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The New AmeriCorps Rule

The New AmeriCorps Rule. An Overview. Summary of New AmeriCorps Rule. The new AmeriCorps Rule has 4 main goals: 1. Make the AmeriCorps program stronger; 2. Better leverage Federal dollars; 3. Increase AmeriCorps’ stability and predictability; and

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The New AmeriCorps Rule

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  1. The New AmeriCorps Rule An Overview

  2. Summary of New AmeriCorps Rule The new AmeriCorps Rule has 4 main goals: 1. Make the AmeriCorps program stronger; 2. Better leverage Federal dollars; 3. Increase AmeriCorps’ stability and predictability; and 4. Position AmeriCorps for continued growth.

  3. Most Significant Topics Covered By the New Rule • Sustainability • Match • Grant Selection Criteria • Performance Measures and Evaluation • Member Service • Activities • Tutoring Requirements

  4. Roll-Out Timing

  5. Member Service Activities(Effective 9/6/2005) • Direct service and capacity-building activities (Same) • Raise funds directly in support of program service activities (Same) • No fundraising for living allowance, organizational operating expenses or to write federal grant applications (Same) • No more than 20% in education/training (Same) • Can’t displace unpaid volunteers (Same) • Fee for service activities allowed (Same) • No more than 10% of term of service for fundraising • Volunteer recruitment or support required unless CNCS waiver

  6. Volunteer Recruitment and Support Waiver Requirement to Recruit or Support Volunteers (§. 2520.35) • Some component of your program must involve recruiting or supporting volunteers (broadly interpreted) • Must request waiver in Narrative and Executive Summary of Application • Must state specific reasons why this requirement would require a fundamental alteration of the program structure

  7. Tutoring(Effective 9/6/2005) • Requirements apply to any program with primary goal of increasing academic achievement in reading or other core subjects through planned, consistent, one-to-one or small-group sessions • Tutoring Curriculum must be high-quality and research-based • Criteria for selecting and qualifying tutors including high school diploma or equivalent (cross-age tutors exempt) • Pre- and in-service tutor training required • Appropriate member supervision by individuals with tutoring expertise • Identify strategies/tools to assess student progress and measure student outcomes

  8. Cost Per Member Service Year (MSY)(Effective 2006) • Cost per MSY – Individual Programs • Budgeted grant costs divided by MSYs awarded (excluding child care and education award) • CNCS will consider program requests to increase cost per MSY annually • Average Cost per MSY for State Commissions • Budgeted grant costs for all programs in portfolio divided by the total number of MSYs (including EAP) (excluding child care, education awards, and commission administrative grants) • CNCS will review maximum average cost per MSY annually

  9. Match Requirements(Effective 9/6/2005) • Must match a minimum of: • 15% of member support (non-Federal cash) (Same) • 33% of operational costs (cash or in-kind) (Same) • Years 4 -10, match increases incrementally to 50% • With waiver - alternative match increases to 35%

  10. Waivers of Match Requirements The Corporation will consider 2 types of waivers: 1. Waiver of the Regulatory Match requirements (maximum 50% match) to use the Alternative Match table (maximum 35% match) (§ 2521.60) 2. Waiver of any matching requirement in whole or in part (§ 2521.70), also sometimes called a “Statutory waiver”

  11. Waiver of the Regulatory Match Requirements (§ 2521.60) Waiver of the Regulatory Match Requirements (maximum 50% match) to use the Alternative Match table (maximum 35% match) • Only existing programs, only for a new 3 year grant period • Request must be made with third year continuation request for following year’s new grant period (i.e. one year in advance) • Must be unable to meet primary match requirements • Rural or severely economically distressed community • Describe history of fundraising and current plans • If Rural, see US Dept of Agriculture Beale Codes , if severely economically distressed community see economic data. Information on both is in Appendix L of 2006 AmeriCorps Application Instructions

  12. Waiver of Any Matching Requirement in Whole or In Part (§ 2521.70) Waiver of any matching requirement in whole or in part (§ 2521.70), also called a “Statutory Waiver” • Very unusual and rarely done. • Corporation must determine that a waiver would be equitable because of a lack of available financial resources at the local level.

  13. Waiver Requests • Program requesting waiver must demonstrate: • Lack of resources at the local level • Lack of resources in community is unique or unusual • Efforts made to raise matching resources • Amount of matching resources raised or reasonably expect to raise • In addition, you must provide: • A request for a specific amount of match you are requesting that the Corporation waive • A budget and budget narrative that reflects the requested change in matching resources. • Waiver must be in writing-- consult with your program officer before preparing such a waiver request -- usually quite difficult to obtain.

  14. Performance Measures(Operational 2006) • At least one set of aligned measures that relate to program’s primary activity (or area of significant activity) • One output • One intermediate outcome • One end outcome • Corrective action plans if unable to meet PMs • After period of correction, Corporation may take action including suspending or terminating a grant if the program fails to meet its PMs

  15. Evaluation(Operational 2006) • Evaluation must cover at least 1 year • Grantees with average annual grant of $500,000 REQUIRED to have an independent evaluation • Smaller and EAP grantees REQUIRED to perform an internal evaluation • In first recompete application - provide summary of evaluation plan • In second recompete application - provide completed evaluation

  16. Grant Selection Criteria(Operational 2006) • Focus on sustainability and outcomes. • State commissions will rank competitive proposals submitted.

  17. AmeriCorps Program Portfolio • Corporation will seek to insure its portfolio includes: • Meaningful representation of proposals representing one or more selection preferences; and • Programmatically, demographically, and geographically diverse programs including: • Innovative programs • Projects in rural, high poverty and economically distressed areas

  18. Selection Criteria and Grant Review(Operational 2006) • Corporation may consider outside information to clarify or verify proposal information including: • Websites • Corporation system of records • Publicly-available information • Percentage of non-continuation competitive funds targeted annually for new programs

  19. Sustainability • Incorporated in selection criteria • Cost-effectiveness and budget more meaningful: 25% of score (from 15%) • Annual target for new applicants • State commissions will include state sustainability plans in their three year state administrative funds application

  20. For More Information • Contact your State Commission Program Officer or National Direct Program Director/Manager for more information. • Check the CNCS website frequently for updates to FAQs and other materials

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