Please note: This program's frequently asked questions (FAQs) below is for historical information only. FAQs will be updated when a new competition is announced.

To be eligible, a current 21st Century grantee must "apply in partnership with one or more State-approved SES providers." As the eligibility criteria do not limit the State-approved SES providers with which an applicant may partner, an applicant that is also a State-approved SES provider may partner with itself. Such an applicant is considered to have met the partnership requirement and is eligible to apply for a grant, provided that it meets all other eligibility requirements.

The applicant must serve both an LEA identified by its State as in need of improvement or corrective action and at least one Title I school identified by its State as in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.

The applicant must "serve students in an LEA that is identified by its State as in need of improvement or corrective action during the 2007-2008 or 2008-2009 school year" and "serve students enrolled in at least one Title I school identified as in need of improvement, corrective action, or restructuring during the 2007-2008 or 2008-2009 school years." There is no limit on which year of improvement the school or LEA must be in.

Some applicants may not have final information regarding the 2008-2009 improvement status of the schools or LEAs they serve prior to the application deadline. Accordingly, the current recipient of a 21st Century local grant may choose to apply if it serves students in an LEA or a Title I school (as appropriate) that was not identified for improvement during the 2007-2008 school year but that will likely be identified for improvement during the 2008-2009 school year after the application deadline date. Under these circumstances, an applicant should include information that explains the basis for its belief that the LEA or Title I school will be identified as in need of improvement, including any preliminary notification that it has received regarding the status of the LEA or school. Prior to making awards, we will verify the eligibility status of applicants, and we will make an award only to an applicant that establishes that it meets all of the eligibility requirements, including the requirements regarding serving students in an LEA and Title I school that is identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. Please note that your complete application still must be submitted by the application closing date, August 12, 2008.

If a current 21st Century grantee will provide services in the 2008-2009 school year, it is eligible to apply.

The term "other community organizations," as used in the Notice inviting applications, has the same meaning as the term "community based organization." Under section 9101(6) of The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the term "community-based organization" means "a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that (A) is representative of a community or significant segments of a community; and (B) provides educational or related services to individuals in the community."