The Maryland Department of Education received a grant to develop a postsecondary liberal arts and vocational training program.
The educational programming offered is a mix of various postsecondary occupational training programs, non-traditional careers training for women, and a standard liberal arts curriculum.
Services will be provided in the boot camp, the women's institution and two medium security prisons.
The Department of Education ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through coordination, management and accountability in Federal education programs. The Department works to supplement and complement educational efforts on all levels, encouraging increased involvement by the public, parents and students.
50 grants are expected to be awarded in FY 2008.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds can be used to provide grants to designated State Correctional Education Agencies to: (1) Assist and encourage incarcerated youths to acquire functional literacy, life and job skills, through the pursuit of a postsecondary education certificate, or an associates or bachelors degree; and (2) provide employment counseling and other related services that start during the period of incarceration and continue through pre-release and while on parole or during release.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
The State Correctional Education Agency, as designated by the Governor of any of the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands, may apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Individuals who are: (1) incarcerated in a State prison, including a pre-release facility or an alternative program such as boot camp; (2) eligible to be released or paroled within 5 years; (4) 25 years of age or younger; and who (5) have obtained a secondary school diploma or its equivalent.
Credentials/Documentation
A State plan is required. The State plan must include a certification for a State official that all provisions and amendments thereto are consistent with the Act.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The Director of the Office of Correctional Education will provide guidance on specific issues and technical assistance in the preparation of State Plans.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Each designated State Correctional Education Agency must submit to the Secretary of Education a State plan, which sets forth the procedures under which the State will carry out activities to achieve its program objectives and priorities and fulfill the purposes of the Act. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedures
The Secretary approves the State Plan and any amendment thereto and makes allocations to the State.
Deadlines
Deadlines are published in the Federal Register. Contact the program office for additional information.
Authorization
Higher Education Act Amendments of 1998, Title VIII, Part D.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Range is approximately 4 weeks from the date of application receipt.
Appeals
None.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
From the amount appropriated, the Secretary allots to each State an amount that bears the same relationship to the amount appropriated as the total number of eligible students in each State bears to the total number of eligible students in all States. There is no matching requirement.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are made for a 12-month period. Funds must be expended within 24 months of their date of availability.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Annual Financial and Program Performance Reports in accordance with the provisions in EDGAR.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
In accordance with Section 443 of the General Education Provisions Act, as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act, grantees must maintain records for 3 years.
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0400-0-1-501.
Obigations
FY 07 $22,770,000; FY 08 $22,372,000; and FY 09 est $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In FY 2008, the range of awards is expected to be $30,593 to $2,533,691; the average is expected to be $447,444.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
The provisions of Title VIII, Part D of the Higher Education Act, the requirements of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), Parts 67, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, and, 86 apply.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Department of Education, OVAE 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20202-7242 Contact: John Linton. E-mail: john.linton@ed.gov. Telephone: (202) 219-1743.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not applicable.
Founder of the Eden Project, Sir Tim Smit, supported the Yorkshire Venture Philanthropy (YVP) investment program launch, which is designed to improve funding in social enterprises within the region.