CHAPTER 7
CRITERIA FOR GRANTS
281—7.1(256,17A) General. To ensure equal access and objective evaluation of applicants for competitive program grant funds made available by the Iowa department of education (department), grant application materials are to contain, at minimum, specific content. The department develops competitive program grant application packets in accordance with these rules unless in conflict with appropriation language, the Iowa Code, the Iowa Administrative Code, federal regulations, or interagency agreements between the department and other state agencies.
[ARC 7431C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—7.2(256,17A) Definitions. For the purpose of these rules, the following definitions apply:
“Competitive program grant” means the collective activities of a competitive grant funded through the department.
“Program period” means the period of time that the department intends to support the program without requiring the recompetition for funds. The program period is specified within the grant application.
“Service delivery area” means the defined geographic area for delivery of program services.
[ARC 7431C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—7.3(256,17A) Grant application contents. All competitive program grant application materials made available by the department are to include the following:
	1.	Funding source.
	2.	Program period.
	3.	Description of eligible applicants.
	4.	Services to be delivered.
	5.	Service delivery area.
	6.	Target population to be served (if applicable).
	7.	Funding purpose.
	8.	Funding restrictions.
	9.	Funding formula (if any).
	10.	Matching requirement (if any).
	11.	Reporting requirements.
	12.	Performance criteria.
	13.	Need for letters of support or other materials (if applicable).
	14.	Application due date.
	15.	Anticipated date of awarding grant.
	16.	Required components of submitted grant applications.
	17.	An explanation of the review process and the review criteria to be used by application evaluators, including the number of points allocated per evaluated component.
	18.	Appeal process in the event an application is denied.
[ARC 7431C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—7.4(256,17A) Review process. The review process to be followed in determining the amount of funds to be approved for any competitive program grant will be described in the application, including the review criteria and point allocation for each criterion.
	7.4(1) The competitive program grant review committee will be determined by the appropriate division administrator. The review committee members will allocate points per review criterion when conducting the review.
	7.4(2) In the event competitive program grant applications receive an equal number of points that necessitates a further determination of whether an applicant is to receive a grant, a second review will be conducted by the division administrator or the division administrator’s designee.
[ARC 7431C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
281—7.5(290,17A) Appeal of grant denial or termination. Any applicant may appeal the denial of a properly submitted competitive program grant application or the unilateral termination of a competitive program grant to the director of the department.
	7.5(1) Appeals are to be:
	a. 	In writing,
	b. 	Received within ten working days of the date of the notice of decision, and
	c. 	Based on a contention that the process was conducted outside of statutory authority; violated state or federal law, policy, or rule; did not provide adequate public notice; was altered without adequate public notice; or involved conflict of interest by staff or committee members.
	7.5(2) The hearing and appeal procedures found in 281—Chapter 6 that govern the director’s decisions apply to any appeal of denial or termination.
	7.5(3) In the notice of appeal, the grantee will give a short and plain statement of the reasons for the appeal.
	7.5(4) The director will issue a decision within a reasonable time, not to exceed 60 days from the date of the hearing.
[ARC 7431C, IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code section 256.9(7).
[Filed emergency 11/25/96—published 12/18/96, effective 11/25/96]
[Filed 2/13/97, Notice 12/18/96—published 3/12/97, effective 4/16/97]
[Filed ARC 7431C (Notice ARC 7089C, IAB 10/4/23), IAB 12/27/23, effective 1/31/24]