Grimes State Office Building

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

GENERAL INFORMATION

Funds for the Iowa Refugee Assistance Program will provide local education agencies (LEAs) with funds to provide additional services to refugee students. Eligible LEAs requesting funds for the Iowa Refugee Assistance Program should submit their application directly to the Iowa Department of Education (IDE).

Purpose: To help LEAs provide refugee support services which are designed to address local needs.

Eligible entities: LEAs with more than 100 refugee students.

Range of Funds: $9,000 to $80,000

Anticipated number of awards: 7

Objectives of the Program

1) To support LEAs with more than 100 refugee students satisfy the identified needs of these students.

By addressing one or more of the following needs

Ø Increase opportunities to learn English

Ø Increase academic achievement in subject areas

Ø Assistance in becoming acclimated to a new culture

Ø Summer programs to prevent regression

Ø After school activities

Ø Staff awareness and training in educational practices and strategies appropriate for learners from diverse language and cultural environments

Ø Outreach to parents and other family members

Ø Translation of documents, information, and notes send to parents

2) To support the needs of all school districts with refugee students and families for the translation of documents, information, and notes sent home in the primary language of the family.

Application Process and Timelines

1) LEA identifies refugee students (by identifying place of birth and/or contacting the Bureau of Refugee Services). (September)

2) Eligible LEAs (those with 100 or more refugee students) submit plan to the Iowa Department of Education. (September)

3) IDE selects 7 LEAs, approves plan, and distribute funds. (October)

4) LEAs submit progress report twice a year. (March and September each year of the cycle; the last report 30 days after the end of the grant cycle )

Note: for definition of additional terms, see Title III General Information.

DEFINITON

"The term refugee means any person who is unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of their country of nationality or habitual residence because of persecution of a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion."

If an adult in a family receives refugee status all members of the family are considered refugees. If a child of refugee parents is born in the United States, that child qualifies to receive assistance under the refugee program.

The following list encompasses most of the refugee groups who have arrived in Iowa over the past several years. The percentage figure is an estimate of the percentage of people from that particular country who came to Iowa as refugees.

Group	% in Iowa
Black Tai	99%
Bosnian	99%
Cambodian	95%
Camerodian	10%
Chadian	10%
Congolese	5%
Ethiopian	30%
Guinean	10%
Haitian	90%
Hmong	95%
Iranian	10%
Iraqi	80%
Ivory Coast	10%
Kosovar	99%
Kurds	95%
Lao	90%
Liberian	20%
Nigerian	40%
Polish	50%
Romanian	80%
Russian	25%
Rwanda	20%
Sierra Leonese	40%
Vietnamese	85%
Zairian	15%

Source: Bureau of Refugee Services Telephone # 515-283-7999

1200 University Ave. Suite D

Des Moines, Iowa

Application Cover Sheet

Iowa Refugee Assistance Program

Name of LEA:

Address:

Superintendent:

Contact Person:

Phone Number:

FAX Number:

E-Mail:

Number of REFUGEE students to be served________

Superintendent's Signature

Date

Please submit a narrative addressing the following:

1. The population to be served

Describe the population, for example, number of refugee students, language proficiency levels, academic achievement, and nationality.

2. Services to be provided

Describe the services to be provided.

3. Anticipated measurable results

Describe the objectives and the activities to be addressed.

4. Evaluation plan

Describe your evaluation and reporting methods.

5. Budget information

Provide a table with expenses and budget explanation.

Please limit your responses to no more than 3 pages (not including the Application Cover Sheet). Application must be postmarked or sent by the deadline date.

DUE September 30, 2002

Submit application by mail or electronically to:

Haila Huffman haila.huffman@ed.state.ia.us

Iowa Department of Education Phone: 515-242-6015

Grimes State Office Building Fax: 515-242-6025

Des Moines, Iowa 50319