Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Teacher Quality Partnership Grant Program CFDA Number 84.336S

Note: So that the Department can confirm the eligibility of the LEA(s) that an applicant proposes to serve, applicants must include information in their applications that demonstrates that each LEA to be served by the project is a “high-need LEA” (as defined in this notice and in section 200(10) of the HEA).

Applicants should review the application package for additional information on determining whether an LEA meets the definition of “high-need LEA.”
Additionally, applicants must also partner with a school or department of arts and sciences within the partner institution. More information on eligible partnerships can be found in the TQP FAQ document found on the program Web site at http://innovation.ed.gov/what-we-do/teacher-quality/teacher-quality-partnership/.

Purpose of Program: The TQP Grant Program aims to increase student achievement by improving the quality of new teachers and prospective
teachers through enhanced preparation of prospective teachers and professional
development activities for new teachers; holding teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education (IHEs) accountable for preparing teachers who meet applicable State certification and
licensure requirements; and recruiting individuals with strong content knowledge or a record of professional accomplishment, including minorities and individuals from occupations other than education, into
the teaching force.
Background: The TQP Grant Program supports partnerships among (i) IHEs, (ii) high-need local educational agencies (LEAs), and (iii) high-need schools served by such LEAs or high-need early childhood education (ECE) programs. Under section 202(d) and (e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), these partnerships must implement either (a) teacher preparation programs at the pre-baccalaureate or “fifth-year” level that include specific reforms in IHEs’ existing teacher preparation programs and follow-up support for program completers who become teachers in partner LEAs, or (b) teacher residency programs in which individuals with strong academic or professional backgrounds but without teaching experience are teaching in high-need schools with support from mentor teachers, and concurrently enrolled in a Master’s degree program. These two options are further explained in this notice under the Absolute Priorities section of this notice.
In the FY 2016 TQP competition, we are especially interested in supporting TQP projects that serve or are designed to serve tribal communities and rural areas, given the need for effective educators serving these communities. On November 5, 2009, pursuant to Executive Order 13175, President Obama issued a memorandum requiring each Federal agency to prepare a detailed plan of action the agency would take to consult with tribal officials when developing policies that have implications for tribal communities. Consistent with its
responsibilities under the President’s memorandum, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) conducted two consultation sessions by teleconference with tribal officials about the TQP program, on January
19 and 21, 2016. During these consultations, we provided participants with an overview of the TQP program and the current TQP grantees, and
facilitated a discussion around potential opportunities and challenges that this grant program may provide for tribal communities. In
addition, the Department solicited feedback and questions from tribal communities over a two-week period following the calls.
During this outreach, the Department received numerous comments and questions from participants. Some of these concerns were of a general nature and could affect all applicants, regardless of whether or not they serve Tribal communities. For example, participants were concerned about forming the necessary eligible partnership needed to apply, what entity should lead that effort, and what entity should serve as the lead applicant for the eligible partnership. Participants also expressed concern about whether their local LEAs or BIE-funded schools would meet the definition of a high-need LEA, as that term is defined in section 200 of HEA.
Some concerns raised by participants reflected the unique challenges facing tribal communities. For example, participants raised
issues related to the status of Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools (e.g., whether they are LEAs) in many tribal communities, and
the role of two-year colleges in preparing and producing teachers to serve those communities. In addition, TQP staff learned that members of
the Tribal community are widely familiar with the Indian Education Professional Development Grant program in the Department’s Office of
Elementary and Secondary Education, and sought additional information about the differences between that program and the TQP program.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.336S.

Electronic Submission of Applications. Applications for grants under the TQP Grant Program, CFDA number 84.336S, must be submitted
electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for the TQP Grant Program at www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include
the CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search for 84.336, not 84.336S).