FL QZAB Application

Application Deadline: TBD

I. Eligibility Criteria

Criterion 1 - The district must be qualified by virtue of location or composition of student body (on a school-by-school basis). Select one of the following:

• Location
  The school is located in an Empowerment Zone (City of Jacksonville and Miami-Dade County) or in an Enterprise Community (Empowerment Alliance of Southwest Florida, that represents Immokalee and portions of Hendry County).
  
• Composition of Student Body
  There is a reasonable expectation, as of the date of issuance of the bonds, that at least 35 percent of the students attending the school participating in the program will be eligible for free or reduced cost lunches established under the National School Lunch Act. (NSLA %:________)

Criterion 2 - The eligible school district has written commitments from private entity match partners to make qualified contributions having a present value, as of the date of the issuance, of not less than 10 percent of the proceeds of the bond issue, including such items as:

• Equipment for use in the qualified zone academy (including state-of-the-art technology and vocational equipment),
• Technical assistance in developing curriculum or training teachers to promote market-driven technology in the classrooms,
• Internships, field trips, or other educational opportunities outside the academy for students,
• Any other property (including cash) or service specified by the local education agency (LEA), that meets IRS requirements, and
• The value of the 10 percent match is below the fair market value offered by any entity providing similar products or services.

Criterion 3 - The 10 percent match partner will help to set up an academic program (academy) to Aprepare students for college or workforce,@ as required by the QZAB legislation.

• This academy program should specify how many students will be trained in which academic areas using what resources, when the program will be implemented, who will direct the implementation and evaluation, and how the evaluation (pre- and post-tests) will be accomplished.

Criterion 4 - The academy program is established by and operated under the supervision of an eligible local education agency (LEA), as defined in Section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, to provide education or training below the post-secondary level:

• Such academy is designed in cooperation with business to enhance the academic curriculum, increase graduation and employment rates, and better prepare students for the demands of college and the increasingly complex workforce, and
• Students in the academy are subject to the same academic standards and assessments as other students educated by the school districts, and
• The comprehensive education plan of the program is approved by the school district.

Criterion 5 - Eligible QZAB projects include:

• Rehabilitating or repairing the public school facility in which the academy is established,
• Providing equipment for use at such academy,
• Providing instructional materials, and/or
• Providing professional development for teachers.

Criterion 6 - Requests must contain a minimum of $1 million and a maximum of $5 million in projects per district. Please do not request more bonding authority than you can reasonable expect to repay or qualify for through a financial institution.

II. Certificate of Eligibility

The School Board certifies through a board resolution dated ________________ , that the school district has satisfied Criterion 1a or 1b, and Criteria 2 through 5. Please check appropriate boxes and attach a copy of the resolution.

III. Required Documentation

The Application must include the following:
A copy of the resolution referenced in the Certificate of Eligibility section.

Written verifications from private entity match partners must be attached to the application.

• Note: Providers of services or materials for the proposed project are not eligible as contributors to meet the 10 percent contribution requirement.

• An affidavit signed by the school superintendent, financial advisors, bond counsels, and the 10 percent match partners stating that the value of the 10 percent match is below the fair market value offered by any entity providing similar products or services.
• An overview of the proposed academic program/academy details including, but not limited to: program description, the number of students benefiting, resources used, when and how the program will be implemented, who will direct the implementation and evaluation, and how the evaluation (pre and post tests) will be accomplished.
• A written spending plan including commitments to spend 10 percent of funds within 6 months and 95 percent within 5 years of the issue of QZAB bonds.
• Applications must clearly explain the means by which the district intends to repay the bond principle upon maturity.