2013 – 2014MICHIGAN’S AMERICORPS

COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATION GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL TURNAROUND AMERICORPS

APPLICANTS

For more information, contact Jeanine Yard, 517-335-4295 (yardj@michigan.gov)

or visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc

APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED VIA EGRANTS BY:

5:00 p.m. – Monday, April 1st, 2013

IMPORTANT NOTICEThese application instructions conform to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s online grant application system, eGrants. All funding announcements by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS or the Corporation) are posted on www.nationalservice.gov and www.grants.gov.

Public Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 40 hours per submission, including reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing the form. Comments on the burden or content of this instrument may be sent to the Corporation for National and Community Service, Attn: Amy Borgstrom, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20525. CNCS informs people who may respond to this collection of information that they are not required to respond to the collection of information unless the OMB control number and expiration date displayed on page one are current and valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).)

Privacy Act Notice: The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C § 552a) requires that the following notice be provided to you: The information requested on the AmeriCorps Application Instructions is collected pursuant to 42 U.S.C 12592 and 12615 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 as amended, and 42 U.S.C. 4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 as amended. Purposes and Uses - The information requested is collected for the purposes of reviewing grant applications and granting funding requests. Routine Uses - Routine uses may include disclosure of the information to federal, state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully authorized requests. In some programs, the information may also be provided to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to determine the existence of any prior criminal convictions. The information may also be provided to appropriate federal agencies and Department contractors that have a need to know the information for the purpose of assisting the Department’s efforts to respond to a suspected or confirmed breach of the security or confidentiality or information maintained in this system of records, and the information disclosed is relevant and unnecessary for the assistance. Executive Summaries of all compliant applications received and applications of successful applicants will be published on the CNCS website as part of ongoing efforts to increase transparency in grantmaking. This is described in more detail in the Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity. The information will not otherwise be disclosed to entities outside of AmeriCorps and CNCS without prior written permission. Effects of Nondisclosure - The information requested is mandatory in order to receive benefits.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act: Grant recipients will be required to report at www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over $25,000 and may be required to report on executive compensation for recipients and subrecipients. Recipients must have the necessary systems in place to collect and report this information. See 2 C.F.R. Part 170 for more information and to determine how these requirements apply.

Universal Identifier: Applications must include a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and register with the Central Contractor’s Registry (CCR). All grant recipients are required to maintain a valid registration, which must be renewed annually.

1

I. Michigan’s AmeriCorps OverviewAmeriCorps is a national network of service programs designed to engage thousands of Americans on a full- or part-time basis to help communities address their toughest challenges. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) administers AmeriCorps at the federal level and works in partnership with states to develop service programs and create a community-based national service network. CNCS seeks to fund AmeriCorps programs that address goals in the areas of education, disaster preparedness, services for veterans and military families, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, and economic opportunity. Programs must demonstrate community impact and solve community problems through an evidence-based approach (e.g. performance data, research, theory of change).

The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is the administrative agent for Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs receiving CNCS funding. The MCSC’s mission is to fund and support programs that encourage all Michigan residents to volunteer. For more information on the MCSC, including currently funded programs, please visit our website at www.michigan.gov/mcsc.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps currently consists of 23 programs with more than 1000 participants serving on a full- or part-time basis. Members range in age from 17 to 76—and older. The 23 programs partner with more than 3000 organizations throughout the state to address the needs of communities. The AmeriCorps mission includes:

Getting Things Done: AmeriCorps helps communities meet their education, veterans, disaster preparedness, environmental, health, and economic opportunity challenges through direct and measurable community service.

Strengthening Communities: AmeriCorps unites individuals and institutions of all kinds in a common effort to improve our communities.

Encouraging Responsibility: Through service and civic education, AmeriCorps enables members to see themselves as problem-solvers; to become leaders rather than followers; and to act on their responsibilities as well as their rights.

Expanding Opportunity: AmeriCorps helps those who help America. Members have access to job skills training, invaluable hands-on experiences, and education awards to help pay for college or repay student loans.

The Corporation’s purpose is to maximize the power of service and volunteering to improve lives in communities across the country. In the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, Congress directed the Corporation to focus national service on unmet needs that service can impact, including:

Education; Veterans and military families Disaster services Environmental stewardship Healthy futures Economic opportunities

The Corporation is carrying out Congress’s intent by targeting AmeriCorps State and National

2

funding in these six focus areas, and has developed strategic objectives for each. These guidelines are designed to align AmeriCorps funding with the goals of this strategic plan. The Corporation intends to:

direct the power of national service to solve a common set of national challenges; expand opportunities to enable all Americans to enlist in community-based efforts that

address national challenges; embrace innovative solutions that work; and build the enduring capacity of individuals, organizations and communities to effectively

use service and volunteering to solve community problems.

AmeriCorps State and National grants support the efforts of national and community-based non-profit organizations to recruit and deploy AmeriCorps members and the volunteers with whom they serve to tackle unmet needs. AmeriCorps State grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible organizations that identify a problem(s) and persuasively demonstrate how deploying AmeriCorps members and community volunteers will produce significant impact.

Enrolled participants of AmeriCorps programs are called AmeriCorps members. These members will be recruited, trained, supervised, and managed by the funded organization, and may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, AmeriCorps members are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust. A community volunteer is an individual who donates his or her service to organizations funded by the Corporation, but who is not an AmeriCorps member.

In order to be considered for funding, applicants should develop service programs of high quality that offer meaningful, value-added service opportunities and will demonstrate substantial impact in communities as a result of solving problems through an evidenced-based approach.

II. Michigan’s AmeriCorps GoalsThe Michigan Community Service Commission funds and supports quality programs that use an evidence-based approach to impact communities. These programs utilize AmeriCorps members to undertake service that is value added and would not be provided without the service of AmeriCorps members.

1. Needs and Services Activitiesa. Direct Benefit

Members serving in Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs must meet needs in the area of education, disaster services, services for veterans and military families, environmental stewardship, healthy futures and economic opportunity in the community served, and provide a direct benefit that is valued by the community. Members are not employees and member activities must provide specific measurable service outcomes that would not otherwise be provided with existing funds or volunteers. Service activities must not duplicate the routine functions of existing workers/staff and/or supplant or displace paid employees.

AmeriCorps programs provide a variety of specific and identifiable services that address community needs. In the past, performing direct service activities such as tutoring children or building houses has been the primary focus of AmeriCorps members' service. However, AmeriCorps programs may also focus on nonprofit capacity-building activities such as volunteer recruitment and management, which also play an important role in addressing

3

community needs and ensuring the sustainability of AmeriCorps-supported activities. Direct service and capacity-building activities are both integral strategies for effective national service programs.

2. Developing Michigan’s AmeriCorps MembersPrograms are required to develop plans for providing members a powerful service experience. In addition, through AmeriCorps, members have access to job skills training, invaluable hands-on experiences, and may earn an education award that can be used to repay qualified school loans or for future education.

To help ensure that members are prepared for and benefit from their service, applicants are required to include plans for member recruitment and training in their applications. Training should address how members are adequately prepared to perform specific service activities. Training should also reflect the unique nature of the program and be appropriate for the age, skill level, and other differences in the backgrounds of the members.

a. Training, Education, and SupervisionPrograms must provide members with the supervision, training, skills, and knowledge necessary to perform the tasks required in their respective projects. Programs must designate individuals to supervise the members on a regular basis. Supervisors should be located at the site(s) where members serve and be available on a daily basis.

b. Support ServicesPrograms must provide support services that help members who have not completed their secondary education to earn the equivalent of a high school diploma. Programs are also encouraged to assist members who are completing a term of service to make the transition to other education and career opportunities.

c. Required Training and Service Hours

In general, members must devote at least 80 percent of the required hours to direct service and no more than 20 percent to education, training, or other approved non-direct service activities during a full-time or part-time term of service. This ratio applies to the overall program and not to each individual member. This will allow variance among the individual members and takes into consideration variations in the education and developmental needs of members.

d. Leadership OpportunitiesThe MCSC encourages programs to build member leadership capacity by providing opportunities for members to coordinate activities, recruit volunteers, and serve in team leader capacities in their programs. Please note, however, that members must not be assigned as the primary legal supervisors of other members, and they must not be placed in roles where they cannot provide any direct service.

3. Strengthening CommunitiesMichigan’s AmeriCorps strengthens communities by involving citizens directly in addressing community needs. AmeriCorps members help bring individuals and groups from different backgrounds together to achieve constructive change and solve critical community problems.

a. Generating Volunteers 4

A fundamental purpose of AmeriCorps is to help recruit, support, and manage volunteers that meet community needs. By creating volunteer opportunities and helping organizations to effectively engage volunteers, AmeriCorps programs multiply their impact, build organizational capacity, and support the development of sustainable programs.

Volunteering also provides an ideal opportunity to bring together people of many racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds around a common goal, and to foster the active citizenship upon which the health of our democratic system depends.

Programs can deploy AmeriCorps members in a wide variety of ways to support volunteer recruitment and management. AmeriCorps members may be responsible for enlisting, training, or coordinating volunteers. They may help an organization to develop effective volunteer management systems that include clear position descriptions, screening techniques, or volunteer policy and procedure manuals. AmeriCorps members may promote retention of volunteers by planning recognition events or providing ongoing support and follow-up to ensure that volunteers have a high quality experience. Members may assist an organization in reaching out to individuals and communities of different backgrounds when encouraging volunteerism, to ensure a breadth of experiences and expertise is represented in service activities.

AmeriCorps programs are given flexibility to determine the best approach for the effective involvement of volunteers in their program. CNCS’ expectation is that volunteers will be engaged in ways that support the mission of the organization being served. The involvement of volunteers should enhance or build upon any direct service goals of the program or organization of which the AmeriCorps members are a part. For example, a program may decide that a few members in a program should be devoted entirely to some aspect of volunteer recruitment and management. Or, a program may determine that all members will spend a portion of their time supporting volunteers. Members may also create opportunities to volunteer for their service beneficiaries.

The increased emphasis on volunteer recruitment and management is not intended to replace direct service activities, which continue to be an integral part of AmeriCorps programs. However, AmeriCorps programs have much to offer their communities by building the capacity of organizations to meet community needs.

Not every program may be able to meet this requirement, particularly in the first year. If a program is unable to include volunteer recruitment and management as part of their program, either because of the program model or for any other reason, they must request a waiver in their application. The waiver must state specific reasons why this requirement would require a fundamental alteration of the program structure. The explanation will be considered during the grant application review process.

b. Support for Community Organizations (Secular and Faith-Based)In 1993, the national service legislation included community organizations as a category for support and defined them as private nonprofit organizations that represent a community or a significant segment of a community and that are engaged in meeting human, educational, environmental, and public safety community needs. The legislation specifically included churches and other faith-based organizations in this definition, recognizing the importance of such groups in dealing directly with the most difficult

5

problems facing individuals in our communities.

The CNCS plans to increase the number of community, faith-based, and grassroots organizations that have access to AmeriCorps resources, and to encourage larger nonprofit organizations to seek partnerships with community organizations (both secular and faith-based). Programs should support the efforts of civic, community, education, and faith-based organizations to solve local problems. Programs should demonstrate partnerships (e.g., host sites, or volunteer recruitment partnerships) with community organizations (secular and faith-based). This includes nonprofit organizations, schools, and neighborhood groups, as well as the faith-based organizations identified above.

For the purpose of providing a common language to applicants, faith-based organizations include:

a religious congregation (church, mosque, synagogue, temple, etc.); an organization, program, or project sponsored/hosted by a religious congregation

(may be incorporated or not incorporated); a nonprofit organization founded by a religious congregation or religiously-motivated

incorporators and board members that clearly states in its name, incorporation, or mission statement that it is a religiously-motivated institution; or

a collaboration of organizations that clearly and explicitly includes organizations from the previously described categories.

c. Community Involvement and Consultation Local participation in service efforts is vital to developing high-quality service programs that sustain and build Michigan’s communities. Programs should be designed, implemented, and evaluated, with extensive and broad-based community input, through consultation with representatives from the community served, potential members, appropriate community agencies (including secular and faith-based), foundations, businesses, local labor organizations representing employees of service sponsors, and local government.

Partnerships with community groups may help to enhance organizational capacity and strengthen communities. They afford opportunities for programs to collaborate and share technical expertise and resources.

d. Capacity Building and SustainabilityEffective capacity building is a process that enhances the mission, strategy, skills, and culture, as well as systems, infrastructure, and human resources of an organization. Often organizations view capacity building as only “technical assistance,” such as improving systems, infrastructure, and/or human resources functions. However, it also refers to an organization’s relationship with other organizations, people, and institutions that can provide critical information and resources that lead to the sustainability of the organization and its programs.

Capacity building is a process that helps an organization gain greater independence and sustainability. From the beginning, the MCSC intended for AmeriCorps in Michigan to be community-based, community-driven, and community-supported. The MCSC believes that programs need to increasingly support their activities over time while annually decreasing their dependence on federal support. Given the unpredictable nature of federal funding for

6

AmeriCorps, our mutual goals of long-sustained impact through local support and control, and the desire to broaden the opportunities for other communities to experience the power of AmeriCorps programs should work toward 1) sustaining the efforts of the program; and 2) beginning to assume more of the program operational costs over time. See the Match requirements section on page Error: Reference source not found for additional information.

Please note that member involvement in fundraising is limited to supporting the program’s services and activities. Members’ roles in capacity building, therefore, should not be focused on fund development. Members may not devote more than 10% of their service hours to fundraising efforts. A member’s service activities may not include the following:

Raising funds for his or her living allowance. Raising funds for an organization’s operating expenses or endowment. Writing grant applications for AmeriCorps funding or for any other funding provided

by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Writing grant applications for funding provided by any other federal agencies.

Some examples of sustainability include: Program Quality and Efficiencies: Organizations that demonstrate an increased level

of productivity with flat or declining levels of federal support demonstrate effective models of sustainability. While these programs may not be totally independent of federal sources of revenue, the reduction of overhead costs and increased efficiencies in the means by which services are delivered can help make the program’s efforts sustainable in a community in the long term;

Volunteer Recruitment and Management: Organizations that recruit large numbers of volunteers as part of their AmeriCorps program can use the volunteers to conduct a wider range of community service activities;

Sustained Activities: In communities where AmeriCorps programs have collaborated with a number of partners, the partners can agree to divide the national and community service activities among themselves such that the actual service continues without a grant from the MCSC; and

Corporate Organizations’ Role: AmeriCorps members work to establish community service programs for which corporations can commit their employees as volunteers on an ongoing basis for an extended period of time.

