Title I, Section 1003 School Improvement Grant (Coaching for Excellence)

The New York State Education Department administers the Title I, Section 1003 School Improvement Grant known as Coaching for Excellence. This funding opportunity is designed to support school districts in strengthening instructional capacity in schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement. The program is grounded in evidence-based instructional coaching practices and aims to improve student outcomes by enhancing teaching quality through structured, job embedded coaching models. The Department provides oversight, guidance, and programmatic structure, including training, coaching sessions, and alignment with statewide instructional priorities. The primary purpose of this grant is to fund the employment of a full time instructional coach who will participate in the Coaching for Excellence program. The program includes two pathways, Foundational and Elevate, depending on prior participation. Funds are intended exclusively for salary and benefits associated with the instructional coach role. Districts must ensure that the coach is dedicated to instructional improvement activities and is not assigned unrelated duties. The program emphasizes sustained coaching cycles, collaborative teacher engagement, and alignment with school improvement plans. Eligibility is limited to Target Districts with at least one non Receivership school identified under CSI or ATSI designations. For the Foundational pathway, schools must register for the program, complete a participant survey by April 30, and identify a qualified instructional coach with at least five years of teaching experience and five years remaining in their career. For the Elevate pathway, eligibility extends to schools that previously participated in the program and continue employing a qualifying coach. Additional requirements include backfilling any vacated teaching positions and adhering to program participation expectations. The application process involves a multi step submission. First, districts must complete and submit a participant survey to the designated program email. The Department reviews submissions to confirm eligibility and provides access to the application through the Business Portal upon approval. Applicants must upload a signed FS 10 form electronically and submit physical copies by mail. All required documentation must be completed by the specified deadlines, and no extensions are permitted. The funding amount is capped at up to 125000 dollars per participating school to support the salary and benefits of the instructional coach. Funds cannot be used for other school activities, although additional resources may be supported through related grants. The project period runs from July 1 through June 30 of the following year, and all funds must be fully expended within this timeframe with no carryover allowed. The application timeline includes several critical milestones. Registration for the program must occur by March 15, followed by submission of the participant survey by April 30. The instructional coach must be identified by June 30, and all staffing adjustments completed by August 31. The final application must also be submitted by August 31. The program operates on an annual cycle aligned with the academic year, and participation requires adherence to ongoing training sessions, coaching activities, and reporting expectations. Evaluation of participants is based on alignment with program goals, adherence to instructional coaching practices, and evidence of improved instructional quality. The Department provides ongoing support through training sessions, coaching visits, and collaborative convenings. For assistance, applicants may contact designated program email addresses for technical or programmatic support. The initiative ultimately aims to build long term instructional capacity and improve student achievement outcomes across participating schools.

Ensure coach meets all eligibility criteria early; complete survey by April 30; plan staffing transitions before August 31; submit early due to rolling review