Did you see that?! We Get More Money!
MORE MONEY?! You got that right! COE sent out an email this week with a HUGE update at the very end of it that you might have missed that will impact your Project starting in PY 19-20. There is also some information regarding the upcoming SSS grant competition. The following information was listed under the "DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UPDATE" section of the COE email dated May 29, 2019.
Last week, Dr. Linda Byrd-Johnson, Director of the Student Service Division, along with Mr. Craig Pooler, who oversees the Talent Search and GEAR UP programs, addressed COE's Board of Directors at their Spring Meeting. During their remarks, they shared the following updates: FY 2019 - All current grantees are receiving an across the board increase of 4.5% for the 2019-2020 program year as a result of the $50 million funding increase provided by Congress in it FY19 appropriations legislation. - Grant Award Notifications have been issued to all Upward Bound programs. GANs for all remaining programs will be issued by the end of June, except for the McNair programs, which will receive their GANs in July. - The Department of Education has extended the one-time STEM supplemental initiative to the Talent Search program. Applications were due on May 23. Over the next 30 days, the Student Service division staff will review the applications and work with applicants to ensure all proposed plans meet legislative and regulatory guidelines. The Department expects to issue the supplemental STEM awards by mid-July. FY 2020 - The Department of Education is hopeful that it will be able to launch the Student Support Services grant competition in the fall, with a pre-Thanksgiving closing date and an April 2020 notification. This, of course, is contingent upon congressional action. If, like last year, Congress completes the FY20 appropriations process by the end of the fiscal year (Sept 30), the Student Services staff hopes it will be able to proceed with the deadlines noted above. Any delay in the final appropriations process will delay action in the competition.
This is great news! Who doesn't like having more funding to help their students, right?! But more money means more planning. Maybe you already know where this increase will go (ex. Personnel & Fringe) or maybe you're thinking about putting it someone else in the budget (ex. in-service training and external evaluation). Either way it might throw your budget out of whack if you aren't careful. What do you think about this update? Let's chat about it in the comment section below.
This is why WE LOVE WHAT WE DO here at NEC! We want to help make sure that you are as prepared as possible to make the most out of your grant funds! Please reach out to us if you need any assistance. Our team is ready to provide you with all the necessary resources, and to answer the questions you might have with this change and other issues regarding your Project. What do you think about this? Let's chat about these changes in the comment section!
SSS Folk: Please make sure to register for one of our Proposal Writing Workshops by clicking HERE! We would love to work with you and your institution! Thank you if you have already signed up.