Diversification of Revenue Sources: Multiple sources of funds to support and operate national and community service programs is a good measure of whether or not a program is sustainable. In contrast, organizations that depend on a single source of funds (including Corporation funds) to support and operate national and community service programs are inherently less sustainable;

Earned Income: Organizations that diversify revenue structures for national and community service programs by generating revenue through fees or other kinds of earnings, consistent with OMB rules on project income, can lead to more sustainable programs;

Other Public (state and local) and Private Funding: Organizations that diversify revenue structures for national and community service programs by building relationships with other public and private funding organizations, as well as businesses, can lead to more sustainable programs. This includes receipt of support (in-cash and in-kind) from local and state government, community foundations, national foundations, and businesses;

7

The MCSC sees sustainability as vital to meeting the needs of communities. In order to ensure that national service programs are sustainable, applications should include specific information that demonstrates how an organization intends to improve capacity and move towards sustainability, ensuring that the efforts of the national and community service programs can continue as federal support decreases over time.

As a means of achieving sustainability and assisting organizations in meeting community needs, AmeriCorps members may assist grantee organizations in capacity building activities. For example, AmeriCorps members may recruit and manage other volunteers. They can write training materials that will be used to support the delivery of service. AmeriCorps members may assist in raising funds and securing resources to support member service activities. They may conduct outreach to expand the number of individuals served by the nonprofit organization. Or AmeriCorps members may develop community partnerships that are intended to strengthen communities.

e. DiversityPrograms should build strong communities by engaging diverse members and staff in service activities and encouraging mutual understanding and cooperation. Programs must actively seek to include members and staff from the communities in which projects are conducted, as well as individuals of different races and ethnicities, education levels, socioeconomic backgrounds, gender, and individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. Programs that lack one or more aspects of a diverse program should strive for diversity in other ways. All programs should undertake activities that will provide opportunities for citizens who might not otherwise serve, work, or learn together to do so. In addition, programs are encouraged to bring together younger and older adults as members.

III. School Turnaround AmeriCorps OverviewThe School Turnaround AmeriCorps initiative is a collaborative effort by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to increase educational achievement, high school graduation rates, and college readiness for students in our nation’s lowest-performing elementary, middle, and high schools.

The mission of CNCS is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic participation through service and volunteering. CNCS—through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and through the Social Innovation Fund—has helped to engage millions of citizens in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action. CNCS seeks to direct the power of national service to solve a common set of challenges, expand opportunities for all Americans to serve, build the enduring capacity of individuals, organizations, and communities to effectively use service and volunteering to solve community problems, and embrace innovative solutions that work.

The mission of ED is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. One of ED’s key priorities is supporting state and local efforts to turn around the nation’s lowest-performing schools. Through programs including School Improvement Grants (SIG), Race to the Top (RTT), and Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) flexibility, ED has focused resources and support on these

8

schools, and states and local educational agencies (LEAs) have committed to making dramatic change in these schools to improve student achievement and increase graduation rates.

ED’s SIG program provides grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) that make competitive subgrants to LEAs that demonstrate the greatest need for the funds and the strongest commitment to use the funds to provide adequate resources in order to raise substantially the achievement of students in the state’s lowest-performing schools. Under the final SIG requirements, set forth in 75 FR 66363 (Oct. 28, 2010), schools eligible for SIG funds generally include the lowest-achieving five percent of Title I1 schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring; Title I and Title I-eligible secondary schools with graduation rates less than 60 percent over a number of years; and the lowest-achieving five percent of a state’s secondary schools that are eligible for, but do not receive, Title I funds. In addition to low student performance and graduation rates, these schools are also characterized by high rates of disciplinary challenges and low academic expectations.

The SIG program, as redesigned by the Obama Administration in 2009, has invested up to $6 million per school over three years at more than 1,300 of the nation’s lowest-performing schools. LEAs and schools receiving SIG funds commit to implement rigorous school intervention models that include, for example, replacing the school leader, increasing learning time, providing on-going, high-quality job-embedded professional development, and promoting the continuous use of student data to inform and differentiate instruction in order to meet the academic needs of individual students.

As of January 1, 2013, 34 states and the District of Columbia are approved for ESEA flexibility, under which ED has granted waivers from certain requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, in order to support state and LEA efforts to move forward with reforms that will improve student achievement and increase the quality of instruction. In order to receive ESEA flexibility, a state is required to, among other things, identify the lowest-performing five (5) percent of Title I schools in the state as “priority schools” and implement meaningful interventions in these schools for at least three years, similar to the requirements of the SIG program.2 States are beginning to implement interventions in their priority schools in the 20122013 school year, and must implement interventions in all priority schools by the 20142015 school year.

School Turnaround AmeriCorps, in coordination with local school and LEA turnaround efforts under SIG and ESEA flexibility, will support schools and communities in improving student performance. The program reflects CNCS’s and ED’s commitment to increasing opportunities for children in disadvantaged communities through high-quality education. School Turnaround AmeriCorps also expands on the efforts of Together for Tomorrow (TFT), a cooperative initiative among ED, CNCS, and the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships to boost community engagement in turning around the nation’s lowest-performing schools.

A. School Turnaround AmeriCorps 2013-2014 FundsSubject to the availability of appropriations for fiscal year 2013-14, the Corporation for National Community Service has announced anticipated funding availability of School Turnaround AmeriCorps grants. These guidelines invite applications for AmeriCorps grants from eligible organizations that improve academic outcomes for students in eligible schools. Section V.A. outlines the organizations eligible to apply. For purposes of these guidelines, eligible schools are

1 “Title I” refers to Title I, Part A of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. §§ 6301 et seq.).2 Additional information about ESEA flexibility is available in the document ESEA Flexibility, June 7, 2012 (available at http://www.ed.gov/esea/flexibility).

9

defined as Tier I and Tier II schools that are receiving SIG funds to implement one of the four SIG models3; Tier I and Tier II schools that, at the time of the applicant’s application submission, have been formally notified that they will receive SIG funds to implement a SIG model in the 2013-2014 school year; and priority schools that are implementing in the 2012-2013 school year or will implement in the 2013-2014 school year interventions aligned with the ESEA flexibility turnaround principles4. Grants will fund projects that serve eligible schools not currently served by a national service program (e.g., AmeriCorps State and National, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), Foster Grandparents, etc.), or will support expansion and better coordination of existing national service activities in those schools. All projects funded under this Notice are expected to improve student academic performance, academic engagement, attendance outcomes, or some combination thereof, in eligible schools.

Grants will fund projects that address multiple student needs and are aligned with comprehensive school turnaround plans. All grants funded under this Notice must include one or more of the following:

Providing ongoing mechanisms for family and community engagement. Establishing a school culture and environment that improve school safety, attendance,

and discipline and address other non-academic factors that impact student achievement, such as students’ social, emotional, and health needs.

Accelerating students’ acquisition of reading and mathematics knowledge and skills; Increasing graduation rates through strategies such as early warning systems, credit-

recovery programs, and re-engagement strategies. Increasing college enrollment rates through college preparation counseling assistance to

include completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and college applications, and educating students and their families on financial literacy for college; or

Supporting school implementation of increased learning time.5

These six strategies are aligned with those required of SIG schools in implementing their intervention models, as well as the requirements associated with priority schools that are implementing the turnaround principles under ESEA flexibility. In addition, these strategies are based on research on turning around the lowest-performing schools.6

Leveraging community, LEA, and school-level support systems can be an important component in comprehensive turnaround efforts. As such, CNCS and ED encourage applicants to partner with multiple eligible schools within an LEA and coordinate turnaround efforts among multiple school sites. Doing so will enable applicants to take advantage of economies of scale, and aid in changing community, LEA, and school cultures.

3 For a listing of SIG schools, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/awardedschls.xls. As described in this Notice, only those SIG schools that are Tier I or Tier II schools and are implementing one of the four SIG models may be served by grantees.4 To be eligible to receive services by programs funded through School Turnaround AmeriCorps grants, schools must have been identified as a priority school by their SEA at the time of the applicant’s application submission and must either (1) be implementing interventions aligned with the turnaround principles in the 2012-2013 school year or (2) are committed to implement interventions aligned with the turnaround principles in the 2013-2014 school year.Lists of priority schools are posted on the website of each state educational agency.5 Increased learning time means using a longer school day, week, or year schedule to significantly increase the total number of school hours to include additional time for (a) instruction in core academic subjects including English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history, and geography; (b) instruction in other subjects and enrichment activities that contribute to a well-rounded education, including, for example, physical education, servicelearning, and experiential and work-based learning opportunities that are provided by partnering, as appropriate, with other organizations; and (c) teachers to collaborate, plan, and engage in professional development within and across grades and subjects. (75 FR 66367)6 For a summary of research supporting the interventions implemented under SIG and ESEA flexibility, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/blueprint/college-career-ready.pdf. 

10

To maximize the impact of the public investment in national service and school improvement, School Turnaround AmeriCorps grants will be awarded to eligible organizations that use data and work directly with school leaders to identify needs and develop interventions that are aligned with LEA and school turnaround efforts.

To be funded under this Notice, programs must use AmeriCorps members to improve educational outcomes for students in eligible schools through evidence-informed interventions, as defined in this Notice (Appendix A). An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award from the National Service Trust.

B. National Performance MeasuresThe Serve America Act (SAA) emphasizes measuring the impact of service and focusing on a core set of issue areas. CNCS’s five-year Strategic Plan establishes an ambitious set of objectives that support the mission and goals to implement the SAA. National Performance Measures allow CNCS to demonstrate aggregated impact of all its national service programs, including AmeriCorps State and National. National Performance Measures include Priority and Complementary Measures (Section IX). These guidelines focus on a specific set of educational performance measures. Applicants are required to use the specific priority education performance measures outlined in this Notice to assess the outcomes of their funded project. For more information, please refer to the National Performance Measure Instructions for these guidelines.

IV. Types, Terms, Size, and Match Requirements of GrantsA. Funding Available

CNCS and ED expect to make $5 million available for this grant competition. The actual level of funding is subject to the availability of full-year appropriations.

B. Award AmountAwards will provide both operating funds and AmeriCorps member slots. Award amounts will vary. Grant amounts may be lower than the requested amount. Applicants are encouraged to apply for a minimum of 20 Member Service Years (MSYs). CNCS and ED expect to make annual grant awards of between $250,000 and $1,000,000 for cost reimbursement grants and between $16,000 and $80,000 for education-award fixed-amount grants. For award size limitations, please refer to the maximum cost per MSY requirements (Section III.D.3-4).

C. Award PeriodUnless otherwise specified, the grant generally covers a three-year project period. In approving a multi-year project period, CNCS generally makes an initial award for the first year of operation. In most cases, the application is submitted with a one-year budget. Continuation funding for year 2 and year 3 is contingent upon satisfactory performance, demonstrated capacity to manage the grant, compliance with grant requirements, and availability of federal appropriations. CNCS, ED and MCSC reserve the right to adjust the amount of a grant award for subsequent years, or elect not to continue funding on any or all of these bases.

D. Types of FundingSchool Turnaround AmeriCorps grants can be awarded on a cost reimbursement or fixed-amount basis.

11

1. Cost Reimbursement Grants Cost reimbursement grants fund a portion of program operating costs and member living allowances with flexibility to use all of the funds for allowable costs regardless of whether or not the program recruits and retains all AmeriCorps members. There is a grantee cost share requirement for these grants.

2. Education Award Fixed-Amount Grants (EAP)Programs apply for a small fixed-amount per MSY and use their own resources to cover all other costs. Programs can access funds under the grant based on the number of members they enroll. EAPs may enroll less-than-full-time members in addition to full-time members. There are no match or financial reporting requirements, but programs must raise significant funds through other sources to operate the program. CNCS does not encourage organizations that do not already operate an AmeriCorps program to apply for a fixed-amount grant.

V. EligibilityA. Eligible Applicants

Public or private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and other community organizations; schools or LEAs; institutions of higher education; government entities within states (e.g., cities, counties); Indian Tribes; and labor organizations, are eligible to apply. Partnerships and consortia of these entities are encouraged to apply, with one entity of an applying partnership or consortia designated as the lead applicant.

Organizations that have been convicted of a Federal crime are disqualified from receiving the assistance described in this Notice. Pursuant to the Lobbying Disclosure Action of 1995, an organization described in Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4), that engages in lobbying activities are not eligible to apply.

Existing AmeriCorps grantees may apply; however, receiving funding previously from CNCS or another federal agency is not a prerequisite to applying under these guidelines.

Organizations that have never received funding from CNCS or AmeriCorps are eligible to apply for the grants described in these guidelines. New organizations should submit applications with the understanding that the general practice is to award no more than 50 member slots for new grantees.

B. Match Requirements1. EAPThere is no match requirement for fixed-amount grants. However, the fixed-amount grant does not cover all costs. Fixed-amount grantees provide the additional resources needed to operate the program, but are not required to track or report on them.

2. Cost Reimbursement Grants (non-fixed amount)Substantial cash and in-kind matches are required from the applicant. All program costs require at least a 24% cash or in-kind match during each of the first 3 years of funding, with match requirements increasing incrementally after year three. Programs reach a maximum 50% minimum match level during the 10th year of funding. Programs may use other federal funds (as long as they are not other CNCS funds) as part of their match, with prior approval from the other federal funding source. Applicants must specifically identify the source and levels of the cash and in-kind matches. Applicants are not required to attain the cash or in-kind matches prior to submission of

12

the application, but should, however, have the commitment(s) for the financial match prior to the start of the grant.

