The RFA states that it is a three year grant, but also states that the EXLD will determine annually if transportation funds are available. What if I am in the middle of my three year grant, and EXLD determines there is no more money, will they take away the grant or is that just for new recipients?
Annually, the EXLD will determine how much funding is available for any new ASES Frontier Transportation grants for those qualified sites not currently funded.
Once awarded, all ASES Frontier Transportation grants will be continuously funded, subject to renewal, as are all ASES after school grants. However, once awarded, ASES Frontier Transportation grants will be synced to the cycle of their ASES after school program grant. This means that in the first year or second year of the Frontier Transportation grant some grantees may need to reapply for their ASES Frontier Transportation grant as part of their normal ASES after school program grant renewal. The ASES Frontier Transportation renewal process will simply require recertification of whether the grantee is a current ASES after school program grantee, is in Good Standing, and is located in an area that has a population density of less than 11 persons per square mile.
What are the reporting requirements for this particular grant?
If the application is funded, the grantee will use the ASSIST online reporting system to report ASES Frontier Transportation Grant information to the EXLD. Current ASES grantees are responsible for maintaining and updating grant contact information, revising grant budgets, submitting quarterly expenditure reports, and submitting semi-annual attendance reports using their current user name and password.
Recipients of ASES Frontier Transportation Grants are subject to the same expenditure and monitoring requirements as the ASES Program. All expenditure due dates for ASES can be found on the California Department of Education (CDE) ASES Reporting Due Dates web page.
What if my site is not located in a Frontier Area, however the need for transportation is extremely high-- will programs with special circumstances be considered?
Entities eligible to apply for ASES Frontier Transportation Grant funds must operate at a schoolsite located in an area that has a population density of less than 11 persons per square mile pursuant to EC Section 8483.7. Schoolsite location eligibility will be determined by using either one of two data sources; 1) the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Medical Statistical Service Area maps
, and 2) the 2010 United States Census Bureau Census Tract population data maps
. If a schoolsite lies within an area that has a population density of less than 11 persons per square mile in either of the boundary maps identified above, they are eligible to apply for transportation funds per the location eligibility criteria. School sites that may apply based on the boundary maps identified above are listed.
Where do I find out if I am in Good Standing?
Grantees can verify their Good Standing Status through the ASSIST reporting system at any time. Good Standing Status for ASES grantees refers to all of the following conditions:
- Attendance reports for grantees have been submitted and have been found by the EXLD to be complete.
- Expenditure reports for grantees have been submitted and have been found by the EXLD to be complete.
- Annual outcome-based data for grantees has been submitted and have been found by the EXLD to be complete.
Applicants that do not meet all of the above conditions for Good Standing will not be funded
What if I am in Good Standing when I receive the transportation grant, but fall out of Good Standing, am I still eligible to keep the grant?
If an ASES grantee is identified as not in Good Standing during the EXLD annual reviews, the grant will be terminated and the grantee will no longer receive either After School program or Frontier Transportation funds. Grantees should carefully review the certified assurances and reporting requirements of this grant.
What type of evidence is acceptable for the two page narrative?
Evidence could include excerpts from the Program Plan or any other local site or district document, or include a description of the demographics, staffing levels, available transportation, etc. that demonstrate why transportation funds are needed to support the After School Program at that site.
I will be applying for an ASES Universal grant in 2019 and meet the criteria for operating an after school program in a frontier area. Can I apply for both grants simultaneously?
.Per EC Section 8483.7[a][6], you must be a current ASES grantee to apply for the Frontier Transportation grant.