Student Success Act grant application rules loosened but due date unchanged
Friday, March 20, 2020
Student Success Act grant applications will still be due by April 15, but they don’t have to be complete.
The Oregon Department of Education has changed some procedures in light of the coronavirus disruptions, it said in a Friday update. ODE aims to help districts stay on track and to identify districts that need additional assistance.
The Student Success Act was intended to provide roughly $1 billion a year for preK-12 public education through a tax on business revenue starting this year. About half of that will be distributed to school districts through Student Investment Account grants based on student enrollment.
As of Friday, ODE said it has received 45 applications. ODE is compiling links where districts have shared their plans.
Districts can submit applications without school board approval, but board approval and public comment opportunities will still be necessary to complete the grant planning steps. ODE is working on tools and guidance for virtual board meetings that offer high-quality public engagement.
ODE has also canceled the volunteer Quality Assurance and Learning Panels to review the applications.
In a sign of how the world has changed, Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction Colt Gill said earlier this year that the department picked April 15 because tax day would be an easy day to remember.
On Friday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced tax day would move to July 15.
