92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 26, § 007

Current through September 17, 2024

Section 92-26-007 - Mentor Teacher Program Application and Grant Process

007.01 Initial Application

The application shall identify the applicant system, the names of first-year teachers, and a brief description of the mentor teacher program to be conducted. Proposals for mentor teacher programs must incorporate the provisions of Sections 003, 004 and 006. The Council shall develop forms that it will require for use by applicants. The Council may develop such general guidelines for submitting applications as it deems appropriate.

007.02 Assurances

A statement of assurances by grant recipients of compliance with applicable state and federal non-discrimination laws and regulations shall be required for all grant applications.

007.03 Grant Approval Document

The complete terms of the grants shall be contained in a written contract which shall be signed by authorized representatives of the grant recipient, including evidence of approval by the applicant's governing board (if applicable), and a designated representative of the Council.

007.04 Public Records

Project proposals are public records. The Council and Department shall each receive a copy of all materials developed using grant funds and such copies shall be public records. The State of Nebraska retains the right to the copyright of any materials produced under a grant unless otherwise specified in the grant. The Council and Department reserve the right to reproduce and distribute any materials produced in whole or in part with grant funds.

007.05 Reports

Final reports may be required by the Council, as specified in the grant approval document. Recipients of mentor teacher grants shall be required to provide, upon request, such data relating to the funded programs and initiatives as the Council or Department deem necessary.

007.06 Audits

All grants from the Education Innovation Fund may require an annual audit by an independent auditor in accordance with the appropriate auditing standards for that entity (i.e. governmental, non-profit educational organizations) and any additional auditing criteria specified in the grant award. The State of Nebraska shall have access to the financial records for funded projects of all grantees for a period of five complete fiscal years, as defined in 006.05C, after the conclusion of the project period. The Council may audit the use of mentor teacher program grant payments at the discretion of the Council.

007.07 Terminations of Grants

Terminations of grants, by grant recipients, and/or the Council before the completion of the grant period requires written notice to the other parties to the grant and the return of unexpended and unencumbered funds effective on the date of the receipt of the termination notice.

007.07A The authorized applicant representative, as designated by the grant recipient on the initial application or as amended in writing, may terminate a grant at any time. Such a termination request must be in writing and will become effective when received by the Excecutive Director of the Council.

007.07B A grant may be terminated by the Council when the Council determines that the grant activities are outside the approved application, conditions of the grant award notification are not met, there is fraud or fiscal mismanagement, or there is lack of adequate funding. In the event the Council proposes to terminate the grant funding, it shall provide the authorized applicant representative of the grant recipient with written notice of the reasons for such action and an opportunity for hearing. Any such hearing shall be conducted by the Council using the procedures for hearing that the Board has adopted pursuant to 92 NAC 61, except that all filings with and references to the Board shall be with and before the Council. All requests for hearings must be filed with the Executive Director of the Council within 30 days of the authorized applicant representative receipt of the proposal to terminate. If no such request for a hearing is filed, the Council may take final action to terminate the grant at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting without further proceedings before the Council.

007.07C There is no appeal of any action of the Council to the State Board of Education.

92 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 26, § 007