Agriculture Education: Growing Agricultural Science Teachers (GAST)
Growing Agricultural Science Teachers (GAST); FRIS 3235(01); Agriculture Education
CSFA Number: 586-18-0876
STATE AGENCY INFORMATION
Agency Name
State Board Of Education (586)
Agency Identification
3235(01)
Agency Contact
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Short Description
To support eligible institutions for the purpose of addressing the shortage of agriculture science teachers in Illinois through activities related to recruitment and retention.
Federal Authorization
N/A
Illinois Statue Authorization
105 ILCS 5/2-3.80
Illinois Administrative Rules Authorization
https://www.isbe.net/Documents/75ark.pdf
Objective
Address the critical shortage of ag science teachers through recruitment and retention activities as well as incorporate the use of professionals in agricultural occupations to expose teacher candidates to practical, field-based experiences.
Eligible Applicants
Education Organizations;
Applicant Eligibility
A)Four-year institutions of higher education that offer state-approved agriculture science teacher preparation programs, and
B)Public community colleges in Illinois that provide an articulated agriculture science teacher education course of study, meaning that they offer at least:
1)The introductory agricultural education course for which transfer credit is accepted by the public universities under the Illinois Articulation Initiative (see the information posted by the Illinois Board of Higher Education at https://itransfer.org/); and
2)A one-semester-hour internship or other, equivalent field experience.
Beneficiary Eligibility
N/A
Types of Assistance
Project Grants
Subject / Service Area
Education
Credentials / Documentation
N/A
Preapplication Coordination
N/A
Application Procedures
RFP - Applications are found at https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Request-for-Proposals.aspx.
Continuation Grants - Applications are found within ISBE’s IWAS system.
Criteria Selecting Proposals
N/A
Award Procedures
RFP - ISBE's Merit Based Review (Award Process) is conducted following Sections C and D of ISBE's Merit Based Review Policy https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Merit_Based_Review_Policy.pdf
Continuation Grants - Applications are reviewed using modified Merit Based Review Process.
Deadlines
RFP - Applications are due 45 calendar days from release of RFP.
Continuation Grant - Applications are due within 30 calendar days of receipt
Range of Approval or Disapproval Time
RFP - Tentative Award announcements are generally released via email 90 calendar days after the close of the RFP.
Continuation Grants - Applications are generally approved or returned for changes within 30 calendar days of receipt
Appeals
RFP - Appeals are conducted following Section E of ISBE's Merit Based Review Policy https://www.isbe.net/Documents/Merit_Based_Review_Policy.pdf
Continuation Grant - N/A
Renewals
Funding in the subsequent years will be contingent upon compliance with federal and state law, state grant-making rules, passage of sufficient appropriations for the program, and satisfactory performance in the preceding grant period.
Uses and Restrictions
Here is link to the background and instructions, including allowable and non-allowable uses of funds: https://www.isbe.net/Documents/gast-grant-inst.pdf
Institutions of Higher Education that receive a state award or federal pass-through award for a grant program administered by the Illinois State Board of Education will be restricted to a maximum indirect rate of 8% or other indirect cost rate calculated by their cognizant federal agency, whichever is less, pursuant to an exception to the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and GATA approved by the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.
Reports
Expenditure reports to be submitted on quarterly basis via IWAS. Programmatic reports are submitted on semiannual basis via IWAS. Final programmatic report due 30 days after completion of grant period.
Audits
The audit requirements adopted by GATA include the adoption of the federal audit requirements (2 CFR 200.501), audit requirements for grantees and subrecipients that do not meet the federal audit requirements and audit requirements for “For Profit” subrecipients.
Audit Types
1. A non-federal entity (awardee) that expends $750,000 or more during the non-federal
entity's fiscal year in federal awards (federal pass-through and direct federal funds) from all
sources must have a single audit conducted in accordance with 2 CFR 200.514. Awardee’s
meeting certain requirements may elect to have a program-specific audit conducted in
accordance with 2 CFR 200.507 with the approval of their cognizant agency.
2. A non-federal entity that expends less than $750,000 during the non-federal entity's fiscal
year in federal awards (federal pass-through and/or direct federal funds) from all sources is
exempt from federal audit requirements for that year. These non-federal entities are not
subject to the single audit requirements.
