Wyo. Code R. 206-0002-36
General Agency, Board or Commission Rules
Chapter 36: Career-Vocational Education Program Grants
Effective Date: 07/15/2020 to 12/09/2020
Rule Type: Expired Emergency Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 206.0002.36.07152020
Emergency rules are no longer in effect 120 days after filing with the Secretary of State.
Section 1. Authority. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, pursuant to W.S. §21-12-105 (e) and W.S. §16-3-103, promulgates these rules.
Section 2. Applicability. These rules pertain to a grant program to assist districts with initiating and expanding vocational education programs.
(a) 'Career-vocational education program' means a program offered in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) consisting of a sequence of three (3) or more vocational courses in an occupational area or career cluster that provides the student with the technical knowledge, skills or proficiencies necessary to obtain employment in current or emerging occupations or to pursue advanced skill training;
(b) 'Vocational course' means instruction in career-vocational education programs offered in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) by districts pursuant to W.S. §21-9-101(b)(i)(J) that is aligned with state content and performance standards prescribed by the state board of education under W.S. §21-2-304(a)(iii), and is provided by a teacher certified by the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board for the vocational subject area associated with the course;
(c) 'Vocational education student' means a student enrolled in grades nine (9), ten (10), eleven (11) or twelve (12) and participating in career-vocational education programs on a full-time equivalency (FTE) basis, as computed in accordance with guidelines established by the state department of education;
(d) 'Vocational education teacher' means a teacher certified by the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board to provide instruction at the high school level for vocational education courses comprising career-vocational education programs and is employed by a Wyoming school district for high school career-vocational education program instruction on a full-time equivalency basis (FTE) as computed in accordance with guidelines prescribed by the department of education. Nothing in this paragraph shall require a district to employ teachers certified for high school vocational education instruction on a full-time basis or to require teachers to teach only high school vocational education courses on a full-time basis.
(a) No grant awarded shall exceed one hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($125,000.00) for any two (2) year grant period. No district is eligible for a grant for two (2) full school years after receiving a grant award under W.S. §21-12-105;
(b) To apply for a grant, a competitive request for proposal (RFP) will be available for eligible school districts each spring prior to the end of the school year with a due date on or before June 30th of each year. Districts will be formally informed of competitive grant award results no later than August 15th for the upcoming school year. The following information is required:
(i) Documentation of the need for introduction of the proposed career-vocational education program;
(ii) Labor market information detailing the need for instruction in the proposed program;
(iii) The purposes and plan for expenditure of grant amounts;
(iv) An outline of the course curriculum for the proposed program; and
(v) Assurances from the district that any award shall be used to fund curricular development and program design costs, employ certified teachers to provide course instruction during the introductory year and to fund initial purchases of equipment and supplies necessary for program delivery.
(c) Amounts awarded in this grant program shall be used to fund curricular development and program design costs, employ certified teachers to provide course instruction during the introductory year and to fund initial purchases of equipment and supplies necessary for program delivery;
(d) A final activities report inclusive of expenditure amounts and progress with the approved educational program improvement or new program implementation will be due to the Wyoming Department of Education's (WDE) Career Vocational Education Program Consultant by August 30. The format and report requirements will be provided by the department of education by April 30 of each school year;
(a) Upon receipt of state vocational grant proposals each spring, the WDE Career Technical and Distance Education Unit will review each RFP for grant compliance;
(b) A review team of three (3) consisting of partners from outside the WDE will convene to evaluate each grant proposal. Grant awards are limited by available funding;
(c) Proposals that meet the conditions of the RFP and are recommended for funding will be forwarded for approval to the Director of Career Technical and Distance Education Unit;
(d) Proposals that require modification will receive a conditional letter requesting specific adjustments prior to award;
(e) RFPs that are denied will receive official notification no later than August 15th of each year;
(f) Each funded grant will be monitored during the year of the award. The grant award process will evaluate expenditure of prior funds and/or program elimination within the program area being considered for a grant award;
(g) An applicant whose application is recommended for disapproval may request a hearing before the State Superintendent of Public Instruction or his/her designee. Hearings shall be conducted according to Department of Education rules, Chapter 3.”
Grantees may draw funds based on the amount awarded and at any time during the grant period. Each grant will carry an end date of June 20 of each year, after which any unexpended grant funds will be returned to the WDE. Grants will be loaded onto the Federal Grants Management (FGM) system, and districts will use existing FGM procedures to draw vocational education grant funds.
The department of education shall annually recognize school districts that have assembled and demonstrated outstanding career vocational education programs. An application/nomination format and requirements will be developed and dispersed by the WDE to all school districts annually and prior to February 1. The application/nomination form may be revised by the WDE on an annual basis to reflect national and state reforms and input from staff, educators and citizens.