TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
Fine Arts Instructional Support Program (FAISP)

Texas Music Educators Association
P.O. Box 140465
Austin, Texas 78714-0465

APPLICATIONS CLOSED:  Monday, October 17, 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. FAISP Purpose and Goals
2. FAISP Information
3. Conditions for Submitting FAISP Application
4. Procedures for Submitting FAISP Application
5. Assistance to FAISP Applicants
6. FAISP Selection Criteria
7. Public School District Information
8. Fine Arts Program Information
9. School District Commitment
10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Updated 9/7/2011
11. Online Application
    • It is imperative to review the grant requirements below prior to beginning an application.
    • APPLICATIONS CLOSED OCTOBER 17, 2011
    • Begin a new application
    • Continue a previously saved application

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I. FAISP Purpose and Goals

• To prepare students for postsecondary college and career success through participation in high quality TEKS-based secondary school (middle school and high school, grades 6-12) fine arts programs.
• To increase student engagement with, and participation in, TEKS-based secondary fine arts courses by supporting the continuation of high quality fine arts programs at risk of limiting student participation due to critical budget reductions. (FYI, dance is not a TEKS-based course in middle school, grades 6-8.)
• Grant funds must be used for the purchase of TEKS-based supplemental instructional materials and items, such as: teacher training resources, instruments, equipment, general supplies, play scripts, sheet music, costumes, and props.
• Sub-grant awards to public school districts may not exceed $5,000 for an individual fine arts program; however, a school district may apply for more than one fine arts program within the school district, even on the same campus.
• Sub-grant awards are to be targeted to fine arts programs that have experienced critical budget reductions from the three previous fiscal years’ local school district funding (2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012).
• Sub-grant awards are to be provided to fine arts programs that have demonstrated excellence through successful competition in local, regional, or statewide events or have received recognition for exceptional performances/exhibitions by an external evaluator.

II. FAISP Information

A. FAISP APPLICATION

B. FAISP ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

C. FAISP OBJECTIVE

D. FAISP FUNDING

E. FAISP EXPECTATIONS

• quality, type, and degree of planning, implementation, and evaluation of the project, including strengths and weaknesses;
• quality, type, and degree of collaboration with project partners;
• quality, type, and degree of participatory involvement of the principals, teachers, students, and parents;
• quality, type, and level of services provided to the targeted population;
• quality, type, and level of computer hardware, software, and instructional materials/items provided for the targeted population;
• quality, type, and level of professional development materials/resources provided for the targeted population;
• quality, type, and level of the curriculum that is supported and enhanced;
• quality, type, and level of instruction that is supported and enhanced; and
• methods of monitoring progress and for ensuring continuing project improvement, including the timely identification and correction of problems.

III. Conditions for Submitting an FAISP Application

• Information submitted that addresses only part of the requirements contained in this application will not be considered for participation in the Fine Arts Instructional Support Program.
• TMEA reserves the right to reject any and all applications and to negotiate portions thereof.
• The participant and/or school district shall furnish such additional information that TMEA may require.
• TMEA shall not be liable for any costs incurred in the preparation or submittal of the application and implementation of the Fine Arts Instructional Support Program.
• TMEA will notify each school district in writing of the selection or non-selection to participate in the Fine Arts Instructional Support Program.

IV. Procedures for Submitting FAISP Application

A. RECEIPT OF FAISP APPLICATION

B. FAISP TIMELINE

• Monday, October 17, 2011 – Deadline for school districts to submit completed sub-grant application form (Round 1)
• Thursday, December 1, 2011 – Deadline for school districts to submit completed sub-grant application form (Round 2, if sub-grant funds are still available)
• Wednesday, February 15, 2012 – Deadline for school districts to submit completed sub-grant application form (Round 3, if sub-grant funds are still available)
• Monday, April 2, 2012 – Deadline for school districts to submit completed sub-grant application form (Round 4, if sub-grant funds are still available).

V. Assistance to FAISP Applicants

VI. FAISP Selection Criteria

• Grant funds must be used for the purchase of Fine Arts TEKS-based supplemental instructional materials and items, such as: teacher training resources, instruments, equipment, general supplies, play scripts, sheet music, costumes, and props. (FYI, dance is not a TEKS-based fine arts course in middle school, grades 6-8)
• Funds may not be used for fine arts-related extracurricular activities, such as: marching band, drill/dance teams, and competitions (fees, travel expenses, etc.).
• Sub-grant awards are to be targeted to fine arts programs that have experienced critical budget reductions from the three previous fiscal years’ local school district funding (2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012).
• Sub-grant awards will supplement – not supplant – the budget of the designated secondary fine arts program(s) submitted in this FAISP application.
• Sub-grant awards are to be provided to fine arts programs that have demonstrated excellence through successful competition in local, regional, or statewide events or have received recognition for exceptional performances/exhibitions by an external evaluator.
• To the extent possible, sub-grant funds will be awarded to programs representing all four fine arts subject areas - art, dance, music, and theatre – as well as to programs representing rural, urban, and suburban school districts.
• School districts with multiple submissions for sub-grant awards must prioritize applications according to the most critical to least critical needs.