Listed below are match requirements for the Michigan’s AmeriCorps program:

AmeriCorps Funding Year 1, 2, 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+Grantee Share Requirements 24% 26% 30% 34% 38% 42% 46% 50%

All grantees will be expected to meet the match requirement for their given year of funding. If a grantee has been a recipient of previous Michigan’s AmeriCorps funding, that funding would count when determining the match requirement. For example, if “Agency A”, which is not a current grantee applied for AmeriCorps funding for the 2013-14 year and had previously received 3 years of Michigan’s AmeriCorps funding, they would need to provide the match level of a Year 4 program. If, however, they had not received AmeriCorps funding for the past three years, they would be allowed to meet the year one match requirement (24%).

3. Alternative MatchIf a program is not able to meet the match requirement for a given program year, that program may request a waiver. A program may apply for a waiver as part of their application to the MCSC. Applicants will need to provide justification for the waiver. The MCSC will have the right to approve or deny the waiver based on the program’s justification. The waiver allows MCSC to support a program that may have extenuating circumstances that prevent it from meeting the match requirement. The board will review and decide each waiver on a case-by-case basis. Once approved by the MCSC, the request must then be approved by the CNCS. Instructions for requesting a match waiver are included in the Appendix.

C. Program and Grant Size1. Program SizeApplicants are required to enroll at least twenty (20) full-time equivalent members. Applicants should evaluate their present infrastructure and capacity when considering program size. Applicants are encouraged, when considering program size, to examine cost-effectiveness by calculating the recommended cost per member.

2. Grant SizeGrant requests may vary in size depending on the type and scope of a proposed program. Applicants are allowed flexibility in developing their budgets within certain limitations. The CNCS has established a maximum grant size of $13,300 per full-time equivalent member for School Turnaround AmeriCorps programs. Exceptions may be made for rural programs as described in “Exceptions to the Maximum Cost per MSYs for School Turnaround AmeriCorps” below.” Individual program cost effectiveness will be assessed against the federally established target figure.

D. Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and System for Award Management (SAM)Applications must include a DUNS number and an Employer Identification Number. The DUNS number does not replace an Employer Identification Number. All applicants must be registered with the Systems for Award Management (SAM).

DUNS numbers may be obtained at no cost by calling the DUNS number request line at (866) 705-

13

5711 or by applying online: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. The website indicates a 24-hour e-mail turnaround time on requests for DUNS numbers. However, we suggest registering at least 30 days in advance of the application due date. Expedited DUNS numbers may be obtained by following instructions found here: http://smallbusiness.dnb.com/establish-your-business/12334338-1.html.

SAM combined the federal procurement system and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system. SAM collects, validates, stores, and disseminates data in support of Federal agency contracts, grant awards, cooperative agreements, and other forms of federal assistance. All grant recipients are required to maintain a valid registration, which must be renewed annually.

Applicants that are not already registered with SAM should begin the registration process immediately in order to avoid any delays in submitting applications. Applicants must have a DUNS number in order to register with SAM. To register online go to https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.

E. Other Requirements1. Member Living AllowanceThe proposed budget must include a living allowance for full-time members that is between $12,100 (minimum) and $24,200 (maximum) per member except as noted below. A living allowance is not considered a salary or a wage.

Programs are not required to provide a living allowance for members serving in less than full-time terms of service. If a program chooses to provide a living allowance to a less than full-time member, it must comply with the maximum limits in the Table below. For cost-reimbursement grants, the amount must be included in the proposed budget as either CNCS or grantee share.

While fixed-amount grant applicants are not required to submit detailed budgets, they are still required to provide a living allowance that complies with the minimum and maximum requirements for full-time members and the maximum limits for less than full-time members if paying a living allowance. Fixed-amount grant applicants should indicate in the narrative if they are paying a living allowance and specify the amount.

Table 1: Minimum and Maximum Living AllowanceService Term Minimum

# of HoursMinimum

Living Allowance

Maximum Total Living Allowance

Full-time 1700 $12,100 $24,200One-year Half-time 900 n/a $12,800Reduced Half-time 675 n/a $9,600

Quarter-time 450 n/a $6,400Minimum-time 300 n/a $4,260

2. Exceptions to the Living Allowance Requirements (for national service programs existing prior to September 21, 1993) If a program existed prior to September 21, 1993, a living allowance is not required. If an applicant chooses to offer a living allowance, it is exempt from the minimum requirement of $12,100, but not the maximum requirement of $24,200.

14

3. Maximum Cost per MSY Maximum costs per MSY are set forth in Table 2 below. CNCS considers cost per MSY in making funding decisions. New applicants that submit an application with a low cost per MSY and existing grantees that submit with a lower cost per MSY than currently funded may receive higher priority for funding. One MSY is equivalent to a full-time AmeriCorps position. The cost per MSY is determined by dividing the CNCS share of budgeted grant costs by the number of MSYs requested. It does not include childcare or the value of the education award a member may earn. The maximum cost per MSY an applicant may request is determined on an annual basis.

Table 2: 2013 Maximum Cost per MSY for School Turnaround AmeriCorpsGrant Program Maximum

Individual Competitive State Program (cost-reimbursement) $13,300Education Award Program Fixed-amount Grant $800

4. Exceptions to the Maximum Cost per MSYs for School Turnaround AmeriCorps CNCS and ED encourage applicants that propose high-quality programs to support school turnaround efforts in eligible Tribal and rural schools to apply for School Turnaround AmeriCorps. For cost-reimbursement grants, CNCS will consider a higher cost per MSY (up to $17,500) for Indian Tribes and programs that serve rural schools. Applicants must demonstrate a significant presence in rural schools measured by the number of AmeriCorps members that will be placed in rural schools to warrant a higher cost per MSY. Applicants must also include a justification in their application that demonstrates a need for the higher cost. Applicants should include this request as part of the response to the Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy section of the selection criteria.

For the purpose of this Notice, a rural school is a school located in an LEA that is eligible under the Small Rural School Achievement (SRSA) program or the Rural and Low-Income School (RLIS) program authorized under Title VI, Part B of the ESEA. Eligible applicants may determine whether a particular LEA is eligible for these programs by referring to information on ED's website at http://www2.ed.gov/nclb/freedom/local/reap.html.

5. Member Enrollment and Retention Requirements for Existing GranteesWe expect grantees to enroll all the members included in their grant award and pursue the highest retention rate possible. Enrollment and retention rates have a direct bearing on the number of slots and the size of awards approved in this process. Existing AmeriCorps programs that have not achieved full enrollment in the previous year must provide an explanation and a corrective action plan in their application. We recognize retention rates may vary among equally effective programs depending on the program model. Grantees that have not achieved full retention in the most recently completed program year must provide an explanation and a corrective action plan in their application.

6. Amount of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for FY 2013AmeriCorps members serving in programs funded with FY 2013 dollars who successfully complete a term of service will receive an Education Award from the National Service Trust of $5,550 for a year of full-time service, with proportionally smaller awards for less-than-full-time service. The amount of the Education Award is determined on the basis of the Pell Grant award. A member has up to seven years after his or her term of service has ended to use the Award.

15

Table 3: Term of Service and FY13 Education AwardTerm of Service Minimum # of Hours FY13 Education

AwardFull Time 1700 $5,550One-Year Half Time 900 $2,775Two-Year Half Time 900 $2,775Reduced Half Time 675 $2,114Quarter Time 450 $1,468Minimum Time 300 $1,175

VI. Prohibited ServiceAmeriCorps is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) using federal funds. Therefore, member activities are, by law, regulated and monitored. While charging time to a Michigan’s AmeriCorps program, accumulating service or training hours, or otherwise performing activities supported by the AmeriCorps program or the MCSC, staff and members may not engage in the following activities:

Types of Service Displacing employees or volunteers; Assisting in abortion services or referrals to abortion services; Recruitment of volunteers to perform activities prohibited by AmeriCorps; AmeriCorps members may assist their organizations with major fundraising efforts no more

than 10% of their total term of service. CNCS policy permits fundraising by AmeriCorps members to the extent that such activities:o Raise resources directly in support of the program's service activities;o Examples of fundraising activities AmeriCorps members may perform include, but are

not limited to, the following: Seeking donations of books from companies and individuals for a program in which

volunteers teach children to read; Writing a grant proposal to a foundation to secure resources to support the training of

volunteers; Securing supplies and equipment from the community to enable volunteers to help

build houses for low-income individuals; Securing financial resources from the community to assist in launching or expanding

a program that provides social services to the members of the community and is delivered, in whole or in part, through the members of a community-based organization;

Seeking donations from alumni of the program for specific service projects being performed by current members.

o AmeriCorps members may not: Raise funds for living allowances or for an organization's general (as opposed to

project) operating expenses or endowment; Write a grant application to CNCS or to any other Federal agency.

Political Activities Participating in efforts to influence legislation, including lobbying for your programs; Organizing a letter writing campaign to Congress; Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome

of an election to any public office;

16

Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials;

Printing politically charged articles in a Corporation for National and Community Service-funded newsletter or listserve;

Taking part in political demonstration or rallies; Engaging in any efforts to influence legislation, including state or local ballot initiatives; Voter registration drives;

Union Activities Organizing or participating in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing; Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements;

Religious Activities Engaging in religious instruction; Conducting worship services; Providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or

worship; Constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship; Maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship; Engaging in any form of religious proselytizing;

Safety Activities that pose a significant safety threat to others;

For Profit Businesses Placement of members with for-profit businesses as part of the education and training

component of the program; and Providing assistance to a business organized for profit.

Individuals may exercise their rights as private citizens and may participate in the above activities on their own initiative, on non-AmeriCorps time, and at their own expense. Individuals must not wear the AmeriCorps logo while doing so.

VII. Member Eligibility, Recruitment, and SelectionA. Terms of Service

Programs may engage members on a full- or less than full-time basis. Regardless of the type of service term, the maximum time limit is one calendar year. The following slots can be utilized:

Full-time: a minimum of 1,700 hours during a period of not less than nine months and not more than one year;

Half-time: a minimum of 900 hours; Reduced half-time: a minimum of 675 hours Quarter-time: a minimum of 450 hours; Minimum-time: a minimum of 300 hours.

B. Member EligibilityAt the time of enrollment in a Michigan’s AmeriCorps program, members must:

Be at least 17 years of age; Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent, or agree to obtain a high school diploma or

equivalent prior to using the education award; Not have dropped out of elementary or secondary school in order to enroll as a member; Be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national or lawful permanent resident alien; and

17

Meet the task-related eligibility requirements established by the program.

C. Member SelectionEach individual program selects its own Michigan’s AmeriCorps members, and the selection criteria will vary among programs. Programs must select members in a non-partisan, non-political, non-discriminatory manner that is in accordance with State and Federal equal employment opportunity laws. Programs must establish minimum qualifications for members related to the service they will provide, including the successful completion of an AmeriCorps orientation period. Programs must ensure that they do not displace any existing paid employees.

Programs with members who will have substantial direct contact with children (as defined by State law) or who perform service in the homes of children or individuals considered vulnerable by the program, shall conduct criminal record checks on these members as part of the screening process.

The MCSC encourages programs to select members who possess leadership potential and a commitment to the goals of the AmeriCorps program, regardless of education level, work experience, or economic background. The MCSC also encourages programs to select some members from state and national recruitment systems in order to supplement local recruitment with people who (1) are from different backgrounds and regions of the nation, (2) have special skills or training, and (3) desire to serve but live in areas where there are few or no national service programs. Plans for effective member selection should be reflected in the AmeriCorps application.

D. Recruitment Tools and ResourcesThe CNCS has a variety of tools available for programs to enhance their own recruitment efforts, including a national, web-based recruitment system. While programs need to focus the majority of their efforts locally to recruit members, the CNCS offers local and national recruitment tools to assist programs in this process.

VIII. Member BenefitsA. Living allowance

a. Full-time MembersFull-time members must receive a living allowance between $12,100 and $24,200 as outlined in Table 1 above. All full time members within a program must receive the same living allowance. The living allowance is considered taxable for FICA and income tax.

b. Less Than Full-time MembersPrograms are not required to provide a living allowance to half-time, reduced half-time, quarter-time, and minimum-time members. If programs choose to provide members serving less than full-time with a living allowance, the recommended prorated amounts are listed in Table 1 above.

B. Segal AmeriCorps Education AwardsAs of October 1, 2010, AmeriCorps members serving in programs funded with 2012 dollars who successfully complete a term of service will receive an education award from the National Service Trust of $5,550 for a year of full-time service, with correspondingly smaller awards for less-than-full-time service. The amount of the Education Award is determined on the basis of the amount of the Pell Grant award, as required by the Serve America Act.

Each Michigan’s AmeriCorps member who successfully completes a term of service will receive 18

one education award for each term up to the equivalent of two full terms of service. The education award may be used up to seven years from completion of service to pay for any combination of (1) the costs of attendance at a qualified institution of higher education, (2) the costs of approved School-to-Work programs, or (3) the costs of repaying qualified student loans. Please see Table 3 above for the specific amount of the education award for full- and part-time members.

Members 55 years of age or older on or before beginning their term of service may transfer an education award by designating a child, grandchild, or foster child.

B. Loan ForbearanceMembers who have qualifying student loans outstanding may be eligible to receive forbearance on their payments while they serve. In addition, the CNCS will make payments for interest that accrues during the period of forbearance upon successful completion of a member’s term of service.

C. Child Care BenefitA child care benefit is available to any full-time income-eligible member who needs such assistance in order to participate in the Michigan’s AmeriCorps program. The CNCS will fund childcare directly and will pay 100% of the allowance as defined by payment rates of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG). Therefore, programs should not include childcare assistance in their budget. A member’s eligibility for childcare is based on financial need. Members’ need must be consistent with the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, as follows:

Total family income of the member must be less than 75% of the State median income, or as defined by the State under CCDBG guidelines;

The member must reside with and be a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 13; At the time of acceptance into the program, the member must not be receiving child care

assistance from another source, including a parent or guardian, which would continue to be provided while the member serves in the program, unless the member would become ineligible for child care by virtue of enrolling in the program; and,

The member certifies that he or she needs childcare in order to participate in the program.

D. Health Care Benefits for Full-Time MembersPrograms must provide members serving in a full-time capacity with health insurance at the time of AmeriCorps enrollment if the member is not otherwise covered by a health insurance policy that provides the minimum benefits described below. If a member who previously had coverage loses it through no deliberate act of his or her own, such as parental or spousal job loss, the program must provide the member with basic health insurance that meets the minimum requirements.

