ARC 1396C
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT[281]
Notice of Intended Action
Twenty-five interested persons, a governmental subdivision, an agency or association of 25 or more persons may demand an oral presentation hereon as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)“b.”
Notice is also given to the public that the Administrative Rules Review Committee may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this proposed action under section 17A.8(6) at a regular or special meeting where the public or interested persons may be heard.
Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code section 256.7(5), the State Board of Education hereby proposes to amend Chapter 67, “Educational Support Programs for Parents of At-risk Children Aged Birth Through Three Years,” Iowa Administrative Code.
These proposed amendments would revise what is known as the “Shared Visions” early education grant program, with changes in eligibility for participation in the parent support component and changes in the grant process of the entities providing this service. The proposed amendments would increase the age range of at-risk children whose parents may participate in the program from birth through age three to from birth through age five. Criteria in the grant program have been modified such that competitive grants will be awarded with a renewal option for up to five years if the program requirements are met.
An agencywide waiver provision is provided in 281—Chapter 4.
Interested individuals may make written comments on the proposed amendments on or before April 22, 2014, at 4:30 p.m.	Comments on the proposed amendments should be directed to Mike Cormack, Iowa Department of Education, Second Floor, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146; telephone (515)281-3399; or e-mail mike.cormack@iowa.gov.
A public hearing will be held on April 22, 2014, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the State Board Room, Second Floor, Grimes State Office Building, 400 East 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, at which time persons may present their views either orally or in writing. Any persons who intend to attend the public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should advise the Department of Education of specific needs by calling (515)281-3399.
After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.
These amendments are intended to implement Iowa Code section 279.51.
The following amendments are proposed.
	Item 1. Amend 281—Chapter 67, title, as follows:
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS
OF AT-RISK CHILDREN AGED BIRTH THROUGH THREE FIVE YEARS
	Item 2. Amend rule 281—67.1(279) as follows:
281—67.1(279) Purpose. These rules set forth procedures and conditions under which state funds shall be granted to school districts, area education agencies or other agencies which administer quality educational support services to parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years.
	Item 3. Amend rule 281—67.2(279) as follows:
281—67.2(279) Definitions.
“Applicant” means a public school district, area education agency or an agency which applies for the funds to provide quality educational support programs to parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years.
“At-risk children” means children birth through age three five who are at risk because of physical or environmental influence.
“Council” means the child development coordinating council.
“Department” means the department of education.
“Early intervention interagency council” means the community early intervention interagency councils for handicapped infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families formed to assist with the implementation of P.L. 99-457, Part H, which amends P.L. 94-142, Education of the Handicapped Act.
“Educational support services” means individual or group opportunities providing information to parents which focuses on: parenting skills, child growth and development, building of self-concept, nutrition, positive guidance techniques, family resource management, parent literacy, and how to access the array of supportive services from a network of agencies that are available to families with young children who are at risk.
“Grantee” means the applicant designated to receive the grants for educational support services to parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years.
“Parent” means biological, adoptive, surrogate, foster parent, or guardian.
“Quality educational support services” means educational support services that have a qualified or trained staff to provide a program which meets the needs of parents through the use of a validated curriculum or which is based on a model project which has proven successful in another state or location.
	Item 4. Amend rule 281—67.3(279) as follows:
281—67.3(279) Eligibility identification procedures. In a year in which funds are made available by the Iowa legislature, the department shall grant awards to applicants for the provision of educational support services to parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years. Funds shall be made available on a competitive basis to schools or nonprofit agencies demonstrating an ability to provide quality educational support services to parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years. Competitive grants will be awarded with a renewal option for up to five years contingent upon the awardee’s meeting program requirements. If program requirements are not met, the department may discontinue grant funding at the start of the following fiscal year.
	Item 5. Amend rule 281—67.4(279) as follows:
281—67.4(279) Eligibility. The available funds shall be directed to serve parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years in the primary eligibility category as follows:
Parents having one or more children aged birth through three five years who meet the current income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced price meals in a local school or whose total income is, or is projected to be, equal to or less than 125 percent of the federally established poverty guidelines.
