Please see below for common disqualifying errors, links to additional information, and a glossary of terms used in the grant application. 

Common errors that result in disqualification include: 

• Listing an unqualified applicant. Applicants must represent local education agencies (LEAs), or intermediate school districts (ISDs), or public school academies (PSAs). Individual teachers cannot be listed as applicants. 
• Entering monetary requests in the budget but leaving out function code descriptions.  Section C, Box 2 of the Alternative Route application asks applicants to identify the institution the candidates will attend and the total requested costs. Note: The maximum funding per candidate for the Alternative Route (504) grant is $10,000. There is no per-candidate maximum for the Degree-granting Programs (27b) grant. 
• Failing to attach Partnership Agreements that correspond with each Educator Preparation Program (EPP) selected in the application. 
• Failing to ensure that Partnership Agreements feature signatures from both partners (PK12-EPP). 
• Attaching zipped files or files that need to be read with specialized software programs (PDFs are encouraged). 
• Applying for single candidates in individual applications. Applicants should be certain to include all applicable candidates in one application. In some cases, the applicant will join a larger consortium of organizations to apply, which is acceptable. If the consortium does not cover all the local needs, an LEA, PSA or ISD can submit a second application and will need to clarify that the application represents candidates not included in the consortium. 
• Failing to establish clear alignment between the established need (Section A), the EPP partner (Section B), and selected candidates (Section C/D). In particular, the preparation program should be approved to provide the necessary credentials to fill the staffing needs (consult the Directory of Educator Preparation Providers and Programs). Ideal places to clarify both the candidate’s current roles and the credentials the candidates are seeking are:  
  • Alternative Route Application: Section C, Box 2 – complete all 4 bullet points 
  • Degree-granting Application:  Section D – note candidate roles and specific endorsements or credentials 

Glossary of Terms:

• Applicant: The LEA/PSA/ISD applying for the grant, who will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant. Note: Applicant may not be an individual applying on behalf of themselves. 
• Candidate/teacher candidate/participant/recipient: The staff person who will be earning a certificate or endorsement through the grant. 
• Needs/projected needs: The instructional positions the district currently needs to fill/will need to fill in the next 2-3 years. 
• Eligible teacher candidates: Those who will meet criteria for participation in the program. 
• Selected teacher candidates: Those who will be selected from the eligible candidate pool.   
• Terms of employment: The employment arrangement (salary, benefits, job assignment) the district will commit to while the candidate completes their certification or endorsement pathway. 
• Job assignment: The position the candidate will hold while they complete their certification or endorsement pathway. 
• Name of Certifying Official: Name of applicant (ISD/LEA/PSA representative).