Programs may obtain health insurance for their members through any provider they choose, as long as the policy provides the minimum benefits and is not excessive in cost. The CNCS will not pay any share of the cost of the policy that does not include the minimum benefits, nor do they cover any person other than the members. In general, the CNCS does not pay the costs of health benefits for half-time members unless they serve less than full-time in a full time capacity. For example, members may receive benefits when they serve in a summer program for a minimum thirty-five hours per week with other members who receive health benefits.

1. Minimum BenefitsThe following minimum benefits must be provided or exceeded for programs with existing

19

health benefit coverage:

Covered ServicesPhysician services for illness or injuryHospital room and boardEmergency roomX-ray and laboratoryPrescription drugs

Limited CoverageMental/nervous disordersSubstance abuse

Annual limitsDeductible: Not more than $250 per individualCoinsurance: Member pays no more than 20% or alternatively, a comparable fixed feeException - mental and substance abuse may require a 50% co-paymentOut-of-pocket: Not more than $1,000 per individualMaximum Benefit: At least $50,000 per occurrence or cause

Programs electing to use current health plans that meet the above minimum benefit requirements will be required, at time of selection, to provide specific information on the benefits and policy.

2. AmeriCorps Member Health Care PolicyOrganizations electing to use the AmeriCorps Member Health Care Policy should budget at least $1,800 for health care, for each eligible member. This figure is an estimate based on $150/month per member. Grantees are encouraged to budget health care costs at up to 20% above the quoted rate, as it is anticipated premiums will likely increase during the grant year. It is important to know that this cost may increase or decrease, depending on the final 2012-13 coverage rates.

Please keep in mind that the AmeriCorps health coverage providers offer a variety of coverage plans. These plans vary in cost, depending on the benefits offered. The number provided above is an estimate of health care costs per member, based on the basic plan offered, which provides the minimum allowable coverage for members.

E. Reasonable Accommodations for DisabilitiesIncreasing the participation of people with disabilities in national and community service programs is a key interest of the CNCS. All AmeriCorps programs are encouraged to actively reach out to and include people with disabilities. Programs and activities must be accessible. Programs must provide reasonable accommodation for known mental or physical disabilities of otherwise qualified members, service recipients, applicants, and program staff. All selections and project assignments must be made without regard to the need to provide reasonable accommodations. The vast majority of accommodations are inexpensive. For those limited cases where reasonable accommodations are costly, there may be funds available to provide accommodations for members serving in a Michigan’s AmeriCorps program. Check with the MCSC for further information.

IX. Performance Measurement and National Performance Measures 20

School Turnaround AmeriCorps programs are required to have at least one outcome measure aligned with each output measure they select. Applicants are required to select from the priority measures. Applicants may select additional optional complementary measures. The opt-in rules provide guidance to applicants by indicating the required or recommended pairing, or alignment, of output and outcome measures. For additional information, please see CNCS Performance Measurement tutorials online (http://www.nationalserviceresources.org/npm/home).

SCHOOL TURNAROUND AMERICORPS PRIORITY MEASURES ED2: Number of students that completed participation in CNCS-supported K-12 education programsED4A: Number of disadvantaged youth/mentor matches that were sustained by the CNCS-supported program for at least the required time periodED5: Number of students with improved academic performance in literacy and/or mathED6: Number of students that improved their school attendance over the course of the CNCS-supported program’s involvement with the studentED27: Number of students in grades K-12 that participated in the mentoring or tutoring or other education program, including CNCS-supported service learning, who demonstrated improved academic engagement

SCHOOL TURNAROUND AMERICORPS COMPLEMENTARY MEASURES ED1: Number of students who start in a CNCS-supported education program ED3A: Number of disadvantaged youth/mentor matches that are commenced by CNCS-supported programs ED7: Number of students with no or decreased disciplinary referrals and suspensions over the course of the CNCS-supported programs' involvement ED9: Number of students graduating from high school on time with a diploma ED10: Number of students entering post-secondary institutions

In addition to the above measures, applicants may opt in to track the following SIG outcomes. For purposes of eGrants, these are considered applicant-determined measures.

SCHOOL TURNAROUND AMERICORPS COMPLEMENTARY MEASURES SIG 1: Number of minutes within the school year SIG 2: Number and percentage of students completing advanced coursework (e.g., AP/IB), early-college high schools, or dual enrollment classes SIG 3: Dropout rate SIG 4: Truants

A. Opt-In RulesChoose one output and then at least one of the corresponding outcomes. Applicants may choose additional outcomes.

CNCS Strategic Category Output(Choose ONE)

Outcome (Choose at least one)

Supplemental Outcomes (optional)

Strategic Plan Objective 2: Succeeding in K-12 (Tutoring and Other Education Programs)

ED 2: Number of students who completed participation in a CNCS-supported K-12 education program

ED5, ED6, or ED27

ED7, ED 9, ED10, SIG 1, SIG 2, SIG 3 or SIG 4

Strategic Plan Objective 2: Succeeding in K-12 (Mentoring Programs)

ED4A: Number of disadvantaged youth/mentor matches that were sustained by the CNCS-supported program for at least the required time period

ED5, ED6, or ED27

ED7, ED 9, ED10, SIG 1, SIG 2, SIG 3 or SIG 4

X. National and State IdentityA. Identification

21

To help promote a national identity for all AmeriCorps programs and members, programs must agree to identify the program through the use of the AmeriCorps logos, common member application materials, and other means, as part of a larger state and national effort. The programs must also agree to participate in other activities such as orientations, service days, and conferences. A Michigan’s AmeriCorps program may continue to use its own name, logo, or other identifying materials in addition to, but not in lieu of, the AmeriCorps name and logo.

In an effort to increase the visibility of Michigan’s AmeriCorps members, programs are required to provide them with a standard AmeriCorps service gear package (at minimum, but not limited to an AmeriCorps t-shirt and/or sweatshirt and lapel pin(s), ). Other identity items may range from a button-down shirt appropriate for members who need to wear professional clothing at the service site, to full gear appropriate for construction or other service. At a minimum all members must receive the standard gear package. Programs may request no more than $70 per member ($35 for the standard gear package and $35 for additional uniform items).

B. Participation in National Days of ServiceAs part of the National Service Network, there are a number of opportunities for programs to take part in national service days. The MCSC and CNCS expect all national service programs, including AmeriCorps programs, to participate in one or more days of service, including the 9-11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, National AmeriCorps Week, National Volunteer Week, Youth Service Day, and Make a Difference Day.

XI. Federal Financial Management and Grant Administration Requirements As with all Federal grant programs, it is the responsibility of all AmeriCorps programs to ensure appropriate stewardship of federal funds entrusted to them. Under the CNCS regulations, all programs must maintain financial management systems that provide accurate, complete, and current disclosure of the financial results of the AmeriCorps program. To meet this requirement, programs must have adequate accounting practices and procedures, internal controls, audit trails, and cost allocation procedures. As of June 30, 1996, revisions to the Single Audit Act and OMB Circular A-133 require all organizations to have financial audits if they annually expend $500,000 or more under federal awards. This requirement applies to the organization’s total expenditures each fiscal year under all of its federal awards, not just an AmeriCorps grant.

XII. Other Michigan’s AmeriCorps RequirementsA. Program Monitoring and Management Responsibilities

Certain program models may make monitoring and program management a particular challenge for organizations. These include programs that are spread out geographically and programs that attempt to address many issue areas at once. If a program design includes one of these challenges, the program should address it specifically in their application and provide specific strategies for monitoring and management. Strategies may include: recruiting and enrolling members who can work independently; providing appropriate orientation, ongoing training, and a means of regular communication; selecting strong host sites; ensuring strong support from direct-line supervision of members; and narrowing the range of tasks members perform to make monitoring easier.

If approved for an AmeriCorps grant, the organization is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of grant-supported activities. Activities must be in compliance with applicable federal requirements and address performance goals. Monitoring needs to cover each program, function, or activity. The organization is responsible for ensuring program quality and that the program has an impact on the problems facing the communities in which it operates. This includes monitoring

22

the member services, including the timely and accurate documentation of member eligibility and service hours. Each program should develop systems that closely track and monitor these requirements.

B. Program ReportingMichigan’s AmeriCorps programs must comply with all reporting required by the MCSC including quarterly progress reports, monthly expenditure reports, member hours tracking forms, continuous improvement surveys, and member enrollment, termination and end-of-term-of-service forms. Programs are required to use an MCSC designated on-line reporting system for all aspects of reporting.

C. Michigan’s AmeriCorps Program Directors’ MeetingsMichigan’s AmeriCorps program directors must participate in regularly scheduled monthly program directors’ meetings and conference calls.

D. MCSC Trainings and Special EventsMichigan’s AmeriCorps staff and members are encouraged to participate in all MCSC sponsored program trainings and service events, including the annual Michigan’s AmeriCorps Member Celebration and the Signature Service Project. In addition, organizational leaders are required to attend an annual meeting to discuss sustainability and national service issues.

E. AmeriCorps on the InternetMichigan’s AmeriCorps programs are required to have Internet and email capability for all staff and members. To facilitate this process, programs may budget funds to defray internet expenses.

F. Federal Work-Study and Student Service [Required for Higher Education Institutions Applying for AmeriCorps funding]The Higher Education Reauthorization Act of 1998 requires that all institutions of higher education that receive Federal Work Study (FWS) funds utilize a minimum of 7% of their total FWS budget for community service placements. Each college must also include a literacy component that is defined in regulations by the Department of Education. Because this is an important vehicle to encourage and expand student service, the CNCS is very interested in what campuses are doing to meet and exceed this requirement. Community service activities undertaken using FWS can be a valuable resource for national service programs. While the FWS program is administered by college financial aid offices, many colleges have built strong relationships between the community service, service-learning, or volunteer office and the financial aid office to enhance community service efforts of the campus. Some service offices even manage the community service FWS program on their campus. Both service offices and community partners can assist the financial aid office in enhancing community service FWS programs. For more information on the FWS for Community Service program, visit http://ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/0304FSAHBVol6FWS.html.

The CNCS has summarized data reported to the Department of Education on Federal Work Study for Community Service usage. If you would like to see how your institution’s usage compares to other institutions, you can view this report online at www.nationalserviceresources.org.

For new and continuing programs operated by higher education institutions that are applying for funding, applicants should describe their institution’s efforts to support community service under FWS. Specifically, include the percentage of your school’s 2010-11 FWS funds that were used for community service placements and your plans for further efforts in this area. This information will

23

be factored into the MCSC’s and the CNCS’ funding decisions.

24

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONSA. Due Date and Time

Applications are due April 1, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time via eGrants.

B. Submitting in eGrantsApplicants must submit their applications electronically via the CNCS web-based system, eGrants. Applicants should create an eGrants account and begin the eGrants application creation process at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the application as a word processing document, then copy and paste the document into the appropriate eGrants fields no later than 10 days before the deadline.

Applicants need to establish an eGrants account by accessing this link: https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp and selecting “Don’t have an eGrants account? Create an account.”

In eGrants, before starting Section I you will need to:• Start a new Grant Application• Select a Program Area (AmeriCorps)• Select a NOFA:

o School Turnaround AmeriCorps Commission State Competitive FY 2013o School Turnaround AmeriCorps Commission State Competitive Education

Awards Program (EAP) FY 2013

Contact the National Service Hotline at 800-942-2677 or https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask_eg if a problem arises while creating an eGrants account. National Service Hotline hours are Monday through Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST.

Contact Michigan’s AmeriCorps Program Officers if a problem arises while preparing or submitting an application. Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the Notice to which the organization is applying.

Ben Gulker: gulkerb@michigan.gov or (517) 373-0617Jeanine Yard: yardj@michigan.gov or (517) 335-7952

If technical issues will prevent an applicant from submitting an application on time, please contact Michigan’s AmeriCorps Program Officers prior to the deadline to explain the technical issue. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, the applicant must continue working with the Program Officers to submit via eGrants.

Required supporting attachments (e.g., letter(s) of support from schools and LEAs) should be emailed by the application deadline to yardj@michigan.gov SUBJECT: School Turnaround AmeriCorps and reference the legal applicant’s name and eGrants Application ID. Include the name of the document and organization in the file name. Letter(s) of support should be submitted as a single document and not multiple files.

25

C. Page LimitsIn eGrants, applicants will enter text in the following fields:

Executive Summary: a brief paragraph, maximum of a half-page. The summary should include who, what, where, when, and why:

o Who will be serving? Who will be served? o What will the AmeriCorps members do? o Where will the activity take place? o When does the project begin and end? o What is the expected outcome(s) of the project?

Executive summaries of all compliant applications will be published on the CNCS and ED website following grant award notifications.

Program Design Organizational Capability Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy Evaluation Plan

Applicants may not exceed 20 double-spaced pages for the narratives, including the executive summary and cover page, as the pages print out from eGrants. This limit does not include the budget and performance measures or required supplementary materials (e.g., letters of support).

Reviewers will not consider submitted material that is over the page limit, even if eGrants allows applicants to enter and submit text over the limit. Therefore, CNCS and MCSC recommends that applicants print out their application from the Review and Submit page prior to final submission to ensure it is not over the page limit.

Do not submit supplemental materials such as videos, DVDs, brochures, or any other item not requested in the Notice or application instructions. They will not be reviewed or returned.

D. Coordination with State and Local Education AgenciesApplicants must submit a Letter or Letters of Support from eligible partner schools and their corresponding LEAs, including evidence of the applicants’ consultation with school and LEA leadership. School leadership must include the school leader responsible for leading the turnaround effort. LEA leadership may include either the superintendent or an official at the LEA responsible for SIG or priority school implementation.

The letter of support must affirm the following:1. The applicant’s program design plan is submitted in consultation with the LEA and

eligible partner school(s).2. The applicant’s program design aligns with each eligible partner schools and LEA’s

turnaround plan.3. Commitment to develop after the grant selection announcement a partnership agreement

between the applicant and the school(s) and LEA that addresses the alignment between the applicant’s program design and each school(s)’ and LEA’s turnaround plan, as well as the parties’ plan for ongoing collaboration throughout the grant period, as detailed in Appendix B. An applicant working with multiple schools in one LEA may develop a single partnership agreement for that LEA that contains all of the elements set forth in Appendix B for each school partner within that LEA. The partnership agreement does

26

not need to be completed at the time of the application submission but it must be available upon request at the time of receiving the award.