VII. Public School District Information

• School District
• School District Mailing Address
• School District Superintendent
• Application Submitter
• Application Submitter's email address
• Fine Arts Instructional Support Program Contact Person
• Title
• Telephone Number
• Fax Number
• E-Mail Address
• Date FAISP Application Submitted

VIII. Fine Arts Program Information

• Fine Arts Program – Art, Dance, Music/Band, Music/Choir, Music/Orchestra, Music/General, Theatre
• Name of Teacher
• Grade Levels – 6-8, 6-12, 9-12
• Name of School
• Approximate Budget Allocation for Teacher Training Resources and/or Instructional Materials/Items:
  • 2009-2010 Budgeted and expended funds from school district budget (optional)
  • 2009-2010 Budgeted and expended funds from school district budget
  • 2010-2011 Budgeted funds from school district budget
• Justification of Need
• Examples of Demonstrated Excellence of Fine Arts Program
• Intended Use of Sub-Grant Award
• Amount Requested (maximum $5000) of Sub-Grant Award

IX. School District Commitment

SAMPLE FORM (Do not use this page. Use the form generated by the online application process.)

X. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Updated 9/7/2011

1. Are FAISP grants available to elementary school fine arts programs, grades K-5?
   No. Based on criteria in the Texas Education Agency guidelines, FAISP grants are available only to secondary fine arts programs (middle school and high school, grades 6-12). Grade 6 fine arts programs located on elementary school campuses, however, are eligible to apply for an FAISP grant.
2. What fine arts courses/programs in middle school and high school, grades 6-12, are eligible to apply for the FAISP grant?
   Fine Arts Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)-based courses/programs in middle school, grades 6-8, are Art, Music (Band, Choir, Orchestra), and Theatre. (Dance is not a Fine Arts TEKS-based course/program in middle school, grades 6-8). Fine Arts TEKS-based courses/programs in high school, grades 9-12, are Art, Dance, Music (Band, Choir, Orchestra) and Theatre.
3. May more than one fine arts program in a school district or on a school campus be awarded an FAISP grant?
   Yes. A school district may apply and qualify for an FAISP grant for more than one fine arts program within the school district, even on the same campus. (This could include a band, choir, and/or orchestra program.) It may be necessary, however, upon the request of the FAISP Grant Coordinator, for school districts with multiple submissions to prioritize applications according to the most critical to least critical needs.
4. May FAISP grant awards be used to fund teacher/student travel, professional development fees, or extracurricular activities/events?
   No. FAISP grant funds must be used for the purchase of TEKS-based supplemental instructional materials and equipment, such as teacher training resources, instruments, equipment, general supplies, play scripts, sheet music, costumes, and props. Funds may not be used for teacher/student travel, professional development fees, or fine arts-related extracurricular activities, such as marching band, color guard, drill/dance teams, and competitions.
5. How will FAISP grant funds be awarded?
   School districts awarded FAISP funding will be reimbursed by check upon submission of a receipt or other substantiating documentation to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) verifying the purchase by the school district of TEKS-based teacher training resources and/or instructional materials and equipment requested.
6. May a school district transfer awarded fine arts program grants to support another local school district program budget or reduce existing funds for a fine arts program chosen as a recipient of an FAISP grant?
   No. School districts may not transfer awarded fine arts program grants to support another local school district program budget. FAISP grant awards must supplement – not supplant – the budget of the designated secondary fine arts program(s) submitted in the FAISP application.
7. What examples should be used to describe the excellence of the fine arts program?
   FAISP grants are to be awarded to fine arts programs that have demonstrated excellence through successful competition in local, regional, or statewide events or have received recognition for exceptional performances/exhibitions by an external evaluator. It will be necessary to be as concise as possible when providing examples of demonstrated excellence due to a 1,000 character limit for this particular section in the online FAISP application.
8. To qualify for consideration of an FAISP grant, are the amounts of local school district funding reductions for the designated fine art program required over the past three fiscal years (2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012)?
   FAISP grant awards are to be awarded to fine arts programs that have experienced critical budget reductions from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012. Reporting the 2009-20010 fiscal year is optional, but amounts of budget reductions for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 fiscal years are required. School districts may apply for an FAISP grant if fine arts program budget allocations have not been reduced, but only if justification is provided, such as an increase in fine arts program student enrollment.
9. May school districts apply for an FAISP grant that is less than the $5,000 maximum amount?
   Yes. Although FAISP grant awards to school districts may not exceed $5,000 for an individual fine arts program, grant applications may request a lesser amount than the $5,000 maximum based upon the funding needed for the purchase of TEKS-based supplemental instructional materials and/or equipment.
10. Will the FAISP grant be extended if the entire $1,000,000 is not awarded as a result of too few school district applications being submitted by the deadline date?
    Yes. The entire $1,000,000 FAISP allocation must be awarded to school district fine arts programs that meet the qualifications of the grant criteria. Consequently, additional rounds of the FAISP grant process will occur if too few school district applications are submitted by the deadline date (or if too few school districts qualify for the FAISP grant). The schedule of deadlines is as follows:
    • Monday, October 17, 2011 – Deadline for school districts to submit completed FAISP grant application form (Round 1)
    • Thursday, December 1, 2011 – Deadline for school districts to submit completed FAISP grant application form (Round 2, if grant funds are still available).
    • Wednesday, February 15, 2012 – Deadline for school districts to submit completed FAISP grant application form (Round 3, if grant funds are still available).
    • Monday, April 2, 2012 – Deadline for school districts to submit completed sub-grant application form (Round 4, if grant funds are still available).
    Notification to school districts by TMEA of a necessity for Rounds 2-4 of the FAISP grant will be provided
11. May the budget reductions of the fine arts programs be reflected in school activity accounts or booster organization accounts?
    No. Budget reductions of the fine arts programs must only occur in the school district instructional budget allocations to qualify for the FAISP grant.

XI. Online Application