FAQs—Dyslexia Grant Award Program for LEAs document—coming soon
Updated 2/3/2023
- What type of grant is this?
The Dyslexia Grant Award Program for LEAs is a discretionary competitive grant.
- Can you explain what it means to be a competitive grant as opposed to a non-competitive grant?
A competitive grant is a discretionary grant in which a team of reviewers score applications of eligible applicants in order to determine awardees; applications must meet specific submission requirements and other criteria. TEA’s Grant Basics page may have additional information useful to potential applicants: https://tea.texas.gov/finance-and-grants/grants/grants-administration/grant-basics
- Will the grant pay indirect cost rate?
The grantee may claim a maximum for indirect costs equal to the lesser of its current, approved restricted indirect cost rate or 15%.
- Who at the LEA should complete the grant application?
Only one designee, per school district or open-enrollment charter school, that is approved by the Superintendent or Chief Academic Officer should apply for this grant. Open-enrollment charter schools can apply as an individual organization if an individual County- District-Number (CDN) has been issued.
- What is the minimum and maximum amount that LEAs can apply for?
There is not a minimum or maximum amount established for a single applicant for this grant program. In total, five million dollars has been appropriated by the legislature to implement this one-year grant program. LEAs should apply for funding that meets their overall grant application goals and proposed activities. A budget proposal and rationale are required and will be scored as part of the overall application review.
- Does this grant allow for hiring of additional staff?
Staff salaries that are directly related to implementation of the grant program are allowable. For example, a dedicated grant director/administrator could be grant funded. Additionally, staff dedicated to implementation of dyslexia training or credentialing would be allowed. For example, hiring an instructional coach to provide job embedded support as part of the training or credentialing plan would be allowed. Grant funds to hire staff that implement dyslexia instruction with students would not be allowed, as they are not directly related to implementation of the training or credentialing purpose of this grant.
- How much money is allocated for this grant?
5 million dollars
- Allowable activities and use of funds for this grant may include but are not limited to the following:
General Allowable Activities and Use of Funds
- Payroll costs including: salary for dedicated program director/administrator; staff dedicated to implementation support of dyslexia training or credentialing activities
- Professional or contracted services
- Stipends for staff participating in training or credentialing programs
- Teacher credentialing, training, and/or professional development specifically related to best practices in providing instruction to students with dyslexia as described in the grantee’s approved grant application proposal
- Costs directly related to data collection and analysis for grantee metrics and program goals
- General costs associated with fulfillment of program requirements
- Consumable and durable supplies and materials directly associated with the completion of grant activities and goals
- Other costs necessary to implement the approved grant application proposal
- Food and beverages for educators attending training activities limited to refreshments and light meals when training occurs at mealtimes.
- In addition, unallowable activities and use of funds for this grant may include but are not limited to the following:
- Debt service (lease-purchase)
- Hiring of staff to directly implement dyslexia instruction with students
- Audit services for state-funded grants
- Field Trips
- Advisory Council
- Cost of Membership in Any Civic or Community Organization
- Non-Employee Costs for Conferences
- Hosting or Sponsoring of Conferences
- Attending conferences
- Out-of-State Travel
- Travel Costs for Officials such as Executive Director, Superintendent, or Board Members
- Travel for Students to Conferences
- Stipends for Non-Employees
- Capital Outlay
- Costs of promotional items and memorabilia, including models, gifts, and souvenirs
- Any costs not necessary to implement the approved grant application proposal
- Can grant funds be used to pay stipends for educator participation in training?
Yes
- Does this grant require two applications, one through ESC 4 and one through TEA?
ESC 4 is providing grant administration support as allowed by HB 1525. The primary application will be through ESC 4. Applicants who meet the criteria for the grant award will then be selected to submit a streamlined application through the TEA eGrants system for funding purposes.
- Which school staff members can be included in dyslexia training (Option A)?
This training option could target general classroom teachers, dyslexia practitioners, dyslexia therapists, special education teachers, instructional coaches, assessment personnel, and other school staff. Administrative staff such as principals, assistant principals, and district level administrators (i.e., directors, coordinators, and specialists) could also be included. See a list of training topics on the Dyslexia Grant Award Program website under the Application Options tab.
- Is there a list of specific training providers that must be used for dyslexia training (Option A)?
No. For any training(s) an LEA includes in the grant application for Option A, the LEA must describe how the training(s) aligns with the evidence-based components and instructional methodologies provided in the Texas Dyslexia Handbook and how the training(s) increases the LEA’s local capacity to appropriately serve students with dyslexia and/or related disorders.
- Could grant funds be used to provide training for dysgraphia?
Yes, training for dyslexia and related disorders are allowable.
- Are LEAs able to purchase training materials (e.g., assessment kits and manuals, books) with funds from Option A and B?
Necessary materials associated with training are allowable. A rationale for this expenditure must be included in the budget description. In addition, the training descriptor must include how the materials directly align with the content of the training and implementation of new learning.
- Are LEAs able to purchase training materials (e.g., assessment kits and manuals, books) with funds from Option A and B?
Necessary materials associated with training are allowable. A rationale for this expenditure must be included in the budget description. In addition, the training descriptor must include how the materials directly align with the content of the training and implementation of new learning.
- How is a program that leads to a credential defined?
For Option B, the intervention staff must complete a program that leads to an approved examination for a professional certificate or license. The term intervention staff is defined as educators that are currently or will provide dyslexia instruction or identification services to students with or suspected of having dyslexia.
- Could grant funding be used for an educator seeking a Master’s degree?
Yes, it could. However, the LEA must describe how this will support the LEA’s plan to increase local capacity to appropriately serve students with dyslexia and related disorders.
- Would Option B funding include certification for a Qualified Instructor (QI) training?
Yes, it could. The LEA must describe how this will support the LEA’s plan to increase local capacity to appropriately serve students with dyslexia and related disorders.
- If a training provider for Option B requires an application process where decisions are made after the application deadline and our candidates are not selected to participate in the program, can these funds be reallocated?
After a grant recipient receives a Notice of Grant Award for an approved application, the grantee may realize a need to make modifications to planned allowable activities or estimated budget costs. Some changes are within the grantee’s power to make without seeking TEA approval. Other changes, however, require the grantee to amend the approved grant application and receive approval of the changes.
To determine whether a planned change to the grant program requires an amendment to the application, please refer to TEA’s When to Amend the Application guidelines. Amendments must be submitted to TEA by the Last Amendment Due Date listed on the TEA Grant Opportunities page for that grant.