The letter of support must also include the name and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) identification number of each eligible partner school with which the applicant will be working.

E. Funding RestrictionsGrants under this program, except for EAP grants, are subject to the applicable Cost Principles under OMB Circulars A-21 (2 CFR Part 220), A-122 (2 CFR Part 230), or A-87 (2 CFR Part 225). All grants are subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements for grants under A-102 (45 CFR Part 2541) or A-110 (45 CFR 2543 or 2 CFR Part 21) and OMB Circular A-133, pertaining to the Single Audit Act.

F. Application Narrative In evaluating your application for potential funding, reviewers will consider the evidence of need in your community(s), assess your program design and how it addresses the need, and consider the proposed program’s cost-effectiveness and budget adequacy. The narrative section of the application is your opportunity to convince reviewers that your project meets the selection criteria. Below are some generally suggested guidelines to help you present your proposal in a way the reviewers will find compelling and persuasive. Lead from your program strengths and be explicit. Do not make the

mistake of trying to stretch your program description to fit each strategic initiative, special consideration, and priority articulated in the regulations or the NOFA. Focus only on the special considerations and priorities that apply to your program.

Avoid circular reasoning. The problem you are addressing should not be described as the lack of the program you are proposing.

Explain how. Do not just state that you will do something; rather state how you will do it.

Link efforts to outcome. Clearly illustrate how proposed member activities will positively impact the identified community needs/problem.

Be clear and succinct. Reviewers are not interested in jargon, acronyms, boilerplate, rhetoric, or exaggeration. They are interested in learning precisely what you intend to do, and how your project responds to the selection criteria presented below.

Don’t make assumptions. Even if you have received funding from the Corporation in the past, do not assume your reviewers know anything about you, your program, your partners, or your beneficiaries.

Use an impartial proofreader. Before you submit your application, let someone who is completely unfamiliar with your project read and critique the project narrative.

Reviewers will be asked to assess the quality and comprehensiveness of the response to each criterion as a whole.

1. Program Design (50 percent)The desired outcomes of School Turnaround AmeriCorps are to improve the academic performance, academic engagement, and/or attendance outcomes of students in eligible schools. In assessing Program Design, reviewers will examine the degree to which the applicant demonstrates how AmeriCorps members are particularly well-suited to deliver effective

27

turnaround interventions and achieve the desired student outcomes in these schools.

All applications must identify the schools that will participate in grant activities and demonstrate that they will serve eligible schools not currently served by a national service program (e.g. AmeriCorps State and National, VISTA, or Foster Grandparents Program) or will support expansion and better coordination of existing national service activities in those schools to be considered eligible for funds.

a. AmeriCorps Members as Highly Effective Means to Support and Sustain School Turnaround Efforts (15 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

Need(s) identified by eligible partner school(s) and LEA leadership. Description of AmeriCorps member activities. The number of AmeriCorps members requested under the proposed project. The types of slots (service terms) needed for these members. If requesting different slot

types, explain how the different slot types align with the program design and activities.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the number and type of AmeriCorps members is reasonable in relation to the program design, activities, and objectives.

The extent to which the applicant has demonstrated that the use of AmeriCorps members is a suitable and effective means for accomplishing objectives that it would not otherwise accomplish through existing staff and/or volunteers.

The extent to which the potential contribution of AmeriCorps members addresses the needs identified by eligible school and LEA leadership.

For applicants that propose to serve multiple school sites, the extent to which the applicant coordinates its turnaround efforts among those sites and takes advantage of the scale of the project (e.g., through economies of scale).

The extent to which the project addresses multiple student needs and is aligned with comprehensive school turnaround plans, including the extent to which the proposed project incorporates at least one, or preferably more than one, of the following:

o Providing ongoing mechanisms for family and community engagement.o Establishing a school culture and environment that improves school safety,

attendance, and discipline and addresses other non-academic factors that impact student achievement, such as students’ social, emotional, and health needs.

o Accelerating students’ acquisition of reading and mathematics knowledge and skills.

o Increasing graduation rates through strategies such as early warning systems, credit-recovery programs and re-engagement strategies.

o Increasing college enrollment rates through college preparation counseling assistance to include completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and college applications, and educating students and their families on financial literacy for college.

o Supporting school implementation of increased learning time.

b. Evidence-Informed and Measurable Impact (15 points)All applications must demonstrate that the proposed project would use evidence-informed

28

interventions. An intervention is evidence-informed if it is supported by evidence of promise or a strong theory. The definitions of these levels of evidence are provided in Appendix A of this Notice.

When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information: The evidence supporting the intervention. National Performance Measure targets and the determination for these targets. Plan for collecting data, reporting outcomes, and using data to target services. For Existing AmeriCorps Programs Only: Outline the existing AmeriCorps program

impact, including a description of the performance outcomes against objectives during the last full year of program operation. If performance outcomes were not met, provide an explanation and demonstrate a plan for improvement.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the objectives and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

Whether the interventions AmeriCorps members and volunteers will engage in are evidence-informed.

The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that the proposed project likely will have a notable positive impact as measured by the importance or magnitude of the effect on improving student academic performance, academic engagement, and/or attendance outcomes.

The extent to which the intervention will be targeted to students based on needs. The extent to which the applicant convincingly links the identified need, proposed

member and volunteer interventions, and the anticipated outcomes. The extent to which the applicant has established plans to measure and collect reporting

requirement data and National Performance Measure outcomes and outputs.

c. AmeriCorps Member Recruitment (5 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

Plans for recruiting and selecting AmeriCorps members for the program. Applicant’s plans for recruiting members from the local communities to be served or

traditionally underrepresented AmeriCorps member populations, including applicant’s history of working with traditionally underrepresented AmeriCorps member populations or plans to ensure success if this is a new member population being recruited. Underrepresented member populations may include new Americans, low-income individuals, youth from disadvantaged backgrounds (sometimes also referred to as “opportunity youth”), rural residents, older Americans, veterans, people of color, Native Americans, and people with disabilities.

Plans to coordinate the recruitment and selection of AmeriCorps members with school leadership and staff.

Tutoring Programs Only: A demonstration of how the program complies with AmeriCorps qualification requirements for tutoring programs. See 45 CFR §§ 2522.900-2522.950.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the AmeriCorps member recruitment plan is likely to be effective.

29

The extent to which the program demonstrates it will recruit and select AmeriCorps members that have the relevant experience, qualifications and/or skills to provide the service activities in which they will be engaged.

The extent to which the application has a plan and infrastructure to recruit AmeriCorps members from the local communities to be served by the program or from traditionally underrepresented populations.

d. AmeriCorps Member Training (5 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

Plans for orienting members to AmeriCorps, the community they are serving, their placement site(s), and the service they will perform.

Plans for providing members with opportunities to share best practices and lessons learned to promote effectiveness of interventions.

Plans for ongoing training, including anticipated training topics and the timeline, provided to AmeriCorps members throughout the term of service and the skills the AmeriCorps members will acquire during the term of service, including training on prohibited activities.

Plans to coordinate the training of AmeriCorps members with school leadership and staff. Tutoring Programs Only: A demonstration of how the program complies with

AmeriCorps training requirements for tutoring programs. See 45 CFR §§ 2522.900-2522.950.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The adequacy of the AmeriCorps member orientation and ongoing training to prepare members for service activities they will perform and to ensure their success.

Whether AmeriCorps members and generated volunteers are made aware of the rules regarding prohibited activities.

The extent to which the member orientation and training is coordinated with school leadership and staff.

e. AmeriCorps Member Supervision (5 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

Plan for supervising AmeriCorps members, including identifying who will supervise the AmeriCorps members.

Plan for selecting and training supervisors of AmeriCorps members. Plans to coordinate the supervision of AmeriCorps members with school leadership and

staff. Tutoring Programs Only: A demonstration of how the program complies with

AmeriCorps supervision requirements for tutoring programs. See 45 CFR §§ 2522.900-2522.950.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the supervision plan ensures that AmeriCorps members will receive adequate support and guidance throughout the program year.

The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the supervisors. The extent to which the member supervision is coordinated with school leadership and

staff.

30

f. Member Experience (3 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

The program component(s) that enable AmeriCorps members to have service experiences that produce community impact and lead to continued civic participation.

The program component(s) that foster an AmeriCorps identity and connectivity with other AmeriCorps and national service participants.

Plans for providing members with opportunities to share best practices and lessons learned that encourages AmeriCorps members’ sustained participation in the ongoing efforts to turn around the nation’s lowest-performing schools.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the applicant will foster an AmeriCorps identity for its members, specifically members identifying as such to community members, partners, and the general public.

The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that it will provide opportunities for members to reflect on and learn from their service in a manner that fosters a connection to the school turnaround efforts around the nation.

The extent to which the program is likely to promote a lifelong ethic of service and continued civic participation amongst AmeriCorps members.

g. Organizational Commitment to AmeriCorps Identification (2 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

The efforts taken to produce a strong AmeriCorps brand for this project. Plan for using the AmeriCorps name and logo on websites, service gear, and public

materials, including use by subgrantees, affiliates, or service locations.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factor:

The extent to which the organization demonstrates a commitment to branding national service, particularly by building a strong AmeriCorps program identity within the grantee, subgrantees, affiliates, and/or service locations.

h. Strategic ConsiderationCNCS seeks to build a diversified portfolio. Applicants must indicate which strategic considerations they meet in order to be considered for CNCS’s assessment of the stated strategic considerations. Programs must demonstrate significant program focus, design, and impact to meet the strategic considerations.

2. Organizational Capability (25 percent)a. Organizational Background and Staffing (8 points)

When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information: The applicant’s mission and a brief description of its history. The program staffing and management structure. Roles, responsibilities and relevant experience of staff. If positions are currently vacant,

please describe the desired qualifications for each open position. Plans for providing financial and programmatic orientation and training and technical

assistance to staff. The applicant’s prior experience administering AmeriCorps grants or other federal funds.

31

The applicant’s record of launching new initiatives and/or scaling initiatives. For Existing AmeriCorps Programs Only: A description of how the AmeriCorps

program is integrated and supported within the organization, including evidence of how well the organization has managed the program, its performance, and its record of compliance and responsiveness.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the organization has the experience, staffing, and management structure to plan, implement, and evaluate the proposed project.

The qualifications, including relevant training and experience, of the key program personnel, especially in managing projects of the size and scope of the proposed project.

The extent to which the organization has the necessary plans and infrastructure to provide programmatic and fiscal oversight, day-to-day operational support, and data collection.

b. Sustainability (5 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

Involvement of eligible school and LEA leadership in designing and implementing the program.

Plans for building partnerships and capacity to support the project. Multi-State Applicant Only: A description of the consultation efforts with each State

Commission in the states in which the applicant plans to operate. (Note that consultation is not required for Indian Tribes.)

The applicant’s track record raising funds to support service activities and initiatives. Plans for ensuring that the impact of the program will extend beyond the grant period. The percentage of the applicant’s total organization operational budget this proposed

funding request from CNCS represents. If a multi-state applicant, please include any State Commission funding requests, if applicable, to calculate the percentage of the total operational budget.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

Likelihood of effectiveness of the applicant’s plan for securing school and community support for, and involvement in, the proposed project.

Likelihood of the project contributing to the sustainability of school turnaround efforts beyond the grant period.

c. Compliance and Accountability (9 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

Plans to prevent and detect compliance issues related to AmeriCorps rules and regulations, including those related to prohibited activities.

Plan for holding the organization, subgrantees, and service site locations accountable if instances of risk or noncompliance are identified.

For Current Grantees and Former Grantees Only: A demonstration of compliance with AmeriCorps rules and regulations. Describe any compliance issues and areas of weakness/risk identified during the last full year of program operation at the organization, subgrantees, and service site locations. Provide an explanation of the issue/weakness and describe the corrective action(s) taken and, as appropriate, plan(s) for improvement. Provide the AmeriCorps member enrollment and retention rate for the last full year of

32

program operation. If either was less than 100% provide an explanation, and describe a plan for improvement.

o Enrollment rate is calculated as slots filled plus refill slots filled divided by slots awarded.

o Retention rate is calculated as the number of AmeriCorps members exited with award (full or partial award) divided by the number of AmeriCorps members enrolled.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factor:

The extent to which the organization has the ability and structure to ensure compliance with AmeriCorps rules and regulations, including those related to prohibited activities at the grantee, subgrantee, and service location level.

d. Continuous Improvement (3 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

Plans for soliciting timely and regular feedback from internal and external stakeholders including school and LEA staff, students, and families, to inform continuous improvement efforts.

Plans for using data on student academic performance, academic engagement, and/or behavioral outcomes to inform continuous improvement.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the continuous improvement plan will include the use of data or performance feedback.

The extent to which the continuous improvement plan will permit periodic assessment of progress toward achieving intended outcomes and opportunity for ongoing corrections.

3. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25 percent)a. Cost Effectiveness (13 points)

When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information: A demonstration that the costs are reasonable in relation to the scope, scale, and impact

of the proposed project. A discussion of how the program is a cost-effective approach to address the need and

achieve the stated objectives. Consider the total costs and benefits of the program and, to the extent possible, document the costs and benefits. Compare the cost effectiveness of the program with the costs and benefits of alternative models or approaches (if available), and demonstrate how the program model is most cost effective. For further information on cost effectiveness analysis, see OMB “Circular No. A-94 Revised” (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a094).

A description of how the resources requested will supplement, and not supplant, SIG funding or other existing school funding streams.

For existing AmeriCorps programs: All existing AmeriCorps programs requesting a higher cost per MSY than previous years must include a compelling rationale for this increased cost. This applies even if the increased cost per MSY is less than the maximum or if the increase is due to increased costs associated with the grant.

33

If any of the special circumstances stated below have an impact on the organizational capability that has not already been discussed, please describe the circumstance and how it affects cost effectiveness.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the costs are reasonable in relation to the objectives, design, and potential significance of the proposed project. (Note that an applicant with a low cost per member has a competitive advantage under this criterion. Applicants with a program design that achieves equal results at a lower cost will be advantaged over programs that achieve similar results at a higher cost.)

