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STEM PILOT PROGRAM GRANT

Webinar November 17, 2015

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Scott Black and Justin RogersWashington STEM, Andy Shouse and Gilda Wheeler

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The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is administering the grant with assistance from Washington STEM, a statewide STEM education organization.

GRANT ADMINISTRATION

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• 2015-17 State Legislature established the STEM Pilot Program.

• This is a “proof of concept” pilot program. The hypothesis is that education outcomes are better when capital and learning outcomes are tied together to make informed investments.

• Created solely to provide STEM pilot project grant awards to school districts to construct or modernize science and science lab classrooms.

PURPOSE OF THE STEM GRANT PROGRAM

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• Total grant amount is $11,925,000

• Districts are limited to one grant award in the amount of no more than $4,000,000

• Districts may use grant award for multiple projects

• Grants constitute districts’ local funding for purpose of eligibility for the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP)

GRANT FUNDING

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At least one grant will be awarded in Southwest Washington and one in the Puget Sound Region

At least two grants will be awarded in Eastern Washington

GRANT AWARDS AROUND THE STATE

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SEP OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN FEB MAR

iGRANTS APPLICATION OPEN TO DISTRICTSAPPLICATIONS FORMATTED/ SENT TO WA STEMWA STEM REVIEW OF APPLICATIONSWA STEM DEVELOPS PRIORITIZED LIST OF CANDIDATES

DISTRICT CERTIFICATIONS (SUBMITTALS)Submit additional project information

GRANT ANNOUNCED – MEMORANDUM SENT

OSPI task

2015

2016

FINAL GRANT AWARDSFor districts on the grant list able to meet all requirements.

APR

CONSTRUCTION/REIMBURSEMENTSAdministered through grants management.

COMPLETION DOCUMENTSDistrict submits to OSPI when all projects are complete.

WA STEM task

District task

STEM GRANT TIMELINE

iGRANTS APPLICATION DEVELOPED/ FINALIZED

MAY

JUN JUL

CRITERIA DEVELOPED – OSPI / WA STEM

OSPI/WA STEM task

WA STEM REPORTSubmit to OSPI when all projects are complete.

PRELIMINARY GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS

OSPI REVIEWS PRIORITIZED GRANT LIST

K20 / GO-TO-MEETING

CONSULTANT HIRED/ PROCESS DEVELOPED

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KEY DATES

Date MilestoneNovember 16, 2015 Application opensJanuary 28, 2016 Application closesFebruary 29-March 25, 2015 Finalist application reviews (including site visits)

Mid April 2016 Grantees announcedMid May 2016 Funds distributed

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Districts are eligible if they have a special housing burden due to lack of sufficient space for science classrooms and labs to enable students to meet the statutory graduation requirements.

SBE New Graduation Requirements• 2019 graduating seniors will be expected to complete three science

credits, two of which are specified as lab credits

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)• In 2013 Washington State adopted new K-12 Science Learning

standards, which include considerable emphasis on science and engineering practices, requiring students to authentically engage in science and engineering

DISTRICT ELIGIBILTY – SPECIAL HOUSING BURDEN

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WAC 180-51-068(a) "Laboratory science" means any instruction that provides

opportunities for students to interact directly with the material world, or with data drawn from the material world, using the tools, data collection techniques, models and theories of science. A laboratory science course meeting the requirement of subsection (3) of this section may include courses conducted in classroom facilities specially designed for laboratory science, or coursework in traditional classrooms, outdoor spaces, or other settings which accommodate elements of laboratory science as identified in this subsection;

SBE DEFINITION OF LAB SCIENCE

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• Districts must demonstrate a lack of sufficient space of science classrooms and labs to facilitate meeting statutory graduation requirements

• District must secure a private donation of cash, like kind, or equipment in a value of no less than $100,000

• Districts must have faculty in place that are prepared to teach science and engineering in a manner consistent with the science learning standards, or must demonstrate that a plan and budget are in place to recruit and train faculty to do so

GRANT CRITERIA

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Additional square footage of classroom space or renovated space devoted to lab learning is required. Other components may include:

• Specialized tools, materials, and curriculum for students to conduct lab investigations.

• Ancillary spaces to support teacher collaboration, preparation of lab experiences, storage of STEM materials and tools, and student projects.

• Modular design of spaces, equipment, and equipment storage to facilitate flexible use of existing or new space to accommodate both collaborative student investigations and whole class activities and demonstrations.

• Outdoor learning spaces such as green houses, covered areas, and permanent seating or settings which accommodate elements of lab science.

PROJECT COMPONENTS AND FEATURES

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Per Science labs/classroom combo 1,440 sfPer Science classroom 1,040 sf

Total eligible area per district grant award must not exceed 15,840 sf

Grant awards resulting in additional square footage is excluded from the school district’s inventory of available educational space for determining eligibility for state assistance for:• Five years following acceptance of the project by the school

district board of directors, or

• The date of the final review of the latest study and survey of the affected school district following acceptance of the project by the school district board of directors; Whichever is earliest

ELIGIBLE SPACE

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The funding assistance percentage as calculated in 28A.525.166 (2)

• 20% of the percentage of student enrollments eligible and enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program

• 10 additional percentage points for school districts with funding assistance percentages of more than 50%

• 10 additional percentage points for class 2 districts as determined in RCW 28A.300.065

ENHANCED FUNDING ASSISTANCE PERCENTAGE (FAP)

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EXAMPLE PROJECT SCOPE

Modification of classroomsProject SQ FT Total

2 lab/classrooms 1440 sf 2880 sf

Eligible Area X Construction cost allocation (CCA) = Recognized Construction Cost *

2880 $213.23 = $614,102

Recognized Const. Cost Enhanced FAP SCAP AMOUNT STEM Grant Amount

$614,102 X .8012 $492,018 $122,083**

* Recognized Construction costs does not include 10% – 15 % soft costs

**Recognized estimated excess costs reported at time of application will be awarded from STEM grant

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REVIEW CRITERIA INCLUDES BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:

• Priority for districts that secure private donation weighted by the ratio of district enrollments to value of donation

• Districts’ ability (inability) to raise funds through levies or bonds in prior 10 years• Priority for applicants with a high percentage of students eligible and enrolled in

the free and reduced price meals program• Extent that existing STEM facilities are inadequate to meet graduation

requirements• Existing STEM faculty are in place and qualified to deliver an interactive, project

based STEM curriculum in the proposed specialized STEM facility or a plan and budget is in place to recruit or train such STEM faculty

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QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU!

Scott Black, Scott.Black@k12.wa.usJustin Rogers, Justin.Rogers@k12.wa.us Andy Shouse, Andy@washingtonstem.org

http://www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities/STEM.aspxGrant Guidelines and Resources

Webinar RecordingWord Version of Application (for your reference)Link to Application in Igrants (form package 759)

FAQs