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What is the Three-Circle Grant?

The three-circle model for agricultural education outlines essential responsibilities--one of which is classroom and laboratory instruction, which is completed by all certified teachers. Agriculture teachers also complete duties outside of normal classwork expectations regarding SAEs and FFA activities. The personnel cost to administer, plan, and execute these activities is covered in part by this grant. Complete the Three-Circle Grant Allocation Worksheet (Excel)​​Excel Document(Updated 3/16/2026​) to gather the needed information to fill out your Intent to Apply form below. Note that Three-Circle Grant Allocation Worksheet (Excel) will need to be completed separately for each agricultural education teacher in your School District. Once final allocations have been determined, you will complete the IWAS Budget Application (one per School District) to submit your grant. You will be required to upload all Three-Circle Grant Allocation Worksheet (Excel) in IWAS at a later date, so please save the file(s) for future reference.​​​

What are the requirements of the Three-Circle Grant?

The teacher must document and report 400 hours of service outside the teacher's regularly scheduled teaching duties for the benefit of the agricultural education program. This report can be generated using TheAET.com​, and your District FCAE Advisor​PDF Document can assist with the development of this report.

The School District must expend all portions of the extended compensation in total prior to the designated end date (June 30th). This includes all portions covered by the School District and the portion covered by the Three Circle Grant allocation.

School districts shall submit an intent to apply application to the State Board of Education using the form below. The application must include all information necessary in completing the formula calculations for this grant found on Allocation Worksheet Tab and Budget Detail Tab Worksheet. For your reference, other requirements are outlined in the Agricultural Education Administrative Rules​PDF Document.​​​

  1. Click here to watch Three Circle Grant Intent to Apply Webinar.
  2. Download and complete Three Circle Grant Allocation Worksheet (Excel)Excel Document (Updated 3/16/2026) for each teacher.
  3. Complete Three Circle Grant Intent to Apply Form below. Add more teachers as needed.​
(Note: Pro-rated allocations will only be used if the districts requests for funds exceeds the appropriation of funds for this grant.)

Please enter information for each agricultural education teacher that will be participating in the FY27 Three Circles (FFA & SAE) Grant. To add a new teacher, click on the "Add a Teacher" button. To change information associated with a teacher, make the appropriate changes and click "Update Teacher". To remove a teacher, click "Remove Teacher". When you have entered all teachers, click the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page.

Teacher Information

  

If salary and benefits information for the agricultural education teacher are not yet finalized, this application will still need to be completed with the best estimate possible. Please note that when estimating it is better to be slightly over rather than under. Due to the funding mechanism for this grant, funding allocations can only be decreased after initial allocation. They cannot be increased. If you have questions, please reach out to ag_ed@isbe.net or contact your District FCAE Program Advisor for technical support.

Note the remaining questions reference cells from the Allocation Worksheet Tab. Please have this worksheet completed for each agriculture teacher prior to filling out the remaining questions.

  

  

If your school district does not use the standard TRS and THIS contribution percentage ranges of 0.0-9.0 and 0.0-0.90, respectively, then you will need to contact ISBE Agricultural Education staff directly to complete your intent form. Contact ag_ed@isbe.net for further assistance.

  

If salary and benefits information for the agricultural education teacher are not yet finalized, this application will still need to be completed with the best estimate possible. Please note that when estimating it is better to be slightly over rather than under. Due to the funding mechanism for this grant, funding allocations can only be decreased after initial allocation. They cannot be increased. If you have questions, please reach out to ag_ed@isbe.net or contact your District FCAE Program Advisor for technical support.

Note the remaining questions reference cells from the Allocation Worksheet Tab. Please have this worksheet completed for each agriculture teacher prior to filling out the remaining questions.

  

  

If your school district does not use the standard TRS and THIS contribution percentage ranges of 0.0-9.0 and 0.0-0.90, respectively, then you will need to contact ISBE Agricultural Education staff directly to complete your intent form. Contact ag_ed@isbe.net for further assistance.

  I verify that I have worked with the appropriate district administration and have reviewed the application for accuracy. I understand that once I click the Submit button, I will not be able to change or add information.

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