U.S. Department of Education Mathematics and Science Program State Coordinators Meeting

Agenda  Law/Purpose  Allowable Costs - OMB Circular A-87 -  ARP – GPRA Indicators  Frequently Asked Questions  Tydings Period  Resources

States distribute funds on a competitive basis to partnerships consisting of Arts and Science faculty at an IHE and a “high need” local education agency. U.S. Department of Education Program Cycle Projects submit annual/final reports to U.S. Department of Education within 60 days of cycle completion. Congress appropriates funds for program. Funds are released to the States through a formula grant (number of students at poverty rates). States fund winning project proposals. States submit an abstract of funded proposals to U.S. Department of Education. MSP Grant and Funding Cycle

Title II, Part B – Mathematics and Science Partnerships Purpose: To improve student academic achievement in mathematics and science. Develop partnership of high-need school districts and an IHE’s science, technology, engineering, mathematics faculty Improve classroom instruction Provide professional development to strengthen teachers’ content knowledge Improve student achievement in mathematics and science Conceptual Model of Mathematics and Science Partnerships Program

Eligible Partnerships Shall Include Engineering, Mathematics, or Science Department of an Institution of Higher Education High-need Local educational agency 

May Also Include Additional Local educational agencies, Public Charter Schools, Public or Private Elementary Schools or Secondary Schools, or a consortium of Schools Nonprofit or For- profit Organization of Demonstrated Effectiveness in Improving the Quality of Mathematics and Science Teachers Business Another Engineering, Mathematics, Science or Teacher Training Department of an Institution of Higher Education

 Purpose: To improve the academic achievement of students in the areas of mathematics and science by encouraging: institutions of higher education (IHE’s), local education agencies (LEA’s), and schools (elementary and secondary) to participate in programs that improve and upgrade the status and stature of mathematics and science teaching.

 Competition  Results of a comprehensive assessment of teacher quality, professional development needs of any schools, LEAs, SEA that comprise the eligible partnership with respect to the teaching and learning of mathematics and science  Description of how the activities will be carried out aligned to content and achievement standards and other reform activities  Description of how the activities to be carried out based on a review of scientifically based research  Partnership’s evaluation & accountability plan  Sustainability

 10 Authorized Activities 1.Ongoing professional development for math & science teachers in content areas 2.Promoting strong teaching skills 3.Summer Workshops or Institutes 4.Recruiting 5.Developing/redesigning more rigorous mathematics and science curricula 6.Distance learning 7.Program to prepare teachers to provide professional development to other teachers 8.Bring math/science teachers together with scientist, mathematicians, engineers 9.Identify and develop exemplary mathematics and science teachers K Develop young women, underrepresented groups to pursue postsecondary degrees

 Evaluation – Tool for Program Improvement  Rigorous objectives that measure the impact of activities  Measurable objectives to increase the number of mathematics and science teachers who participate in content-based professional development activities  Measurable objectives for improved student academic achievement on State mathematics and science assessments  Each partnership shall report annually to the Secretary on the partnership’s progress in meeting the rigorous objectives measuring the impact of activities funded

EDGAR: Education Department General Administrative Regulations  Monitoring and Reporting Program Performance (§ 80.40) 1. Monitor activities to ensure compliance with federal requirements. 2. Responsible for managing day-to-day operations of grant and subgrant activities. 3. Monitor each program, function, activity and ensure grantees submit annual performance reports.

EDGAR: Education Department General Administrative Regulations - Continued  Financial Reporting (§ 80.41) Does the SEA have a policy/procedure to reallocate returned or unused funds? What assurances are in place to ensure proper sue of MSP fund? Does the SEA have an audit process for: State Administration funds? Subgrantee MSP funds?

EDGAR: Education Department General Administrative Regulations - Continued  Financial Reporting (§ 80.41) SEAs are responsible to report on the financial status of all federal funds and should provide training on fiscal responsibilities to projects including: Funds used in allowable, allocable, and reasonable activities Timely, reasonable drawdown and % of funds drawn down Actual obligations verses difference in drawdowns

 Highlights from OMB Circular A-87 Allowable Costs: 1. Authorized by the statute, regulations, or government cost principles. 2. Allocable to the project; does this activity specifically benefit this project? 3. Necessary and Reasonable; would a prudent person have paid this price? 4. Consistent Treatment; this cost can only be counted once. Non Allowable: *No Alcohol,...instructional materials can only be purchased for the teacher attending the PD for the purposes of the program (federal funds may not be used to purchase equipment or instructional materials for the students of the teacher).

Evaluation  OMB Approved On-Line Annual Performance Report 1. Due 60 days after the end of the award cycle 2. SEAs are responsible for ensuring data are complete and accurate. May wish to provide training on the data collection system. 3. GPRA indicators 4. Project specific evaluation/evidence of the impact of the intervention

Evaluation- Government Performance & Results Act Reporting (GPRA) Under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), all federal agencies are required to develop indicators in order to report to the U.S. Congress on federal program impacts and outcomes. For the MSP Program, the following indicators have been developed: Teacher Knowledge 1.The percentage of MSP teachers who significantly increase their content knowledge, as reflected in project-level pre- and post-assessments. Student Achievement 2.The percentage of students in classrooms of MSP teachers who score at the basic level or above in State assessments of mathematics or science. 3.The percentage of students in classrooms of MSP teachers who score at the proficient level or above in State assessments of mathematics or science.