Special Circumstances: CNCS may take into account the following circumstances of individual programs: program age; the extent to which the program expands to new sites; whether the program is located in a resource-poor community, such as a rural or remote community, a community with a high poverty rate, or a community with a scarcity of corporate or philanthropic resources; whether the program is located in a high-cost, economically distressed community, measured by applying appropriate Federal and state data; and whether the reasonable and necessary costs of the program are higher because they are associated with engaging or serving difficult-to-reach populations, or achieving greater program impact as evidenced through performance measures and program evaluation.

b. Budget Adequacy (12 points)When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information:

Identify the non-CNCS funding and resources necessary to support the project. Discuss the adequacy of the budget to support the program design and objectives. Indicate the amount of non-CNCS resource commitments (in-kind and cash) secured to

date and the sources of these commitments. Indicate plans for securing additional resource commitments, potential sources, and timeline.

When considering the above information, reviewers will assess the quality of the application based on the following factors:

The extent to which the budget is clear and in alignment with the program narrative. The extent to which the budget includes sufficient resources to carry out the program

effectively. The extent to which the program will obtain financial and in-kind resources to support

program implementation. Whether an applicant adequately budgets for its required share of costs.

For EAP Grants Only:

The extent to which a current grantee is increasing its share of costs will not be considered in assessing an EAP application. However, all other indicators described under Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy apply. It will be weighted 25% of the total application.

When addressing this criterion, please provide the following information: Discussion of how the program will raise the additional resources needed to manage and

operate an AmeriCorps program beyond the fixed-amount.

34

The total amount budgeted to operate the program, including the fixed-amount from CNCS and grantee share and how the program determined that amount. Keep in mind that full-time AmeriCorps program costs include expenditures for the AmeriCorps living allowance, health care, and criminal history checks. Programs are not required to pay living allowances or cover health care for less-than-full-time members, but must conduct criminal history checks.

Demonstration that the applicant has planned for total costs. Reviewers will assess the adequacy of the plan to secure resources to support the program design.

G. Goals of the review and selection processThe assessment of applications involves a wide range of factors and considerations. In the end, the review and selection process is intended to produce a diversified set of high-quality programs that demonstrate a commitment to assist in turning around the lowest-performing schools and represent the priorities and selection factors described in these guidelines.

Specifically, the review and selection process will:

1. Identify eligible applications that satisfy the following consideration: High alignment with criteria.

2. Consider: The strength of the evidence base for the program. Relative risk and opportunity.

3. Yield a diversified portfolio based on the following strategic considerations: Geographic representation. Representation of:

o Eligible SIG and priority schools.o Rural and urban eligible schools. o Diverse program sizes as measured by the number of AmeriCorps members.o Eligible elementary, middle, and high schools. o Single and multi-state programs.

Organizations and/or program models that recruit and engage traditionally underrepresented populations as AmeriCorps members and expand opportunities to serve as AmeriCorps members; particularly new Americans, low-income individuals, economically disadvantaged young adults (also referred to as “opportunity youth”), rural residents, older Americans, veterans, communities of color, Native Americans, and people with disabilities.

Applicants must check the relevant boxes in the Performance Measure tab in eGrants in order to be considered for CNCS’s assessment of the above strategic considerations.

35

AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Award Notice

CNCS will award grants following the grant selection announcement. We anticipate announcing the results of this competition no later than mid-July 2013.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

The Notice of Grant Award incorporates the approved application as part of a binding commitment under the grant as well as the AmeriCorps regulations and grant provisions.

C. Project/Award Period

The project start date may not occur prior to the date CNCS awards the grant. AmeriCorps members may not enroll prior to the start date of the award. AmeriCorps members may not begin service prior to the beginning of the member

enrollment period as designated in the grant award. A program may not certify any hours a member performs prior to the beginning of the

member enrollment period. The project period must align with the 2013-2014 academic school year. CNCS typically awards grant no earlier than August 1st.

CNCS generally makes grant awards for three years, with funding in annual increments. Grantees will be eligible for non-competitive continuation funding in the second and third year, contingent on the availability of sufficient appropriations, compliance with grant requirements, and satisfactory performance.

CNCS and ED reserve the right to adjust the amount of an additional grant award in subsequent years, or elect not to continue funding, on these bases.

D. Use of Material

To ensure that materials generated with CNCS funding are available to the public and readily accessible to grantees and non-grantees, CNCS reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to obtain, use, modify, reproduce, publish, or disseminate publications and materials produced under the award, including data, and to authorize others to do so. 45 CFR §§ 2543.36; 2541.30

E. Reporting Requirements

Grantees with cost-reimbursement grants are required to provide semiannual progress reports, semiannual financial reports, and an internal or external evaluation report as required by the AmeriCorps regulations 45 CFR §§ 2522.500-2522.540 and §§ 2522.700-2522.740. Fixed-amount grantees are required to provide semiannual performance reports and an internal or external evaluation report. All grantees provide quarterly expense reports through the Payment

36

Management System (PMS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Grantees that receive an award directly from CNCS will be required to report at www.FSRS.gov on all subawards over $25,000 and may be required to report on executive compensation for their organization and for their subgrantees. Grantees must have the necessary systems in place to collect and report this information. See 2 CFR Part 170 for more information and to determine how these requirements apply.

Progress Report Data

In addition to reporting outcomes and progress toward the grant approved performance measures, additional data must be reported semiannually (as applicable). These include:

List of schools that were served, including their NCES identification numbers and the number of members placed at each school.

Number of schools served, including:o # of SIG schoolso # of priority schoolso # of urban schoolso # of rural schoolso # of elementary schools, middle schools, and/or high schools

Number of students served, including:o # of English Learnerso # of students with disabilities

Number of volunteers leveraged. Number of individuals that applied to be AmeriCorps members

F. National Evaluation

CNCS will conduct a national evaluation of the School Turnaround AmeriCorps program. Approved applicants must participate in the national evaluation conducted by CNCS. Participation in the national evaluation will satisfy the program’s evaluation requirements for the School Turnaround AmeriCorps. As part of the national evaluation, grantees may be asked to share or collect additional school and student data. CNCS will provide further information once the evaluation design is finalized.

G. Re-Focusing of Funding

CNCS reserves the right to re-focus funding in the event of disaster or other compelling need for service.

37

SELECTION PROCESS

A. Review and SelectionThe review and selection of the Michigan’s AmeriCorps applications is a multiple-step process as described below.

1. Application due to Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) via eGrants by 5:00 p.m. on April 1, 2013.

2. MCSC staff members will review the applications for requirements, priorities, and preferences (as detailed in the application guidelines). In addition to the aforementioned CNCS considerations, MCSC staff will also consider:

a. Geographic diversity - MCSC will ensure that the programs recommended for funding are geographically diverse and include projects in urban and rural areas.

b. Geographic concentration - MCSC may recommend for funding programs that will enable it to test the effect of concentrating a critical mass of participants in a specific geographic area.

c. Diversity - MCSC seeks to fund a broad range of programs with various approaches to addressing community need.

3. Applicants will be notified if their application has been selected to proceed to the next step in the application process by April 12, 2013. If the application is selected, applicants may be asked to revise their first draft before final submission.

4. The MCSC will select applications to be submitted for competitive consideration at the national level. They will submit their recommendations to the Michigan Community Service Commission Board for approval in April 2013.

5. The approved proposals will be submitted to the Corporation for National and Community Service (National Office) for competitive funding by April 23, 2013.

6. At the national level, external reviewers, ED staff, and CNCS staff will conduct a joint review. All reviewers will be screened for conflict of interest. Reviewers will assess Program Design, particularly focusing on evidence of effectiveness for the proposed solution(s) to support and sustain school turnaround efforts, appropriateness of national service as a solution, and potential quality of the member experience; Organizational Capability; and Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy. Reviewers will assess, based on the selection criteria, the comprehensiveness and feasibility of the application.

Following the assessment, some applicants may receive requests to provide clarifying information. Clarifying information is used in making final recommendations. A request for clarification does not guarantee a grant award. Failure to respond to requests for information in a timely fashion will result in the removal of applications from consideration. Applicants will have approximately five business days to provide a response for clarification.

7. The CNCS will inform the MCSC of programs selected for funding in July 2013.

38

BUDGET INSTRUCTIONS

Before You Begin: Your detailed budget must provide a full explanation of associated costs including their purpose, justification, and the basis of your calculations. Where appropriate, your calculations should be presented in an equation format, identifying the number of persons involved with the event, the per person/unit cost, and/or the annual salary cost.

Education-Award Fixed Grants – Please contact the Michigan Community Service Commission for more information.

Summary of statutory budget requirements: Equipment costs must not exceed 10% of the total federal share.

Administrative costs must not exceed 5% of the total Corporation funds requested.

Consistency of treatment: To be allowable under this award, costs must be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the applicant. Furthermore, the costs must be accorded consistent treatment in both federally financed and other activities as well as between activities supported by different sources of federal funds.

Operating Costs

A. Personnel Expenses: Include the portion of principal staff time attributed directly to the operation of the AmeriCorps project. List each staff position. Note that all programs are required to have at least one full-time equivalent staff person dedicated to the operation of the program. Any exception to this rule must be approved by MCSC.

B. Personal Fringe Benefits: Include costs of benefit(s) for your project staff. You can identify and calculate each benefit or show cost as a percentage of all salaries. Please provide cost calculations for benefits, such as FICA, health, retirement, etc., separately rather than as one lump sum item.

C. 1. Staff Travel: Describe the purposes for staff travel. Costs allowable are transportation, lodging, breakfast, lunch, dinner andother related expenses for local and outside the project area travel. Be sure to include the costs associated with traveling to 6 Program Director meetings in Lansing. (All travel and mileage rates must not be greater than the most recent State of Michigan travel reimbursement rates as well as consistent with the organization travel policy.)

Include $2,000 in this line for travel for at least one staff member to attend the CNCS sponsored technical assistance meetings.

C. 2. Member Travel: Describe the purpose for which members will travel. Costs allowable under this category are transportation (State of Michigan Premium mileage rate)), lodging, meals during events/trainings, and other related expenses for members to travel outside their service location or between sites. Costs associated with traveling locally, such as bus passes to local sites, mileage reimbursement for use of car, etc., may be included in this category. Each

39

applicant should budget funds for their member council representative to attend 2 statewide meetings. Applicants need only budget mileage and incidentals. Each applicant must also include all necessary travel costs for members to attend two statewide events (Member Celebration and Signature Service Project).

D. Equipment: Equipment is defined as tangible, non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more than one year AND an acquisition cost of $5,000 (five thousand) or more per unit (including accessories, attachments, and modifications). Include items that do not meet this definition in E. Supplies below. Purchases of equipment are limited to 10% of the total grant amount, i.e., the federal share of all budget line items. If applicable, show the unit cost and number of units you are requesting.

E. Supplies: Include the funds for the purchase of consumable supplies and materials, including Member Service Gear and equipment that does not fit the definition above. You must individually list any single item costing $1,000 (one thousand) or more.

Except for safety equipment grantees may only charge the cost of member service gear to the federal share if it includes the AmeriCorps logo. Grantees may also add the AmeriCorps logo to their own local program uniform items using federal funds. All safety gear may be charged to the federal share, regardless of whether it includes the AmeriCorps logo. All other service gear must be purchased with non-federal funds.

Programs are required to purchase all members a basic AmeriCorps uniform package (such as a t-shirt, sweatshirt, hat, lapel pin, and button). A minimum of $35.00 per member must be budgeted. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the MCSC. Programs should supply items that are best suited to the type of services provided by members.

F. Contractual and Consultant Services: You may include costs for consultants related to the project’s operations. Consultants used for evaluation should be included in H. Evaluation below. Payments to individuals for consultant services under this grant may not exceed $750.00 per day (exclusive of any indirect expenses, travel, supplies, etc.). Where applicable, indicate the daily rate for consultants.

G. 1. Staff Training: Include the costs associated with training of staff working directly on the project; especially training that specifically enhances staff project implementation and professional development, i.e., project or financial management, team building, etc. Indicate daily rates of consultants, where applicable.

G. 2. Member Training: Include the costs associated with the training of members that will support them in carrying out their service activities, e.g., Orientation, project-specific skills such as age-appropriate tutoring, CPR, ecosystems and the environment, Life After AmeriCorps, etc. Indicate daily rates of consultants, where applicable.

The applicant must budget for members to attend statewide MCSC-sponsored trainings such as Member Celebration. This should be budgeted at $75 per full-time and half-time member, and $40 per reduced half-time, quarter-time, and minimum-time member. This should be its own line item within this section and should be represented as follows: “(# members * $75) + (# members * $40) = $### to attend state-wide member training events”. Insert the number of members granted to your program in the calculation and show the total costs associated

40

Please note that you will be invoiced early in the program year for the total amount budgeted, in order to help pay for statewide events and trainings.

H. Evaluation: Include costs for project evaluation activities; including additional staff time or subcontracts you did not budget under A. Personnel Expenses, use of evaluation consultants, purchase of instrumentation and other costs specifically for this activity. This does not include the daily/weekly gathering of data to assess progress toward project objectives, but is a larger assessment of the impact your project is having on the community, as well as an assessment of the overall systems and project design. Indicate daily rates of consultants, where applicable.

I. Other Operating Costs: Allowable costs in this category may include background checks of members, office space rental for sites where projects are operating, utilities, and telephone and internet expenses that are specifically used for AmeriCorps members, directly involve AmeriCorps project staff, and are not part of the organizations indirect cost/admin cost. If shared with other projects or activities, you must prorate the costs equitably (i.e cost per square foot). List each item in calculation form and provide a justification in the budget narrative.

Match: Describe the grantee match contribution for Section I by clearly indicating the source(s), the type of contribution (cash or in-kind), the amount (or estimate), and the intended purpose of the match. You may enter this information in any category in the Purpose-Calculation field.

Member Costs

A. Living Allowance: The narrative should clearly identify the number of members you are supporting by category (i.e., full-time, half-time, reduced-half-time, quarter-time, minimum-time) and the amount of living allowance they will receive, allocating appropriate portions between the Corporation and grantee match based on other funding sources.

