Mini-Corps General Guidelines 2025–26

The California Department of Education (CDE), Migrant Education Office, is pleased to announce the California Mini-Corps (CMC) grant application for fiscal year 2025–26.

The purpose of the application is to obtain a comprehensive description of proposed supplementary Migrant Education Program (MEP) services. The following general guidelines are provided to inform and guide the development and completion of the CMC grant application for 2025–26.

General Guidelines

1. For the 2025–26 fiscal year, the funding period will be from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Summer Services for July and August 2025 will be budgeted in the 2025–26 application.
2. Grant funds will not be awarded until an application is substantially approvable (Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Section 76.708 ). Subgrantees that delay submission of grant applications will not receive reimbursement for salaries and activities that occur during the period in which an application is outstanding in the new fiscal year.
3. The CMC grant application must include the operation of at least 20 program sites throughout the state at Institutions of Higher Education.
4. The applicant must provide an indoor tutoring program, with a minimum of 14 tutors for each program site, assigning a minimum of five students per tutor.
5. During the summer term, the applicant should operate an Outdoor Education program and a summer indoor institute.
6. During the summer term, the applicant should operate a puppetry program.
7. During the regular school year and summer term, tutors will receive six hours of professional development training throughout the course of each month. Topics must include the CMC Literacy Handbook and preparation for the following examinations: California Subject Examinations for Teachers, California Basic Educational Skills Test, or equivalent teacher-credentialing requirements.
8. The applicant must utilize the CMC Literacy Handbook in all program services, where applicable.
9. The applicant must follow what is indicated in the Program Reporting Requirements document provided by the CDE.
10. The applicant must submit all the documentation requested in the Required Monitoring and the Annual Reports documents provided by the CDE.
11. All Memorandums of Understanding and contracts must be provided to the CDE upon request.
12. The MEP is primarily governed by fiscal policies in Title 2 CFR Section 200, the Fiscal Handbook, and Allowable Cost Guidebook. All applicants must abide by the policies, laws, and guidance.
13. For program planning involving Transitional Kindergarten (TK) students, TK is considered early education and for the purposes of instruction, is guided by Preschool Learning Foundations.
14. Program planning should provide the most inclusive instructional environment possible for migratory students with disabilities and provide support per local educational agency policies. MEP should check with their Special Education Local Plan Area for further guidance.
15. The CMC will strive to hire bilingual (Spanish) college students (preferably formerly migratory students) as tutors and provide training and support to those students who are strongly interested in pursuing a teaching career.