	Item 6. Amend rule 281—67.5(279) as follows:
281—67.5(279) Secondary eligibility. The available funds shall be directed to serve parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years when children qualify in one or more of the secondary eligibility categories as follows:
	1.	Children who are abused.
	2.	Children functioning below chronological age in two or more developmental areas, one of which may be English proficiency, as determined by an appropriate professional.
	3.	Children born with an established biological risk factor, such as very low birth weight (under 1500 grams—approximately three pounds) or with conditions such as spina bifida, Down’s syndrome or other genetic disorders.
	4.	Children born to a parent who was under the age of 18.
	5.	Children residing in a household where one or more of the parents or guardian:
•	Has not completed high school;
•	Has been identified as a substance abuser;
•	Has been identified as chronically mentally ill;
•	Is incarcerated;
•	Is illiterate;
•	Is a child abuser or spouse abuser; or
•	Has limited English proficiency.
	6.	Children having other special circumstances, such as foster care or being homeless.
	Item 7. Amend rule 281—67.6(279) as follows:
281—67.6(279) Grant awards criteria.
	67.6(1) Criteria points. The following information shall be provided and points shall be awarded to applicants based on the following criteria as stated in the request for proposal:
	1.	Identification of parents of at-risk children.
	2.	Parent accessibility to the project.
	3. 2.	Positive family focus.
	4. 3.	Educational support programs to provide family services.
	5. 4.	Community and interagency coordination.
	6.	Use of media and materials.
	7. 5.	Overall program evaluation.
	8. 6.	Letters of community support.
	9. 7.	Program budget (administrative) costs not to exceed 10 percent of total award.
	67.6(2) Additional grant components. The following information shall be provided and points shall be awarded to applicants based on the following additional components.
	1.	Documentation of a need for this project.
	2.	Demonstration that the concept outlined within the application has support of the community-based child development coordinating council or P. L. 99-457, Part H, early intervention interagency council, when applicable.
	3. 2.	Justification of how this project will utilize services from other agencies and how this project will supplement services to the eligible population.
	4. 3.	Identification of the curriculum to be used or the model to be replicated.
	5. 4.	Demonstration that persons qualified to administer these educational support services to parents will be employed.
	Item 8. Amend rule 281—67.8(279) as follows:
281—67.8(279) Request for proposals. Applications for the educational support services to parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years grants shall be distributed by the department upon request.
	Item 9. Amend subrule 67.9(1) as follows:
	67.9(1) Grants for educational support services to parents of at-risk children aged birth through three five years shall not supplant other existing funding sources.
	Item 10. Amend rule 281—67.10(279) as follows:
281—67.10(279) Notification of applicants. Applicants shall be notified of the department’s decision to approve the proposal within 45 days of the deadline for applications. Negotiations may be required. Successful applicants will be requested to have an official with vested authority sign a contract with the department.
	Item 11. Amend rule 281—67.11(279) as follows:
281—67.11(279) Grantee responsibilities. The grantee shall maintain records which include, but are not limited to:
	1.	Demographic information on parents and children served.
	2.	Qualifying criteria for those parents receiving educational support services.
	3.	Documentation of the number of contact hours in either individual or group sessions with parents.
	4.	Documentation of the type of educational support service provided to parents.
	5.	Indication of where the services were provided, i.e., home, school or community facility.
	6.	Evaluation of how each project goal and objective was met, on what timeline, and with what success rate.
	7.	Record of expenditures and an annual audit.
	8.	Other information specified by the department necessary to the overall evaluation.
Grantees shall complete a year-end report on forms provided by the department documenting the information outlined in this rule. The final project report is due 45 30 days after the completion of the project as defined in the contract with the department. The payment of the final quarter of the grant award will be made by the department to the grantee upon receipt and approval of the project final report. No new awards shall be made for continuation of programs where when there are delinquent reports from prior grants.
	Item 12. Amend rule 281—67.14(279) as follows:
281—67.14(279) Contract revisions. The grantee shall immediately inform the department of any revisions in the project budget. The department and the grantee may negotiate a revision to the contract to allow for expansion or modification of services but shall not increase the total amount of the grant. The council may approve advise the department regarding revised contracts if the revision is in excess of 10 percent of a budget category.