Members – Enter the total number of members you are requesting in each category. Enter the amount of the living allowance for each type of member. Enter the number of members for which you are not requesting funds for a living allowance, but for which you request education awards.

Calculating the Living Allowance - Generally, all full-time members must receive a living allowance between $12,100 (minimum) and $24,200 (maximum). You are not required to provide living allowances for members serving less than full time. Please note that if your half-time program requires more than 900 but less than 1,700 hours, you may prorate the living allowance accordingly.

Slot Type # of Hours

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

Minimum Total Living Allowance

Maximum Total Living Allowance

Full Time 1700 1.000 $12,100 $24,200One YearHalf Time 900 0.500 $6,400* $12,800

41

ReducedHalf Time 675 0.375 $4,800* $9,600

Quarter Time 450 0.250 $3,200* $6,400Minimum

Time 300 0.200 $2,135* $4,270

*Suggested minimums.

Projects in existence prior to September 21, 1993 when the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 was enacted may offer a living allowance lower than the minimum ($12,100) to full-time members.

B. Member Support Costs: Consistent with the laws of your state, you must provide members with the benefits described below.

FICA: Unless exempted by the IRS with accompanying documentation, all projects must pay FICA for any member receiving a living allowance, even when the Corporation does not supply the living allowance. In the first column next to FICA, indicate the number of members who will receive FICA. Calculate the FICA at 7.65% of the total amount of the living allowance.

Worker’s Compensation: Worker’s compensation is required for Michigan’s AmeriCorps members. (If you are not required to pay worker’s compensation you must obtain Occupational, Accidental, Death and Dismemberment coverage for members to cover in-service injury or incidents.)

Health Insurance: You must offer health care benefits to full-time members in accordance with AmeriCorps requirements. Except as stated below you may not pay health care benefits to half-time members with CNCS funds. You may choose to provide health care benefits to half-time members from other sources. Half-time members who are serving in a full-time capacity for a sustained period of time (such as a full-time summer project) may be eligible for health care benefits supported with our funds. However, the Corporation must either approve this in the grant agreement or by prior written approval. In your budget narrative, indicate the number of members who will receive the project’s existing Health Care benefits. CNCS funds cannot be used to pay for dependent coverage.

Other: Include any other required member support costs here. Note: Michigan no longer requires programs to budget for unemployment costs.

Match: Describe the grantee match contribution for Member Costs by clearly indicating the source(s), the type of contribution (cash or in-kind), the amount (or estimate), and the intended purpose of the match. You can enter this information in the Purpose/Category field in Section B, Member Support Costs.

C. Administrative/Indirect Costs

DefinationAdministrative costs are general or centralized expenses of overall administration of an

42

organization that receives Corporation funds and does not include particular project costs. For organizations that have an established indirect cost rate for Federal awards, administrative costs mean those costs that are included in the organization’s indirect cost rate. Such costs are generally identified with the organization’s overall operation and are further described in Office of Management and Budget Circulars A-21, A-87, and A-122. For organizations that do not have an established indirect cost rate for federal awards, administrative costs include: costs for financial, accounting, auditing, contracting or general legal services, except in

unusual cases whether they are specifically approved in writing by the Corporation as project costs;

costs for internal evaluation, including overall organization’s management improvement costs (except for independent and internal evaluations of the project evaluations that are specifically related to creative methods of quality improvement);

and costs for general liability insurance that protects the organization(s) responsible for operating a project, other than insurance costs solely attributable to the project.

Administrative costs may also include that portion of salaries and benefits of the project’s director and other administrative staff not attributable to the time spent in support of a specific project. The principles that pertain to the allocation and documentation of personnel costs are stated in the OMB circulars that are incorporated in Corporation regulations [45 CFR 2541.220(b)].

Administrative costs do not include the following allowable expenses directly related to a project (including their operations and objectives), such as: allowable direct charges for members, including living allowances, insurance payments

made on behalf of members training and travel; costs for staff (including salary, benefits, training and travel) who recruit, train, place or

supervise members or who develop materials used in such activities, if the purpose is for a specific project objective;

costs for independent evaluations and any internal evaluations of the project that are related specifically to creative methods of quality improvement;

costs, excluding those already covered in an organization’s indirect cost rate, attributable to staff that work in a direct project support, operational, or oversight capacity, including, but not limited to: support staff whose functions directly support project activities;

staff who coordinate and facilitate single or multi-site project activities; and staff who review, disseminate and implement Corporation guidance and policies

directly relating to a project; space, facility and communications costs that primarily support project operations, excluding those costs that are already covered by an organization’s indirect costs rate; and other allowable costs, excluding those costs that are already covered by an organization’s indirect cost rate, specifically approved by the Corporation as directly attributable to a project.

A. Corporation Fixed Percentage Method Calculating Administrative/Indirect Costs

Options for Calculating Administrative/ Indirect Costs (choose either A. OR B.)

Applicants can choose to use one of two methods to calculate allowable administrative

43

costs- a Corporation fixed percentage mentod or a federally approved indirect cost rate method. Regardless of the option chosen, the Corporation’s share of administrative costs is limited by statute to 5>26% of the total Corporation funds actually expended under this grant. OPTION A. CORPORATION FIXED PERCENTAGE METHODThe Corporation fixed rate allows you to charge administrative costs up to a cap without a federally approved indirect cost rate and without documentation supporting the allocation. You may charge, for administrative costs, a fixed 5.26% of the total of the Corporation (CNCS) funds expended. In order to charge this fixed 5.26%, the grantee match for administrative costs may not exceed 10% of all direct cost expenditures.  The allocation budgeted and claimed should not exceed actual expenses.

However, because the MCSC (State Commission) requires 1% of each grantee’s CNCS administrative costs to be set aside from the reimbursable grant award, each grantee regardless of grant award type is only allowed to charge up to 4.20 % of the total of the Corporations funds expended (a.) and will need to follow the instructions below even if you have a federally approved indirect cost rate. The federally approved indirect cost rate may be budgeted under the Administrative/Indirect Costs (option B below) not to exceed a reimbursement rate of 4.21%.

a) To allocate the CNCS share of this amount (called Corporation Fixed Amount on the budget: Multiply the sum of the CNCS shares of Sections I and II by 5.26% (i.e. 0.0526) x .80. (This is the same as 4.20 %.) This is the maximum amount that you can request as the CNCS share of administrative costs. Enter this amount as the CNCS share for Section III, in the line item Corporation Fixed Amount.

b) To allocate the Grantee share of this amount: If applicable, multiply the total (both CNCS and grantee shares) for of Sections I and II by 10% (0.10). This is the maximum amount you can enter as the grantee share for Section III A, in the line item Corporation Fixed Amount.

c) Enter the sum of the CNCS and grantee shares under Total Amount.d) To allocate the CNCS Commission Fixed Amount of administrative costs ; Multiply the sum of the

CNCS shares of Sections I and II by 5.26% (i.e.0.0526) x .20 (which is the same as 1.05%) = This is the maximum amount that you are *required to list as the Commissions CNCS share of administrative costs. Enter this amount as the CNCS share for Section III, in the line item Commission Fixed Amount. Do not list any part of this amount under Grantee Share.

Budget Narrative Example for Administrative/Indirect Costs

A. Corporation Fixed Percentage

CNCS Corporation Fixed Amount: (CNCS [Section I] + [Section II] x 0.0526) x (0.80) = CNCS Share. Grantee Corporation Fixed Amount: (CNCS [Section I] + [Section II] + Grantee Share [Section I] + [Section II] x 0.10) = Total Grantee Share

*Commission Fixed Amount: (CNCS [Section I] + [Section II] x .0526) x (.20) = CNCS Commission Share

B.  Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate Method

44

If you have a Federally Approved Indirect Cost (IDC) rate and choose to use it, the IDC rate will constitute documentation of your administrative costs including the 5% maximum payable by the Corporation. Specify the Cost Type for which your organization has current documentation on file, i.e., Provisional, Predetermined, Fixed, or Final indirect cost rate. Supply your approved IDC rate (percentage) and the base upon which this rate is calculated (direct salaries, salaries and fringe benefits, etc.). It is at your discretion whether or not to claim your entire IDC rate to calculate administrative costs. If you choose to claim a lower rate, please include this rate in the Rate Claimed field.

a.) Determine the base amount of direct costs to which you will apply the IDC rate, including both the Corporation and Grantee’s shares, as prescribed by your established rate agreement (i.e., based on salaries and benefits, total direct costs, or other). Then multiply the appropriate direct costs by the rate being claimed. This will determine the total amount of indirect costs allowable under the grant.

b.) To allocate the CNCS share of this amount: Multiply the sum of the Corporation funding share in Sections I and II by 0.0421. This is the maximum amount you can claim as the Corporation share of indirect costs.

c.) To allocate the Grantee share of this amount: Subtract the amount calculated in step b. (the Corporation administrative share) from the amount calculated in step a. (the Indirect Cost total). This is the amount the applicant can claim as grantee share for administrative costs.

45

APPENDIX

Forms and Instructions

46

APPENDIX A: Sample Budget Worksheet

2013-14 Michigan's AmeriCorps Budget WorksheetApplicant:  

Example Program

Section I. Program Operating Costs

A. Personnel Expenses        

Position/Title -Qty -Annual Salary -% Time CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

AmeriCorps Site Supervisors: 17 person(s) at $35,000 x 18% usuage 0 107,100 107,100AmeriCorps Program Director: 1 person(s) at $49,530 each x 100% usuage 37,148 12,382 49,530      0   0      0      0      0      0      0

CATEGORY Totals 37,148 119,482 156,630

B. Personnel Fringe Benefits        

Purpose -Calculation -Total Amount CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

FICA-Site Supervisor:.0765 x 107,100   8,193 8,193FICA-Program director: .0765 x 49,530 3,789 0 3,789Insured Benefits - Site Supervisors: $107,000 wages x 0.28 (includes health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, and employer contribution to retirement plan).   29,988 29,988

Insured Benefits - Program Director: $49,530 wages x 0.28 (includes health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, and employer contribution to retirement plan). 13,868 0 13,868              CATEGORY Totals 17,657 8,193 25,850

C. Travel

Staff Travel        

Purpose - Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

47

Out of State Travel to CNCS-Sponsored Meetings: Conference - 4 nights, hotel @$139 ave gov rate + tax (per Conlin Travel)=150/nt x 4 nts=$600; Airfare $450, Food- $29.25(B-fast@ $8.25+ Dinner @ 21.) x 5 days= $146, cab fare @ $100RT, mileage to airport RT @ 360 miles x .555 (premium state rate travel)= $200. Conf. Reg fee @$ 504 = $2000 2,000 0 2,000Travel to site Visits: 20 sites x 2 visits per year x (e) 300 miles RT x .50/mile 0 6,000 6,000

Lodging and Meals for Program Director Site Visits : Hotel for 10 site visits requiring overnight accomodations x $75 (state rate)or (SR)/night hotel = $750 Meals @$24/day (Bfast $7.25/Dinner @16.50)(SR)x10=240 841 149 990Travel to Program Director Meetings MCSC in Lansing: 10 trips to Lansing x 180 miles RT x .50/mile. 765 135 900Travel : MCSC Retreats/Training: 300 miles x.50 = 127 23 150

       CATEGORY Totals 3,733 6,307 10,040

 Member Travel       

Purpose -Calculation -Total Amount CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

Travel for members: 10 sites x 50 miles per month x 10 months x .50/mile 2125 375 2,500

Lodging/Meals for AmeriCorps Training: Hotel: 18 rooms ( 2 members per room X 3 nights x $75/night (SR) = $4050 Meals/dinner @ $14/day x 34 mealsx 3 days=1428 Mileage for 10 members x 100 miles x .50/ mile = $500 5,081 897 5,978     0Travel for statewide MSCS Signature Service Project and Statewide Celebration: 34 x 400 miles x .50/mile = 5780 1,020 6,800

      0      0

CATEGORY Totals 12,986 2,292 15,278

D. Equipment       

Purpose -Calculation -Total Amount CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

    0      0      0

      0CATEGORY Totals 0 0 0

E. Supplies       

Purpose -Calculation -Total Amount CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

Member Gear : 34 members x $35 (includes: scarf, pin, jacket, hat) 1011 179 1,190Staff Gear: 17 Supervisors x $20 (includes: jacket, hat) 340   340Program Materials: .20/ participant x 30,000 participants 5100 900 6,000

48

Office supplies: $100/mo x 12 = $ (includes paper, pens and copying) 1020 180 1,200    

CATEGORY Totals 7,471 1,259 8,730

E. Contractual and Consultant Services       

Purpose -Calculation - Daily Rate CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

    0      0      0      0

CATEGORY Totals 0 0 0

G. Training

Staff Training       

Purpose -Calculation -Total Amount CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

Site Supervisor Professional Development: 17 site supervisors x $50 registration fee 850 0 850Program Director Professional Development :$500 registration fee 500 0 500

      0      0

CATEGORY Totals 1,350 0 1,350

Member Training       

Purpose -Calculation -Total Amount CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

Statewide events - Registration fee $75 x 34 members (Member Celebration /Signature Service Project) 2550 0 2,550Mbr Training: Meals- Group Lunch @ $10 /member x 34 x 3 = 340 0 340

Member retreat - Lodging/Meals: 17 rooms double occupancy @ $75/night (SR) x 2 nights = $2550 Meals: $12/meal (lunch & dinner) x 2 days x 34 members = 816 3366 0 3,366

      0      0

      0CATEGORY Totals 6,256 0 6,256

H. Evaluation       

Purpose -Calculation - Daily Rate CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

Program Evaulation: $500/day x 16 days 0 8,000 8,000

49

      0      0

      0CATEGORY Totals 0 8,000 8,000

I. Other Program Operating Costs       

Purpose -Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

Criminal Background checks required : 34 members, 3 program staff, 20 site supervisors x $75 each 3207 0 3,207Inkind contribution from affiliates: facility related expenses per member (phones, computer, postage, etc) 0 3,000 3,000Inkind Rent and Utilites:XYZ Foundation. (E) $8127.92 * 12 months = $97,535 ($28.30 per 3,446 sq ft.) 0 97,535 97,535  0 0 0  0 0 0