Evaluation – Government Performance & Results Act Reporting (GPRA) The percentage of MSP projects that report using an experimental or quasi- experimental design for their evaluations. 4.The percentage of MSP projects that use an experimental or quasi-experimental design for their evaluations that are conducted successfully and that yield scientifically valid results. Efficiency 6.The percentage of SEAs that submit complete and accurate data on MSP performance measures in a timely manner. Under this section of the APR, you are asked to provide information about teachers and students participating in your MSP program to inform indicators 1, 2 and 3.

Data Quality Instrument (Rubric) Used only on Final Reports with the following criteria: 1. Experimental Study – randomly assigned control/treatment groups with compared outcomes 2. Quasi-experimental Study - comparison-group study or regression discontinuity study 3. Other – study design including pre-post studies that measure the interventions effect based on pre-test to post test differences in a single group, and comparison studies with out equating, or non-experimental studies that compare outcome groups that vary with respect to implementation fidelity or program dosage.

Data Quality Instrument (Rubric) -continued Sample size Quality of the Measurement Instruments Quality of the Data Collection Methods Data Reduction Rates (i.e. Attrition Rates, Response Rates) Relevant Statistics Reported Baseline Equivalence of Groups – Quasi-Experimental Design

Federal Technical Assistance Regional Meetings SEAs encouraged to attend Projects can be required to include 1 national trip in project budget Annual SEA Meeting SEAs encouraged to attend Bi-Monthly SEA Conference Calls Webinar Trainings Federal Program Officer Assigned to Specific States List Serve Websites: apr.ed-msp.net ed.govwww.ed-MSP.net MSP Counsel – Richard Mellman Desk Monitoring Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can States set aside funds to administer the Program? May states take administrative funds out of the Mathematics and Science Partnerships (MSP) state allocation and consolidate them with other federal administrative funds, so that these funds are not used for the specific purpose of administering the MSP program? Are sub-grantees required to report annually to USED? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)- continued What is the Federal Fiscal Year? How long do projects have to use their awards? When are Annual Progress Reports (APRs) due? What indirect cost rate is allowed under the Mathematics and Science Partnerships program? Can project pay stipends, benefits or both to teachers participating in MSP programs?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)- continued Can projects provide lodging for teachers at workshops, institutes or both? May projects purchase food for participating attendees? Can projects copyright materials created with MSP funding? If deaf teachers participate in a MSP project would the project need to provide interpreters?

Equitable Participation Funds awarded under Title II, Part B are subject to the uniform provisions of Section 9501 of the ESEA (Participation by Private School Children and Teachers). Provide private school teachers with an opportunity to participate in Title II, Part B program activities equivalent to the opportunity provided public school teachers Provide approximately the same amount of training and, where appropriate, instruction to teachers with similar needs Generally spend an equal amount of funds per student to serve public and private school teachers Assess, address,and evaluate the needs and progress of both groups of teachers in the same manner

Equitable Participate Continued LEA Obligations: Consultation must take place prior to submitting an application. LEA’s consult with appropriate private school officials during the design, development, and implementation of the professional development program on such issues as: How the needs of children and teachers will be identified What services will be offered How, where and by whom the services will be provided How the services will be assessed and how the results of the assessment will be used to improve those services How the services will be assessed & how the results of the assessment will be used to improve services The size and scope of the equitable services The amount of funds available for those services How and when the LEA will make decisions about the delivery of services

Fiscal Responsibility Obligation Liquidation Start DateEnd DateTydingsMust LiquidateLate Liquidation 07/01/20089/30/20099/30/ /31/200103/31/2011 *Because many state programs are forward funded…congress makes funds available in July 1, X (3 months before the Federal FY)… This is before the October 1 Federal Fiscal year. *Although this is more than 12 months this is the period when the dollars should be encumbered. *Additional time (12 months) for programs to obligate funds; with the understanding that not all projects will be able to obligate funds during their start and end date. **However costs must be incurred during the performance period. *All obligations must be liquidated (make final payments on) 90 days after the end of Tydings. **The Dept may extend this Liquidation date using a “Late Liquidation” ***The 3 months are considered apart of the liquidation process. *Late liquidation process is a 15 month process…that is not guaranteed to all grantees that apply. **No liquidations will be available after this date (except under extraordinary situations). 12 months + 3months = 15 months (Performance Period) 15+12= 27 months27months + 3 months = 30 months 30 months + 15 months = 45 Months…3 years and 9 months from the start date.

Considerations NumberItemResponsible PartyFrequencyCompletion Date 1 Enter in to APR system a list of new and continuing projects with basic information and abstracts State MSP DirectorAnnually 30 Days after Award of MSP projects 2List of discontinued projectsState MSP DirectorAnnually30 Days after Completion Date 3Annual Performance ReportIndividual ProjectsAnnually 60 Days after end of 12 month of activities 4 Read, review and validate APR’s prior to submitting to ED State MSP DirectorAnnually 60 days after end of 12 month cycle

Resources APR- MSP.NET- MSP Program- Statute- OMB Circulars- EDGAR- America Competitiveness Initiative - EDGAR Titles

Miriam Lund MSP Program Officer