Learn and Serve America's National Service-Learning Clearinghouse

NOTICE OF FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

Federal Agency Name: Corporation for National and Community Service

Funding Opportunity Title: Learn and Serve America School-Based Competitive FY 2009

Announcement Type: Initial announcement

CFDA Number: 94.004

Date: Applications are due on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. Awards are expected to be announced by the end of August 2009.

Funding Opportunity Description:
Subject to the availability of appropriations for fiscal year 2009, the Corporation for National and Community Service (the Corporation) announces the anticipated availability of approximately $5.7 million for qualified organizations to provide financial resources, training, and other assistance to local partnerships to implement school-based service-learning projects. These funds will be awarded to an estimated eight to ten eligible applicants, with awards ranging from approximately $300,000 to $450,000 annually for a project period of up to three years. Eligible applicants include:

1. Grantmaking Entities (GMEs), defined as public or private non-profit organizations that have been in existence at least one year and that propose to make subgrants in two or more states;
2. State Education Agencies (SEAs); and
3. Indian Tribes.

A key role for grantees is to support and manage subgrantee partnerships between Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and their local partners through frequent communication, training and technical assistance, and financial oversight.

The Corporation’s mission is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Learn and Serve America School-Based grants are designed to involve school-age youth in service-learning projects that simultaneously support student development and address community problems in areas such as the environment, education, public safety, and other human needs.

Key agency priorities for the 2009 School-Based grant competition include:

1. promoting the use of high-quality service-learning to address STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) objectives in middle schools with high percentages of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds;
2. expanding the use of service-learning as a teaching strategy to increase students’ motivation to learn, community problem solving skills, and readiness for careers and post-secondary education; and
3. engaging young people in service-learning activities that address community needs in order to build healthier communities.

Notice of Funding Opportunity (73K pdf)

Application Instructions (193K pdf)

Performance Measures Instructions (185K pdf)

Deadline:

• Tues., Apr 14, 2009 at 5:00PM EDT

Technical Assistance Calls:
2009 Competitive NOFO and Guidance Presentation (190K pdf)

• CALL DATE: JAN-29-2009 (Thursday)
  CALL TIME: 2:00 PM EASTERN TIME
  TOLL-FREE NUMBER: 877-716-4292
  PARTICIPANT PASSCODE: K12NOFO MTG
  • Replays are generally available one hour after a call ends.
    End Date: MAR-01-2009 11:59PM EDT
    TOLL-FREE NUMBER: 888-482-2247
• CALL DATE: APR-3-2009 (Thursday)
  CALL TIME: 2:00 PM EASTERN TIME
  TOLL-FREE NUMBER: 800-779-2620
  PARTICIPANT PASSCODE: NOFOCALL

STEM FAQs (56K pdf)

Additional Links to Relevant Info:

• K-12 Service-Learning Standards for Quality Practice
• Service-Learning and Middle School: Selected Resources (Bibliography)
• STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Education & Service-Learning (Fact Sheet)
• Sample Applications
  • State Education Agency Sample (118K pdf)
  • School-Based Sample (63K pdf)

Questions? -

Link to CNCS Funding Opportunities Page
http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp