Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Program 2026-27

Connecticut State

Department of Education

Charlene M. Russell-Tucker
Commissioner of Education

Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships

Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Program

2026-2027

Section 10-74d of the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.)

Purpose

To maintain a competitive grant program for the purpose of assisting local and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers and nonsectarian, nonprofit organizations with the establishment of interdistrict cooperative programs that increase student achievement and reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation.

Applications Due: January 23, 2026

Published: October 2025

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

The Connecticut State Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons. The Connecticut Department of Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of: race; color; religious creed; age; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; workplace hazards to reproductive systems; gender identity or expression; marital status; national origin; ancestry; retaliation for previously opposed discrimination or coercion; intellectual disability; genetic information; learning disability; physical disability (including, but not limited to, blindness); mental disability (past/present history thereof); military or veteran status; status as a victim of domestic violence; or criminal record in state employment, in accordance with applicable statutes, unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification excluding persons in any of the aforementioned protected classes. Inquiries regarding the Connecticut State Department of Education’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to: Attorney Louis Todisco, Connecticut State Department of Education, by mail (450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 605, Hartford, CT 06103-1841; or by telephone 860-713-6594; or by email louis.todisco@ct.gov).

Table of Contents	Page
Purpose and Background	1
General Information	2
Legal Authority	2
Application Format	2
Eligibility	3
Insurance	4
Allowable Costs	4
Grant Period	5
Submission Requirements	5
Review of Applications and Grant Awards	5
Accountability Plan	6
Freedom of Information Act	6
Management Control of the Program and Grant Consultation role of the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) Personnel	6
Acknowledgement of Cooperation	6
Obligation of Applicants	6
Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Timelines	7

Application Packet	8
Cover Page	9
Planned Student Enrollment	10
Planned Program Data for Staff Race and Ethnicity	11
Outline of Program Goals, Objectives, Activities, and Evaluation	12
Final Outline Report Information	15
Appendix A- Participating Superintendent, RESC Director Signature Page	16
Appendix B- Statement of Assurances	17
Appendix C- Sample Scoring Rubric	24

Purpose and Background

The State of Connecticut has long led the nation in many measures of educational achievement. However, Connecticut also has a large achievement gap between white students and students of color. The education of students must prepare them to compete for jobs in the global economy. Becoming aware of one’s own culture and developing awareness of a variety of other cultures is one of the steps to becoming a responsible global citizen.

As many students in Connecticut grow up attending school with students of the same race, ethnicity, and social economic class, they have limited exposure to students who are members of different races, ethnicities, or socioeconomic groups from themselves. The Interdistrict Cooperative Grant (IDCG) program provides innovative opportunities for students to engage in educational experiences in environments with students from different backgrounds.

The CSDE is seeking applicants to establish interdistrict cooperative grant programs. In determining whether an application will be approved and funds awarded, the CSDE shall consider the following factors as well as other factors as set forth in this request for applications:

1. Whether the Program is Likely to Reduce Racial, Ethnic and Economic Isolation – activities and programs that are significant, meaningful, well-articulated and based on sound research that will reduce racial, ethnic and economic isolation;

2. Whether the Program is Likely to Increase Academic Achievement– programs

that are aligned with current Connecticut Standards and frameworks in K-12 English Language Arts, Science and Mathematics, with academically sound enrichment activities as a significant component. Programs and activities must be designed to lead to observable and measurable improvement in student learning and academic achievement;

3. The Specific Objectives and Description of the Program – a clearly defined description of the elements of the proposed interdistrict cooperative grant program including clearly defined objectives;

4. The Cost of the Program – provide a budget breakdown that supports the overall cost of the program (up to $100,000);

5. Interdistrict Opportunities through Numbers of School Districts and Students that Will Benefit – interdistrict opportunities for students to engage with students from other towns, cultures and backgrounds. The Commissioner shall not award a grant for a program, other than a lighthouse school, in which more than 80 percent of the students are from one school district; and

6. Relative wealth of the participating school districts – Percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

General Information

Applicant IDCG program goals should support urban, suburban and rural districts working voluntarily together to reduce the racial, ethnic and economic isolation of students and create settings where students can assemble, interact and learn. These IDCG programs should also increase student achievement and include approaches to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity. Programs should involve parents from diverse ethnic and cultural groups in program activities and planning.

Note: When writing the application, applicants are encouraged to seek assistance of district-level curriculum professionals.

Legal Authority

Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S) Section 10-74d(a), Grants for Interdistrict Cooperative Programs, states that the CSDE “shall, within available appropriations and after payments made pursuant to Section 10-266j and for purposes of Subsection (d) of Section 10-266aa, maintain a competitive grant program for the purpose of assisting local and regional boards of education, regional educational service centers and nonsectarian nonprofit organizations approved by the Commissioner of Education with the establishment and operation of interdistrict cooperative programs. Such programs may include programs pursuant to Section 10-266bb, lighthouse schools, as defined in Section 10-266cc, and programs conducted by interdistrict magnet schools, provided such magnet school programs (1) are conducted at the magnet school, (2) primarily serve children not enrolled in the magnet school, and (3) are not programs for which a local or regional board of education or a regional educational service center receives funds pursuant to Section 10-264h or 10-264l.”

Application Format

The grant application must be single-spaced. The size of the font must be set at Times New Roman or Aptos 12-point. A complete proposal must include the grant sections referenced in the list below as well as a copy of the assessment instrument (see page 12). Do not submit copies of the Sample Scoring Rubric and Final Outcome Report Information, as those appendices are for information only.

• Signed Application Cover Page;

• Participating Superintendent or Regional Educational Service Center (RESC) Director Signature Page(s);

• Completed Planned Student Enrollment and Planned Staff Race Ethnicity Data;

• Completed Outline of Program Goals, Objectives, Activities and Evaluation; and

• Signed and dated Statement of Assurances.

Eligibility

This is a competitive grant program. One application shall be allowed per applicant with an award request up to $100,000. The CSDE shall base its grant awards on the strength of the project proposal in meeting the six critical factors detailed under “Purpose and Background.” The CSDE also reserves the right not to award all grants, to negotiate specific grant amounts, and to select certain grantees, regardless of points awarded, as part of the evaluation process to meet the Connecticut State Board of Education’s (CSBE) priorities. The IDCG provides state funding to local and regional school districts, RESCs, and nonsectarian, nonprofit organizations approved by the Commissioner of Education. Based on the statutory requirements, the IDCG requires one of the following to be funded under the grant:

1. the participation of two or more local or regional school districts;

2. a RESC solely or pursuant to a cooperative arrangement with one or more local or regional boards of education; or

3. a nonsectarian, nonprofit organization approved by the Commissioner of Education serving two or more local or regional school districts, that together provide a program to a diverse student body, or in the case of a lighthouse school, by a local or regional board of education or RESC.

Such programs, for local and regional boards of education and RESCs, may include programs funded pursuant to C.G.S. Section 10-266bb and interdistrict magnet school programs that meet the following criteria: 1) must be conducted at the magnet school; 2) must serve primarily children who are not enrolled in the magnet school; and 3) cannot be programs for which a local or regional board of education or a RESC receives funds pursuant to Sections C.G.S. sections 10-264h or 10-264l.

Programs may operate during the regular school year, during the summer or a combination of both. Summer residential programs are also an option.

Programs shall be no less than 45 operating hours during the grant period, of which at least 30 hours must be face-to-face or virtual contact time among students from the cooperating districts. The CSDE will not consider time spent transporting the students as face-to-face contact time.

First time nonsectarian nonprofit applicants must provide evidence of the organization’s nonsectarian nonprofit status to the Commissioner of Education for approval prior to the Request for Proposals (RFP) submission deadline. The document(s) must be emailed to Meliha.Korkutovic@ct.gov for review before submission to the Commissioner of Education. Such evidence may include the organization’s charter and filings with the Office of the Secretary of State.

Summer Programs – To be eligible for classification as a summer program, 90 percent of the program’s costs must be incurred during July and August.

Residential Summer Programs – The CSDE encourages the submission of summer residential program applications. These programs must include a minimum of four weeks of residence for a minimum of 40 students from more than one school district.

Insurance

Below is the CSDE’s stance on liability insurance for the IDCG Program:

If a nonprofit corporation does not hold insurance liability coverage for an IDCG program and believes the district sending students to its program is obligated for such coverage, the nonprofit entity should request such documentation from the district. Otherwise, the nonprofit should hold such coverage.

Allowable Costs

Allowable costs for this grant are identified in the list below. Please note that the CSDE will require selected applicants to provide a detailed breakout of these costs in the CSDE Electronic Grants Management System (eGMS) if funded.

o Salaries/stipends for teachers/providers

o Salaries/stipends for school social workers, counselors and psychologists

o Salaries/stipends for clerical assistance

• Recruitment and admission costs

• Instructional supplies, materials and equipment

• Staff development appropriate to the project (up to 5 percent of the award)

• Pupil transportation

• Costs of administering and evaluating the program impact and outcomes, and preparing the final report (up to 10 percent of the award)

• Development of instructional units

• Parent activities (up to $1,000)

• Food that is part of the program

o Cooking classes, overnight stays, etc.

o Food for snacks

o Food that is necessary as meals for residential programs, weekend academies and all-day field trips

Grant Period

The CSDE shall award grants annually. The award for the grant period in this application shall begin on July 1, 2026, and conclude on June 30, 2027.

Submission Requirements

1. A completed application as a single document, the content and format of which appears in Appendix A. The completed application must be received electronically by 4 p.m. on January 23, 2026.

2. Extensions will not be granted.

3. Please e-mail applications to: Meliha.Korkutovic@ct.gov .

Review of Applications and Grant Awards

Applications and scoring rubrics will be sent electronically to teams of reviewers, to review and rate proposals by application type and according to the criteria presented in Appendix D of this RFP. Teams of reviewers may include members from any of the six RESC regions. Proposal review assignment shall be selective to ensure that reviewers are not reviewing their own application or applications from the same region.

The CSDE reserves the right to make grant awards under this program without discussion with the applicants.

All applicants (awarded and not awarded) will be notified regarding the outcome of the proposal review process. If a proposal is selected for funding, the Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships (OSPP) will initiate a grant award letter in the state’s eGMS. The level of funding and effective dates of the programs will be set forth in the notification of the grant award. The CSDE will retain all proposals submitted and such proposals will become part of the public domain.

Important: Grantees that do not request the total award by the drawdown deadline may be ineligible for future funding or have points deducted from their scores in future submissions.

All awards are subject to the availability of funds. Applicants should submit proposals in the most favorable terms from both technical and cost standpoints.

Accountability Plan

Each applicant that is awarded a grant must participate in the accountability plan for interdistrict cooperative grants. This plan requires the submission of online final reports, which will include both student and program evaluations.

Freedom of Information Act

All the information contained in a proposal submitted in response to this RFP is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), C.G.S Sections 1-200 et seq. The FOIA declares that except as provided by federal law or state statute, records maintained or kept on file by any public agency (as defined in the statute) are public records and every person has the right to inspect such records and receive a copy of such records.

Management Control of the Program and Grant Consultation

Role of CSDE Personnel

The grantee has complete management control of this grant. While CSDE staff may be consulted for their expertise, they will not be directly responsible for the selection of sub-grantees or vendors, nor will they be directly involved in the expenditure and payment of funds.

Acknowledgement of Cooperation

The CSDE shall accept the signature of the superintendent of schools or designee, a RESC director or director of a cooperative arrangement on behalf of two or more local or regional boards of education, as acknowledging the fact that the school districts listed in the application are officially participating in this interdistrict project. The CSDE will require the signature of an authorized representative of any nonsectarian, nonprofit agency.

Obligation of Applicants

All applicants are hereby notified that the grant to be awarded is subject to contract compliance requirements as set forth in C.G.S. Sections 4-60 and 4-60a and Sections 4a-68j-1 et seq. of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

Furthermore, the applicant must submit periodic reports of its employment and subcontracting practices in such form, in such manner and at such time as may be prescribed by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Timelines

October 2025	Release Date
January 23, 2026	Application Due
July 2026	Notification of Awards
December 4, 2026	Final Report Due for Summer Only Programs
June 25, 2027	Final Report Due for Academic Year Programs

Interdistrict Cooperative Grants

Application Packet

Connecticut State Department of Education

Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships

Cover Page

Application Grant Year 2026-2027

Interdistrict Cooperative Grant

One Application Shall Be Allowed Per Lead Applicant With An Award Request Up to $100,000.

Program Title
Name of Applicant District/ Agency
Check the Appropriate Sponsor Type ( i.e., School Boards, RESCs or Nonsectarian, Nonprofit)	Cooperative Arrangement between two or more local or regional school boards Cooperative Arrangement between a RESC and two or more local or regional school boards Nonsectarian Nonprofit	RESC (if applicable): ACES CES CREC EASTCONN LEARN EdAdvance
Application Type (Select one) and provide dates (mm/dd/yy)	Summer	From:	To:
	Summer Residential	From:	To:
	Summer and Academic Year	From:	To:
	Academic Year	From:	To:
Funds Requested	$
Projected Number of Students Who Will Participate
Program Length (Entire Duration of the Program)	Number of Hours= (Must be at least 45 operating hours)
Average Number of Contact Hours per Student	Number of Hours= (Must be at least 30 hours)
Fiscal Agent (if other than applicant)
Fiscal Agent Name
Fiscal Agent Email
Fiscal Agent Phone
Program Contact Person’s Name and Title

Agency Name and Address
Phone
E-mail
Names of Participating School Districts (see next page(s) for Superintendent/Director Sign-off Forms; Make additional copies of the form as needed)	1.
	2.
	3.
	4.
	5.
	6.
Name of Superintendent/ Director

I hereby certify that the information contained in this application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. Signature:	Date
Signature of Superintendent of Schools

To access district level staff and student race ethnicity data from the CSDE, direct your internet browser to https://portal.ct.gov/sde/, scroll down then click: on the left side of the page.

Complete the Following Planned Student Enrollment and Planned Staff Ethnicity Data

Planned Student Enrollment Numbers
Participating School Districts	% of Students Who Qualify for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch	Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander	American Indian/ Alaska Native	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino of Any Race	White	Two or more races	Total
Total

Percentage of Students of Color Anticipated to Participate in this Program

Planned Program Data for Staff Race and Ethnicity
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander	Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander	American Indian/ Alaska Native	Asian	Black or African American	Hispanic or Latino of Any Race	White	Two or more races	Total

Percentage of Staff of Color Anticipated to Participate in this Program

Outline of Program Goals, Objectives, Activities and Evaluation

Goal 1: Reduce Racial, Ethnic and Economic Isolation

Student Recruitment and Composition – Describe how the project brings urban, suburban and rural or economically isolated students together voluntarily for the purpose of reducing racial, ethnic and economic isolation and enhancing student achievement. The program should have significant diversity among its student participants. The program should describe an effective plan to recruit and retain students from various diverse racial and ethnic groups. What is the anticipated percentage of diverse students by race and ethnicity?

Objectives:

Activities:

Intended Outcomes:

Staff Recruitment and Composition – Describe in detail how the program will recruit and retain a diverse staff from various racial and ethnic groups. What is the anticipated percentage of diverse staff by race and ethnicity?

Objectives:

Activities:

Intended Outcomes:

Parent Involvement – Describe how the program will involve parents from diverse ethnic and cultural groups in program activities and planning.

Objectives:

Activities:

Intended Outcomes:

Goal 2: High Academic Achievement of All Students

Curriculum Design – Describe how the program and activities support, in meaningful ways, efforts to increase student achievement.

Teaching Strategies – Describe how the program utilizes culturally responsive teaching strategies in order to support student achievement.

Supportive Services – Describe the program’s academic support.

Student Assessment – How will the grantee measure student academic achievement? A copy of the assessment instrument must be included with application.

Pre- and Post-Student Assessment – Describe pre- and post-assessment measures and outcomes. A copy of the assessment instrument must be included with application.

Program Evaluation – Describe how the program will measure its strengths and weaknesses. A copy of the evaluation instrument must be included with application.

Program Cost – In the Proposed Budget table below, describe how the grant funds will be expended to implement services for students in order to meet the goals of the program. Please note that CSDE will also require selected applicants to provide a detailed breakdown of these costs in the eGMS if funded.

If the applicant plans to charge tuition as part of the program to participating students, indicate the amount of tuition per student and justify the need for tuition fees in order to assure that participants are not denied admission due to economic hardship.

Tuition charged per student (if applicable):
Justification:

ED 114 Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Form Funding Status

Grantee Name: Town Code:
Grant Title: Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Program Project Title: Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Program CORE-CT Classification: FUND:11000 SPID:17045 YEAR: 2027 PROGRAM: 82154CF1: 170102 CF2:
Grant Period: 7 / 1 / 26 – 6 / 30 / 27 Authorized Amount: $
Codes	Descriptions	Budget Amount
100	Personal Services - Salaries
200	Personal Services - Employee Benefits
300	Purchased Professional and Technical Services
500	Other Purchased Services
600	Supplies
800	Miscellaneous
	Total

Original Request Date:

______________________________ _____________

State Department of Education Date of

Revised Request Date: Program Manager Approval

Final Online Report Information

(Do Not Submit with Application – Information Only)

To access the Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Database, go to the CSDE website at www.csde.state.ct.us using your state issued log-in name and password. For password and log-in names or technical assistance, please contact:

David Williamson at 860-713-6615 or david.williamson@ct.gov .

Reports for Summer Only Programs must be completed on or before December 4, 2026.

Reports for Academic Year Programs must be completed on or before June 25, 2027.

Appendix A

Connecticut State Department of Education

Office of Strategic Planning and Partnerships

Hartford, Connecticut

Grant Application Grant Year 2026-2027

Interdistrict Cooperative Grant

Participating Superintendent, RESC Director Signature Page

(Please make copies as necessary)

Name of Applicant District/Agency
Project Title
Name of Participating School District
Signature of Superintendent /RESC Director acknowledging participation

Appendix B

Standard Statement of Assurances for Grant Programs

Connecticut State Department of Education

Project Title:
Applicant:

The Applicant hereby assures the Connecticut State Department of Education that:

A. The applicant has the necessary legal authority to apply for and receive the proposed grant.

B. The filing of this application has been authorized by the applicant's governing body, and the undersigned official has been duly authorized to file this application for and on behalf of said applicant, and otherwise to act as the authorized representative of the applicant in connection with this application.

C. The activities and services for which assistance is sought under this grant will be administered by or under the supervision and control of the applicant.

D. The project will be operated in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and in compliance with regulations and other policies and administrative directives of the State Board of Education and the Connecticut State Department of Education.

E. Grant funds shall not be used to supplant funds normally budgeted by the agency.

F. Fiscal control and accounting procedures will be used to ensure proper disbursement of all funds awarded.

G. The applicant will submit a final project report (within 60 days of the project completion) and such other reports, as specified, to the Connecticut State Department of Education, including information relating to the project records and access thereto as the Connecticut State Department of Education may find necessary.

H. The Connecticut State Department of Education reserves the exclusive right to use and grant the right to use and/or publish any part or parts of any summary, abstract, reports, publications, records and materials resulting from this project and this grant.

I. If the project achieves the specified objectives, every reasonable effort will be made to continue the project and/or implement the results after the termination of state/federal funding.

J. The applicant will protect and save harmless the State Board of Education from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any breach of the duties, in whole or part, described in the application for the grant.

K. At the conclusion of each grant period, the applicant will provide for an independent audit report acceptable to the grantor in accordance with Sections 7-394a and 7-396a of the C.G.S., and the applicant shall return to the Connecticut State Department of Education any moneys not expended in accordance with the approved program/operation budget as determined by the audit.

L. Nondiscrimination

1) For purposes of this Section, the following terms are defined as follows:

a. “Commission” means the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities;

b. “Contract” and “contract” means this grant;

c. “Contractor” and “contractor” means the applicant and any successors or assigns;

d. “Gender identity or expression” means a person’s gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is sincerely held, part of a person’s core identity or not being asserted for an improper purpose.

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