Classroom program Abstracts of Previously Funded projects on funding opportunity website

FAQs for SPECA/AITC Letters of Support –A letter of support from the relevant state AITC organization endorsing the project is needed for AITC SPECA projects –AITC state contacts can provide more than one letter of support –AITC programs can be part of more than one funded SPECA project if they have a minor role; (If funded, total time on each grant will need to be less than 100%) Matching Requirement –100% Matching requirement unless the applicant institution is an exempt institution (pages of the RFA)

NIFA Professional Development for K-12 Educators Provides immersive learning experiences in non-formal educational programs for secondary school educators, enabling them to identify and replicate best practices to enhance student outcomes in the food, agricultural, natural resources, and human (FANH) sciences Integrates innovations in science and pedagogy into existing teacher professional development programs Eligible institutions: 1) 4-year colleges and universities; 2) 1994 Land-Grant Institutions; and (3) Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities. Award Max: $ 150,000% Funded: N/A Deadline: March 18, 2016

Example of Immersive Learning: UKY Water Justice Workshop. Training Provided In: watersh ed mappin g and monitori ng water quality testing macroinverteb rate and habitat analysis participatory decision-making techniques used by the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute

Example cont’d : UKY Water Justice Workshop Participants discussed: communities sharing a watershed with industry and issues of pollution privatization and different models of water distribution community forestry and water supply techniques from Indonesia that could be adapted for use in Appalachia

Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields (WAMS) Grants Program Grants to educational institutions, private organizations, and others, to support research and extension projects that increase participation by women and underrepresented minorities from rural areas in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the context of food, agricultural, natural resources, and human sciences Award Max: $ 100,000Funded: 20% Contact: Dr. Saleia Afele-FaamuliDeadline: TBD

Items of Note Peer Reviewers welcome; send Resume to program contact USDA Memorandum of Understanding signed with Association of Science- Technology Centers: Science in Your Shopping Cart – FY16 Update

USDA Summer Food Service Program

Victoria LeBeaux, PhD. National Program Leader NIFA Division of Community and Education