On March 12, 2020, the Iowa Department of Education received a request for reconsideration filed by the Cedar Rapids Community School District ("District"), seeking reconsideration of a decision by the Department to not fund Shared Visions grant requests for seven sites. The District alleged "violating a rule; conflict of interest by a staff or committee member." The District further stated: "The fidelity of thescorer/reviewer(s) is at question due to the inconsistent points awarded across the grant but especially within the documentation of need."

The rule governing reconsideration provides only three grounds for me to grant this request:In order to be considered by the director, the Request for Reconsideration shall be based upon one of the following grounds:1. The decision process was conducted in violation of statute or rule;2. The decision violates state or federal law, policy, or rule (to be cited in the Request);3. The decision process involved a conflict of interest.

Absent a finding of one of these three grounds, I am powerless to grant the District's request.

The District's request for reconsideration is DENIED. The District is encouraged to re-apply at the next funding opportunity.