Language Resource Center (LRC) Technical Assistance Workshop

Welcome to Day 1 Introductions Schedule for Day 1:

– LRC Overview – Review Process– Selection Criteria

Schedule for Day 2:– Notice Inviting Applications– General Timeline– Best Practices– Question and Answer session

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Language Resource Centers• The Language Resource Centers

Program provides assistance to establish, strengthen, and operate centers that serve as resources for improving the nation’s capacity for teaching and learning foreign languages effectively

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Definition “Language Resource Center” means a

coordinated concentration of educational research and training resources for improving the nation’s capacity to teach and learn foreign languages

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LRC Activities – Must Include

Effective Dissemination Efforts (whenever applicable in all authorized LRC activities)

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LRC Activities – May Include Research on New and Improved Teaching

Methods Development of New Teaching Materials

Reflecting Research Development and Application of Performance

Testing Training Teachers in Performance Testing,

Teaching Strategies, and Use of TechnologiesSlide 6

LRC Activities – May Include Significant Focus on Teaching, Learning,

Needs, and Materials for Less Commonly Taught Languages

Development of Materials for K-12 Foreign Language Teachers

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LRC Activities – May Include Intensive Summer Language Institutes

that:– Train Advanced Foreign Language Students, – Provide Professional Development; and – Improve Language Instruction through Pre-

service and In-service Language Training for Teachers

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Eligibility An institution of higher education or a

combination of institutions of higher education

Late applications will not be accepted Applications that disregard formatting

instructions or page limits may be declared ineligible

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Review Process Technical Review for Eligibility Panel Review Scoring according to announced selection

criteria ED Review and Approval of slate of proposals

to be funded

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Selection Criteria Plan of Operation – 15 points Quality of Key Personnel – 10 points Adequacy of Resources – 5 points Need and Potential Impact – 20 points Likelihood of Achieving Results – 10 points Description of Final Form of Results – 10 points Evaluation Plan – 20 points Budget and Cost Effectiveness – 10 points Priorities

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Plan of Operation Include a plan of operation for each year for

which program funds are requested (or an integrated multi-year plan)

Provide an itemized budget showing federal funding requested for each year

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Plan of Operation High Design Quality Effective Plan of Management Clear Description of Project Objectives Use of resources and personnel to achieve each

objective Describe how you will provide equal access for

racial and ethnic minorities, women, handicapped persons

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Quality of Key Personnel Project Director Other Key Personnel Time Commitment (% for each) Applications for employment from members

of underrepresented groups Demonstrate experience relevant to project

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Adequacy of Resources Adequate facilities in order to do the

tasks proposed Proposed or current equipment and

supplies

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Need and Potential Impact Need of proposed materials and/or activities

for the foreign languages on which the project focuses

Extent to which materials can be used throughout the U.S.

Significant contribution to strengthening, expanding, or improving programs of foreign language study in U.S.

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Likelihood of Achieving Results Quality of outlined methods and procedures

for preparing the materials Plans for activities are practicable and

expected to produce the anticipated results

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Description of Final Form of Results Degree of specificity and appropriateness of

the description of the expected results from the project

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Evaluation Plan Quality of the evaluation plan for the project Methods of evaluation appropriate for the

project and, to the extent possible, objective, and produce data that are quantifiable

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Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA)- effective FY 2014

New measures recently approved by OMB and will be included with the application package

1. Percentage of LRC products or activities judged to be successful by LRC customers with respect to quality, usefulness, and relevance.

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GPRA Measures2. Percentage of LRCs products judged to be successful by an independent expert review panel with respect to quality, relevance, and usefulness. (In addition, experts could survey end users of LRC products.) Efficiency Measure (has not changed)

– Cost per high-quality, successfully-completed Language Resource Centers project.

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Evaluation Plan Outcome based Draws on science of evaluation and trained

evaluators Evaluation experts and content experts Work through from beginning

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Evaluation Plan Focus on grant activities, or on larger program

outcomes Choose definable set of activities to evaluate

and outcomes Evaluation should help you to improve your

projects and methods Evaluation should help you to document success

(and avoid repeating less effective activities)

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Budget and Cost Effectiveness Adequate to support the project activities Costs are reasonable in relation to project

objectives Cost effective

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Budget Equipment costs may not exceed 15% of grant

amount Indirect costs must be capped at 8% Matching Funds: If you list matching funds on

your budget your institution will be responsible for providing that commitment – however, matching is not required.

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Budget Summary Form (ED form 524) Itemized Budget (Showing all four years

broken down by category)

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Personnel and Fringe Total time commitment and total salary Breakdown with position titles, percent of

time / number of months for each staff member, salary, and total salary cost charged to grant

Fringe on separate line item

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Travel Detail travel costs with purpose and objective Per Diem permitted when away from home

overnight Foreign travel can be authorized Remember to budget funds for Project

Director meetings

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Equipment Not to exceed 15% of total budget Justify all equipment expenses List item, quantity, cost per unit, total cost Examples of equipment

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Supplies Itemized lists and costs Examples of supplies

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Contractual Costs Contractual costs are allowable

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Other Costs Includes consultant and evaluator costs and

travel (Justify consultant roles and describe scope of work – break down travel expenses)

Space rental Printing costs Other direct costs

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Competition Priorities Competitive Invitational

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Potential Priorities May include:

– Specific foreign languages or world regions– Collaborative activities with Minority Serving

Institutions or Community Colleges– Collaborative activities with heritage language

centers/schools

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End of Day 1 Day 2:

– Notice Inviting Applications (NIA)– Proposed 2014 timeline– Best practices– Question and Answer session

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Welcome back to Day 2! On Day 1, we covered:

– LRC Overview– Panel review process– Selection criteria

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Day 2 Today we will be covering:

– Notice Inviting Applications (NIA)– Proposed timeline 2014– Best practices– Question and Answer session

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Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) NIA is the official announcement in the Federal

Register that invites LRC application submissions NIA is official and binding NIA gives information about

– Funding– Due date– Transmittal– Selection criteria– Priorities– Technical Requirements

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Funding Estimate will be provided in the NIA Annual funding always subject to availability

of federally appropriated funding Funding continued each year based on

satisfactory reporting and performance

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Project Period New competition for FY 2014 IFLE intends to provide a 48-month (four year)

cycle for the coming competition, if approved FY 2014, FY 2015, FY 2016 and FY 2017

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Timeline Proposed 2014 Timeline Notice of Proposed Priorities Notice Inviting Applications Application re-cleared through OMB

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Read Before Writing Program Statute and Regulations Dear Applicant Letter Application Instructions Budget Instructions Selection Criteria Notice Inviting Applications

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Writing the Proposal Address all the selection criteria and sub-

criteria Follow the selection criteria in order, and

clearly label the elements or sub-elements described

Describe in detail how the program will be accomplished and who it serves

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Best Practices Improve capacity to teach and learn LCTLs Materials Development Teacher Professional Development Collaborative Projects Assessment

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TIPS – Get Organized Contact Program Officer

Review abstracts of funded grantees and past successful proposals

Review Federal Register and program websites for updated information

Review FAQs on LRC website

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TIPS – Writing Your Proposal Hit every category and sub-category: be

explicit and detailed in your narrative Limit your narrative to activities for which you

are seeking funding Summarize each proposed activity and how it

increases program impact Submit application safely before deadline –

Do not wait until the last minute!!!

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Contact information and Website Carly Borgmeier

– Email: carly.borgmeier@ed.gov– Phone: 202-502-7691

Tanyelle Richardson– Email: tanyelle.richardson@ed.gov – Phone: 202-502-7626

Language Resource Center: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpslrc/index.html

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QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!