3. Non-federal entities who expend less than $750,000 in direct federal and federal passthrough funds from all sources are subject to the following audit requirements:
a. Non-federal entities who expend $500,000 or more during the non-federal entity's fiscal
year in State, direct federal and federal pass-through funds, singularly or in any
combination, and are not subject to the single audit:
i. Must have a financial statement audit conducted in accordance with Generally
Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS); and
ii. If deemed to be high risk based on their grantee risk profile (includes but not limited
to: the Financial and Administrative Risk Assessment, the Merit-Based Review, the
Programmatic Risk Assessment, prior history and experience in administering grants,
and results of prior audits and/or other regulatory reviews and corrective action
status) are required to undergo either an on-site review conducted by the State
cognizant agency or an agreed upon procedures engagement, paid for and arranged
by the Pass-Through Entity(ies) (PTE(s)) in accordance with 2 CFR 200.425.
b. Non-federal entities who do not meet the requirements in subsection (a) but expend
$300,000 or more during the non-federal entity's fiscal year in State, direct federal and
federal pass-through funds, singularly or in any combination must have a financial
statement audit conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards
(GAAS).
c. Non-federal entities who do not meet the requirements in subsection (a) or (b) but have
audits conducted based on other regulatory requirements must submit those audits for
review.
For-profit Subrecipient. The PTE(s) is responsible for ensuring subrecipient compliance with
established requirements. Methods to ensure compliance for State and federal awards to for profit subrecipients may include pre-award audits, monitoring during the agreement period of
performance, and post-award audits. See also 2 CFR 200.331 Requirements for Pass-through
Entities.
1. For-profit Subrecipient Audit Requirements. For-profit subrecipients who expend $750,000
or more in direct federal and federal pass-through funds (from all sources) during their fiscal
year are required to have a program-specific audit conducted in accordance with Uniform
Guidance section 200.507 (Program-specific Audits).
a. State grantmaking agencies must provide the recipient/subrecipient the program specific audit guide, when available.
b. If a program-specific guide is not available, the auditor and auditee have the same
responsibilities for the program as they would have for a major program in a single
audit.
c. The auditor must audit Federal programs with Federal awards expended that, in
aggregate cover at least 50 percent (0.50) of total Federal awards expended.
2. For-profit subrecipients who expend less than $750,000 in direct federal and federal passthrough funds (from all sources) during their fiscal year are subject to the following audit
requirements:
a. For-profit subrecipients who expend $500,000 or more in State, direct federal and
federal pass-through funds, singularly or in any combination (from all sources) during
their fiscal, and are not subject to a program audit:
i. Must have a financial statement audit conducted in accordance with Generally
Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS); and
ii. If deemed to be high risk based on their grantee risk profile (includes by not limited
to: the Financial and Administrative Risk Assessment, the Merit-Based Review, the
Programmatic Risk Assessment, prior history and experience in administering grants,
and results of prior audits or other regulatory reviews and corrective action status)
are required to undergo either an on-site review conducted by the State cognizant
agency or an agreed upon procedures engagement, paid for and arranged by the
PTE(s) in accordance with 2 CFR 200.425.
d. For-profit subrecipients who do not meet the requirements in subsection (a) but expend
$300,000 or more during the non-federal entity's fiscal year in State, direct federal and
federal pass-through funds, singularly or in any combination must have a financial
statement audit conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards
(GAAS).
b. For-profit subrecipients that are publicly traded companies are not subject to the Single
Audit requirements but are required to submit the annual audit conducted in
accordance with their regulatory requirements.
Records
Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other awardee records pertinent to a State award shall be retained for 3 years after the date of submission of the final expenditure report or, for awards renewed quarterly or annually, after the date of the submission of the quarterly or annual financial report to the State agency.
Account Identification
001-58618-4400-38-00-01
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
N/A
Program Accomplishments
N/A
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
23 IL Adm Code Part 75, Sections 75.10 - 75.50
34 CFR 76.561; 44 Ill. Adm. Code 7000.40
Regional or Local Assistance Location
N/A
Headquarters Office
Illinois State Board of Education
100 North First Street
Springfield IL 62777-0001
Program Website
https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Ag-Grants.aspx
Published Date
10/22/2021
FUNDING INFORMATION
Funding By Fiscal Year
FY 2017 : $100,000
FY 2018 : $98,000
FY 2019 : $98,000
FY 2020 : $300,000
FY 2022 : $500,000
FY 2023 : $705,000
FY 2024 : $705,000
Federal Funding
None
Notice of Funding Opportunities
| Agency ID | Award Range | Application Range |
ACTIVE AWARDS