Innovation & Improvement

Amount Available for Distribution: The amount distributed or available for distribution to all recipients for the state fiscal year indicated. In cases in which program funds are placed into one of the two Chicago block grants, then amounts shown are for the rest of the State.

Application Submission: This section contains the name of the ISBE division or core service unit responsible for the administration of the funding program as well as the person to contact about the program and the process to qualify for funds.

Category of Funding Program: Each program is classified under one of 20 general categories (e.g., adult education, school improvement). "

Eligible Recipient(s): While school districts are the usual recipients, users can identify other recipients under 23 categories. Most common among these others are regional office of education, community colleges and nonprofit private institutions. When "school districts" is stated, laboratory schools are also included unless stated otherwise.

FRIS (Financial Reimbursement Information System) Number: Most funding programs administered by ISBE have a number under the Financial Reimbursement Information System between 3001 and 4970.

Fund Type: All programs are classified as either formula grants (a formula is established in state or federal law, and is available to eligible recipients as an entitlement); or nonformula grants (the authorizing law or appropriation language allows the ISBE to specify parameters for use of the funds for innovation or leadership or demonstration purposes, and does not delineate either a single recipient or a formula grant. Within the nonformula grants, there may be both competitive and noncompetitive uses of the funds in order to accomplish the intended purpose(s). All nonformula grants within the data base will be marked either "competitive" or "noncompetitive", and have a notation of the year of last competition when applicable (e.g., it was competitive through an RFP in 1996, which resulted in a 3 year grant award). When applicable, a percentage split between competitive and noncompetitive will be noted within the program description.

Funding Period: While the usual funding period is 12 months, some programs have other timelines. The beginning and ending dates are listed.

ISBE Division: By clicking on the name of an ISBE division, one can quickly see each funding program administered by that division.

Keyword: On the initial search screen, this option enables the user to locate funding programs that use a specific word, e.g., science, nonpublic.

Links to Other Programs: This data element may contain reference(s) to other funding programs using the same application forms, having related purposes, or serving similar populations.

Non FRIS Number: There are funds, such as for Project Success, which are not dispersed through the FRIS system. Numbers 1 through 20 have been reserved for these programs.

Payment Contact: This section contains the name of the ISBE division (usually the Funding and Disbursements Service Division) responsible for payments for the program as well as the person to contact about the process.

Payment Schedule: This category includes basic payment information ranging from statutory requirements to actual payment schedules for the current or next fiscal year as indicated.

Permissible Uses of Funds: In response to frequently asked questions, this section describes how the money can be used (e.g., purchase of computers, salaries, capital outlay).

Population Served: Includes the most recent available information on beneficiaries of a program, such as the number of students served, teachers paid, or districts funded.

Process to Qualify for Funds: This category includes information about when Request for Proposals (RFP's) are distributed and due, the award date, when claim forms are due, and other relevant information with timelines about how eligible recipients obtain funds.

Recipient Information: This section may provide more detailed information about recipients.

Regulation Reference: If applicable, the relevant Illinois Administrative Code or rule citation; in the case of federally funded programs, the relevant citation in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The number 34 before "CFR" refers to regulations of the U.S. Department of Education.

Source of Funds: The vast majority of all programs are either federal or state funded.

Statutory Reference: Generally, the following information is displayed; the School Code citation in the case of state law; the name of the authorizing act with the United States Code (USC) citation in the case of federal law.>
Submission Deadline: Time for receipt by the ISBE of applications, claim forms or other required information for current or upcoming fiscal year as indicated.