CATEGORY Totals 3,207 100,535 103,742SECTION I Totals 89,808 246,068 335,876

PERCENTAGE 27% 73%  

Section II: Member Costs

A. Living Allowance        

Item - # Mbrs w/ Allow -Allowance Rate - # Mbrs w/o Allow CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

Full Time (1700 hrs): 34 Member(s) at a rate of $12,100 each Members W/O allowance 349,690 61,800 411,4901-Year Half Time (900 hours): Member(s) at a rate of 6400 each Members W/O allowance     01-Year Reduced Half Time (675 hours): Member(s) at a rate of 4800 each Members W/O allowance     0Quarter Time (450 hrs): Member(s) at a rate of 3200 each Members W/O allowance     0Minimum Time (300 hrs): Member(s) at a rate of 2135 each Members W/O allowance     0

CATEGORY Totals 349,690 61,800 411,490

B. Member Support Costs       

Purpose -Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

FICA (7.65% of total living allowance) 07.65 x 411,400 26,751 4,720 31,471Work. Comp. (.03% of total living allowance).03 x 411,400 10,490 1,851 12,341Health Care ($/full time member/year)34 mbrs x $160 x 11 mos. 50,864 8,976 59,840            

50

                     

CATEGORY Totals 88,105 15,547 103,652SECTION II Totals 437,795 77,347 515,142

PERCENTAGE 85% 0                

Section III: Administrative/Indirect RateA. Corporation Fixed Percentage      

Purpose -Calculation CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

CNCS Corporation Fixed Amount: (CNCS [Section I] + [Section II] x 0.0526) x (.80) = CNCS Share. OR 77,029+437,795=524,323 x .0526 x .80 =22,063

Grantee Corporation Fixed Amount: (CNCS [Section I] + [Section II] + Grantee Share [Section I] + [Section II] x 0.10) = Total Grantee Share OR 77,029 + 437,795 + 244,988+ 77,347 x .10 =83,716 22,063 83,716 105,779      

Commission Fixed Amount:(CNCS[Section I]+[Section II] x.0526)x(.20)= CNCS Commission Share OR 77,029 + 437,795 =524,323 x .0526 x .20 = 5,411 5,411 0 5,411

CATEGORY Totals 27,474 83,716 111,190 B. Federally Approved Indirect Cost Rate       

Calculation -Cost Type - Rate Claimed -Cost Basis -Rate CNCS Share Grantee Share Total Amount

See specific directions 0 0 0CATEGORY Totals 0 0 0

SECTION Totals 27,474 83,716 111,190PERCENTAGE 25% 75%  

BUDGET Totals 555,077 407,131 962,208PERCENTAGE 58% 42% 962,208

       Total MSYs 34  

Cost per MSY 12,100  

51

52

APPENDIX B: Evidence Basis GuidanceEvidence-Informed

Logic model (also referred to as theory of change) means a well-specified conceptual framework that identifies key components of the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice (i.e., the active “ingredients” that are hypothesized to be critical to achieving the relevant outcomes) and describes the relationships among the key components and outcomes, theoretically and operationally.

Strong theory means a rationale for the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice that includes a logic model.

Evidence of promise means there is empirical evidence to support the theoretical linkage(s) between at least one critical component and at least one relevant outcome presented in the logic model for the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice.  Specifically, evidence of promise means the conditions in paragraphs (a) and (b) are met:

a) There is at least one study that is a:1. Correlational study with statistical controls for selection bias; 2. Quasi-experimental study that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards

with reservations; or3. Randomized controlled trial that meets the What Works Clearinghouse Evidence

Standards with or without reservations.

b) The study referenced in paragraph (a) found a statistically significant or substantively important (defined as a difference of 0.25 standard deviations or larger), favorable association between at least one critical component and one relevant outcome presented in the logic model for the proposed process, product, strategy, or practice.

Quasi-experimental study means a study using a design that attempts to approximate an experimental design by identifying a comparison group that is similar to the treatment group in important respects. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards with reservations (they cannot meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations).

Randomized controlled trial means a study that employs random assignment of, for example, students, teachers, classrooms, schools, or districts to receive the intervention being evaluated (the treatment group) or not to receive the intervention (the control group). The estimated effectiveness of the intervention is the difference between the average outcome for the treatment group and for the control group. These studies, depending on design and implementation, can meet What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards without reservations.

See What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 2.1, September 2011), which can currently be found at the following link:  ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/DocumentSum.aspx?sid=19. 

53

APPENDIX C: Written Partnership Agreements

All awardees are required to develop and maintain written partnership agreements among an eligible school or schools, LEA, and community-based partners working together to implement the School Turnaround AmeriCorps program. These agreements will articulate the alignment between the local School Turnaround AmeriCorps program design and school and LEA turnaround plans, as well as the parties’ plan for ongoing collaboration throughout the grant period. These agreements must be made available to CNCS upon request.

The partnership agreements must be consistent with the awarded application plans, and articulate how the key entities responsible for program implementation will work together along the following elements of high-quality partnerships between eligible schools, LEAs, and community-based organizations:

Managing collaboratively. Jointly establishing program direction and priorities, planning, budgeting, training and aligning program staff, communicating across the partnership, and continuously improving program services.

Sharing data and evaluation. Sharing information, data, performance measures, and evaluation strategies that guide project management, resource allocation, and service delivery while maintaining data privacy requirements.

Sharing resources. Jointly using resources such as staff, funding, administrative systems, school facilities, curricula, and instructional materials.

Clarifying and communicating roles and responsibilities. Clearly articulating roles and responsibilities for each partner organization to help optimize program services and limited resources.

In addition, partnership agreements must also address the following strategies, when applicable:

Aligning in-school and out-of-school. Coordinating to ensure that out-of-school academic and enrichment efforts complement in-school instruction and programming.

Coordinating on safety, health, and student supports. Coordinating to promote school and community safety, reinforce health and wellness programming, and provide necessary student supports.

Cooperating on family engagement. Coordinating interactions with families to strengthen positive family engagement that reinforces learning in multiple settings.

Coordinating among CBOs. Coordinating and establishing agreements between multiple community-based organizations (CBOs) when working with the same schools and students.

54

Appendix D:MICHIGAN’S AMERICORPS APPLICATION SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS CHECKLIST

Please review the following checklist to ensure that your application meets the submission requirements. Each application will be reviewed for compliance. Any application received by MCSC not in compliance with any item on the following checklist will be considered ineligible for review. The application will be returned to the applicant.

Please complete and submit the checklist along with your Michigan’s AmeriCorps application.

PROGRAM NARRATIVETypedDouble-spaced and in not less than 12-point font sizeOne-inch marginsMust not exceed 20 pages Narrative must follow the narrative format and include headings / sub-headings for each section Pages must be numbered

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SURVEY

BUDGET NARRATIVE

ONE COPY OF THE APPLICANT ORGANIZATION’S MOST RECENT INDEPENDENT AUDIT

55

Appendix E: Match Waiver Instructions

Applying for Alternative Match If you are requesting the alternative match as specified in 45 CFR § 2521.60(b), you must demonstrate that your program is either located in a rural county or in a severely economically distressed community as defined below. Also describe the efforts you have taken to raise the resources needed to meet the matching requirements in the Waiver Justification field in the Application Info Section of eGrants.

Please see 45 CFR §§ 2521.35–2521.90, for match and waiver requirements. You apply for the alternative match the year before it goes into effect. If approved, you will base your budget in your next application on the approved alternative match. The alternative match requirement will be in effect for whatever portion of the three-year project period remains, if you are approved for funding.

Program Location: Except when approved otherwise, the Corporation will determine the location of your program based on the legal applicant’s address. If you believe that the legal applicant’s address is not the appropriate way to consider the location of your program, you must provide relevant facts about your program location in your waiver request. The Corporation will, in its sole discretion, determine whether some other address is more appropriate for determining a program’s location.

Rural County: In determining whether a program is rural, the Corporation will consider the most recent Beale code rating published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the county in which the program is located. Any program located in a county with a Beale code of 6, 7, 8 or 9 is eligible to apply for the alternative match requirement. See Attachment K for the Table of Beale codes.

Severely Economically Distressed County: In determining whether a program is located in a severely economically distressed county, the Corporation will consider the following list of county-level characteristics. See Attachment K for a list of website addresses where this publicly available information can be found.

• The county-level per capita income is less than or equal to 75 percent of the national average for all counties using the most recent census data or Bureau of Economic Analysis data;

• The county-level poverty rate is equal to or greater than 125 percent of the national average for all counties using the most recent census data; and

• The county-level unemployment is above the national average for all counties for the previous 12 months using the most recently available Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

56

Appendix F: Budget Checklist

Below is a checklist to help you make certain that you submit an accurate budget narrative that meets AmeriCorps requirements.

In Compliance? Section I. Program Operating Costs

Yes __ No __Costs charged under the Personnel line item directly relate to the operation of the AmeriCorps project? Examples include costs for staff that recruit, train, place, or supervise members as well as manage the project.

Yes __ No __Staff indirectly involved in the management or operation of the applicant organization is funded through the administrative cost section (Section III.) of the budget? Examples of administrative costs include central management and support functions.

Yes __ No __

Staff fundraising expenses are not charged to the grant? You may not charge AmeriCorps staff members’ time and related expenses for fundraising to the federal or grantee share of the grant. Expenses incurred to raise funds must be paid out of the funds raised. Development officers and fundraising staff are not allowable expenses.

Yes __ No __ All positions in the budget are fully described in the narrative?

Yes __ No __

The types of fringe benefits to be covered and the costs of benefit(s) for each staff position are described? Allowable fringe benefits typically include FICA, Worker’s Compensation, Retirement, SUTA, Health and Life Insurance, IRA, and 401K. You may provide a calculation for total benefits as a percentage of the salaries to which they apply or list each benefit as a separate item. If the fringe amount is over 30%, please list separately. Holidays, leave, and other similar vacation benefits are not included in the fringe benefit rates but are absorbed into the personnel expenses (salary) budget line item?

Yes __ No __ Holidays, leave, and other similar vacation benefits are not included in the fringe benefit rates but are absorbed into the personnel expenses (salary) budget line item?

Yes __ No __ The purpose for all staff and member travel is clearly identified?

Yes __ No __ You have budgeted funds for staff travel to CNCS sponsored meetings in the budget narrative under Staff Travel?

Yes __ No __ Funds to pay relocation expenses of AmeriCorps members are not in the federal share of the budget?

Yes __ No __ Funds for the purchase of equipment (does not include general use office equipment) are limited to 10% of the total grant amount?

Yes __ No __ All single equipment items over $5000 per unit are specifically listed?

Yes __ No __ Justification/explanation of equipment items is included in the budget narrative?

Yes __ No __ All single supply items over $1000 per unit are specifically listed?

Yes __ No __ You only charged to the federal share of the budget member service gear that includes the AmeriCorps logo, with the exception of safety equipment?

Yes __ No __ Are all consultant services budgeted below the maximum federal daily rate of $750/day? Is the daily rate noted in all sections of the budget narrative where consultants are proposed?

Yes __ No __ Does the budget reflect adequate budgeted costs for project evaluation?

Yes __ No __ Have you provided budgeted costs for background checks of members and grant-funded staff that are in covered positions per 45 CFR 2522.205?

Yes __ No __ Are all items in the budget narrative itemized and the purpose of the funds justified?

57

In Compliance? Section II. Member Costs

Yes __ No __

Are the living allowance amounts correct? Full-time AmeriCorps members must receive at least the minimum living allowance.Note: Programs in existence prior to September 21, 1993 may offer a lower living allowance than the minimum. If such a program chooses to offer a living allowance, it is exempt from the minimum requirement, but not from the maximum requirement.

Yes __ No __Living allowances are not paid on an hourly basis? They may be calculated using service hours and program length to derive a weekly or biweekly distribution amount. Divide the distribution in equal increments that are not based on the specified number of hours served.

Yes __ No __ Is FICA calculated correctly? You must pay FICA for any member receiving a living allowance. Unless exempted by the IRS, calculate FICA at 7.65% of the total amount of the living allowance.

Yes __ No __

Is the Worker’s Compensation calculation correct? Some states require worker’s compensation for AmeriCorps members. Check with your local State Department of Labor or State Commission to determine whether or not you are required to pay worker’s compensation and at what level (i.e., rate). If you are not required to pay worker’s compensation, you need to provide similar coverage for members’ on-the-job injuries through their own existing coverage or a new policy purchased in accordance with normal procedures (i.e., Death and Dismemberment coverage).

Yes __ No __

Health care is provided for full-time AmeriCorps members only (unless part-time serving in a full-time capacity)? If your project chooses to provide health care to other half-time members, you may not use federal funds to help pay for any portion of the cost. Projects must provide health care coverage to all full-time members who do not have adequate health care coverage at the time of enrollment or who lose coverage due to participation in the project. In addition, projects must provide coverage if a full-time member loses coverage during the term of service through no deliberate act of his/her own.

In Compliance? Section III. Administrative/Indirect Costs

Yes __ No __Applicant has chosen Option A – CNCS-fixed percentage method and the maximum federal share of administrative costs does not exceed 5% of the total federal funds budgeted? To determine the federal administrative share, multiply all other budgeted federal funds by .0526.

Yes __ No __ Applicant has chosen Option A – CNCS fixed percentage method and the maximum grantee share is at 10% or less of total budgeted funds?

Yes __ No __

Applicant has chosen Option B – federally approved indirect cost rate method and documentation submitted to CNCS if multi-state, state or territory without commission or Indian Tribe applicant? Administrative costs budgeted include the following: (1) indirect costs such as legal staff, central management and support functions; (2) costs for financial, accounting, audit, internal evaluations, and contracting functions; (3) costs for insurance that protects the entity that operates the project; and (4) the portion of the salaries and benefits of the director and any other project administrative staff not attributable to the time spent in direct support of a specific project.

Yes __ No __ Applicant has chosen Option B – The maximum grantee share does not exceed the federally approved rate, less the 5% CNCS share?

In Compliance? MatchYes __ No __ Is the overall match being met at the required level, based on the year of funding?

Yes __ No __For all matching funds, the source(s) [private, state and local, and federal], the type of contribution (cash or in-kind), and the amount (or an estimate) of match, are clearly identified in the narrative and in the Source of Match field in eGrants?

58