The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) announces a grant opportunity for Arkansas STEM Centers, Arkansas Educational Service Cooperatives, Arkansas public universities, Arkansas public community colleges, and other public institutions approved by ADE to provide free professional development to Arkansas educators beginning in the spring or summer of 2016; K-12 schools/districts will not be approved to directly administer this grant. The grant opportunity includes up to $750,000.00 in total grant funding that has been allocated for educator professional development in the area of computer science. Program proposals will be judged and approved by an ADE panel. This is a competitive approval process; submissions may receive full, partial, or zero funding approval based on the number and quality submissions, availability of funds, and number of submissions within a particular region and/or focus area. ADE expects, but is not required, to approve 15-20 program proposals.

Program Requirements

Organizations receiving grants will be required to enter into a memorandum of understanding with ADE on or before March 31, 2016. Funding will be distributed as reimbursement grants based on the successful program completion of Arkansas educators. To become an approved provider eligible for reimbursement, all interested entities must submit a program proposal to ADE before 4:00 p.m. on February 26, 2016.

Grant proposals must demonstrate focus on preparing educators:

• to integrate the embedded K-8 Computer Science Standards within multiple content areas and provide guidance in how to integrate the embedded K-8 Computer Science Standards within multiple content areas to other K-8 teachers within their school, or 
• to instruct students in the 7th/8th grade coding block, integrate the embedded K-8 Computer Science Standards within multiple content areas, and provide guidance in how to instruct students in the 7th/8th grade coding block and integrate the embedded K-8 Computer Science Standards within multiple content areas to other K-8 teachers within their school, or
• to prepare existing Arkansas educators to pass the assessment necessary to gain an ADE Computer Science Endorsement on an Arkansas Educator’s License (or individuals in non-traditional licensure programs to pass the assessment necessary to obtain an ADE Provisional License in computer science) and teach high school level computer science content.

Organizations may submit proposals by completing, before 4:00 p.m. on February 26, 2016, the electronic application found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X5PXFW5