ITQG Questions from Technical Assistance Workshops Cycle-6
Q1. How much funding is available for new projects?
After administration, fees for the external evaluation team, and funding for the two existing projects, over $860,000 remains for new projects.
Q2. For how many cycles may a multi-cycle proposal apply?
For ITQG Cycle-6, a proposed project may apply for one, two, or three cycles.
Q3. If two project co-directors work in the college arts and science and one is professor of math and the other of math education, can the second co-director fulfill the college of education requirement?
No, if the second co-director?s appointment is in the college of arts and science they do fulfill the college of education requirement. However, if the co-director has a dual appointment in the college of arts and science and the college of education they could fulfill either requirement, but not both.
Q4. Can a charter school be considered a high need local education agency?
As charter schools are now defined as a local education agency, a charter school may be considered a high need local education agency if they meet the entire high need criterion. A list of high need charter schools is available at www.dhe.mo.gov/teacherquality.shtml.
Q5. Can supervised practical experiences in industry count for contact hours?
A maximum of 8 hours of this type of contact would be acceptable; however, this should not be the main source of contact hours.
Q6. Can the main focus of a project be the Engineering and Technology aspect of METS?
No, these grants are used to produce professional development projects in the core academic areas which are defined as: English, reading or language arts, math, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, or geography. Due to the high need to improve math and science education, the ITQG program focuses solely on math and science. Engineering and technology principles can be incorporated into the project but cannot be the main focus.
Q7. Can bonus points be given to projects focusing on grades K-12?
Yes, however, the external evaluation team has found that projects that focus a wide grade span have a more difficult time meeting the needs of the teacher participants.
Q8. Will the maps showing the high need school district be posted to the web?
Yes, both maps are currently available at www.dhe.mo.gov/teacherquality.shtml.
Q9. Is the indirect rate (8%) included in the 50% that each partner cannot exceed in the budget?
No. The 8% facilities and administrative costs (F&A) near the bottom of the Budget Summary Form in Appendix E is only applicable to the lead institution/fiscal agent and is included in calculations for the 50% rule.
Q10. Are fringe benefits included in the 35% personnel cost limit?
Yes.
Q11. Can ITQG project funds be used reimburse non-participating teachers at participating teachers? schools to collect data to be used by the project for comparison purposes?
Yes, however, non-participating teachers would be considered additional personnel and this cost would have to be included in the 35% personnel cost limit. If a projects wishes to do this and is concerned about going over the 35% limit the project may want to use funds from other sources, such as matching funds.
Q12. Does work done by secretaries to assist the project count towards the 35%personnel cost limit?
Yes, if the work is paid for through project funds.
Q13. We were planning on the university using tuition for matching funds. Can we charge tuition to the grant and ask the university to match projectors?
If an institution of higher education charges tuition for professional development programs, then ITQG funds may be used to pay for that tuition. You may then seek matching funds from the institution in the form of technology equipment or funds for technology equipment. It is important to note that the cost of technology equipment for the project, including computers and projectors, is always possible through matching funds.
Q14. Can computers and/or projectors be purchased with ITQG funds?
No. It would be very difficult to use computers and/or projectors solely for the project specified. Any technology items purchased need to be tied solely to the grant curriculum and must be necessary and reasonable. Through the budget justification narrative, the proposal will need to establish that technology items such as graphing calculators, probes, and computer software that is program-specific, are reasonable and necessary. It is important to note that the cost of technology equipment for the project, including computers and projectors, is always possible through matching funds.
Q15. Can any funds be used for substitutes for teachers engaged in professional development?
As reasonable and necessary, ITQG funds may be used to pay for substitute teachers if and only if:
(a) those regular classroom teachers they are replacing were hired with Title II, Part A funds to reduce class size, or
(b) those regular classroom teachers they are replacing are participating in Title II -funded ?programs and activities that are designed to improve the quality of the teacher force, such as?innovative professional development programs?? [Section 2123(a)(5)(A)]. Local Education Agencies also must ensure that the hiring of these substitutes supplements, and does not supplant, the use of local and State funds they would otherwise be spending for such substitutes.
MDHE interprets this regulatory guidance to mean that if a regular classroom teacher participates in a project funded by an ITQG award and is absent from the classroom so that a substitute teacher must be hired, ITQG funds may be combined with local and state funds normally used to hire substitute teachers to cover the salary of the substitute. However, the substitute teacher's salary cannot come solely from the ITQG funds.
Q16. Can any funds be used to send teachers to a conference out of state but in the region?
No. ITQG funds will not support out-of-state travel. While projects are encouraged to disseminate lessons learned, travel to meetings beyond Missouri's borders should use funds from other sources.
