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Quality Schools Facility and Technology Grants (Project Grants)

Project Grant Information
On April 26, 2013, Governor Bullock signed HB15 into law, appropriating funds for the Quality Schools Grant Program for the 2015 Biennium. This legislation provides $11,418,642 in project grant funds for 30 school facility projects. It also provides $900,000 in planning and $100,000 in emergency funding for the 2015 Biennium.

Quality Schools Grant Program 2015 Biennium Project Funding Recommendations, and 2013 Biennium Emergency, Planning, and Project Grants Report

2015 Biennium Project Scores - All Applicants

Quality Schools grants are available on a competitive basis for construction of a new school; major repairs or deferred maintenance to an existing school; major improvements or enhancements to an existing school; or information technology infrastructure, including installations, upgrades, or improvements, to an existing school. The Department will review and rank grant applications and prepare a list of recommended projects based on six statutory priorities:

Projects that solve urgent and serious public health or safety problems or that enable public school districts to meet state or federal health or safety standards;
2) Projects that provide improvements necessary to bring school facilities up to current local, state, and federal codes and standards;
3) Projects that enhance a public school district's ability to offer specific services related to the requirements of the accreditation standards provided for in 20-7-111;
4) Projects that provide long-term, cost-effective benefits through energy-efficient design;
5) Projects that incorporate long-term, cost-effective benefits to school facilities, including the technology needs of school facilities; and
6) Projects that enhance educational opportunities for students.

After prioritizing the project applications as set forth above, the Department will consider five additional attributes of each proposed project in ranking the projects recommended for funding by the Legislature:

The need for financial assistance;
2) The fiscal capacity of the public school district to meet grant conditions required by the Department;
3) Past efforts to ensure sound, effective, long-term planning and management of the school facility and attempts to address school facility needs with local resources;
4) The ability to obtain funds from sources other than the funds provided by the Quality Schools Grant Program; and
5) The importance of the project and support for the project from the community.

Finally, the Department of Commerce may adjust its final rankings based on the educationally relevant factors established in Section 20-9-309, MCA:

Educationally Relevant Factors:

(a) The number of students in a district;
(b) The needs of isolated schools with low population density;
(c) The needs of urban schools with high population density;
(d) The needs of students with special needs, such as a child with a disability, an at-risk student, a student with limited English proficiency, a child who is qualified for services under 29 U.S.C. 794, and gifted and talented children;
(e) The needs of American Indian students; and
(f) The ability of school districts to attract and retain qualified educators and other personnel.

The Department will prepare a report recommending projects to be funded, including the amount of grant assistance for each project, and submit these recommendations to the Governor. The Governor will then review the recommendations and submit the recommendations to the Legislature. The Legislature will make the final decisions and necessary appropriations.

Please contact the Quality Schools team if you have questions:

Quality Schools Grant Program
301 S. Park
P.O. Box 200523
Helena, MT 59620-0523
(p): 406-841-2770

 

2015 Biennium Application Documents