State
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
07/26/18
08/16/18
Grants to Massachusetts public schools, private schools, and community organizations for out-of-school initiatives that provide youth with academic, social, emotional, and physical programming throughout the year. Funding is also intended for the professional development of educators.
The main priorities for this grant are to improve the quality of OST* programs and services by supporting:
- Activities that enhance one or more of the quality criteria areas outlined in the Guidelines for Quality Enhancements in After-School and Out-of-School Time (Category A - Quality Enhancements); and
- Regional and statewide professional development (PD), which may include networking opportunities, for other OST providers (Category B — Regional or Statewide PD/Networking).
*OST refers to after-school and out-of-school time programming (including vacations, weekends, before-school, and summer).
Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development:
Massachusetts defines High Quality Professional Development (HQPD) as: A set of coherent learning experiences that is systematic, purposeful, and structured over a sustained period of time with the goal of improving teacher practice and student outcomes. It enables educators to facilitate the learning of students by acquiring and applying knowledge, skills, and abilities that address student needs and improvement goals of the district, school, and individual. HQPD conforms to best practices in research, relates to educators' assignments and professional responsibilities, and conforms to the ten Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development.1
The ten standards that make up the Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development:
- HQPD has clear goals and objectives relevant to desired student outcomes.
- HQPD aligns with state, district, school, and/or educator goals or priorities.
- HQPD is designed based on the analysis of data relevant to the identified goals, objectives, and audience.
- HQPD is assessed to ensure that it is meeting the targeted goals and objectives.
- HQPD promotes collaboration among educators to encourage sharing of ideas and working together to achieve the identified goals and objectives.
- HQPD advances an educator's ability to apply learnings from the professional development to his/her particular content and/or context.
- HQPD models good pedagogical practice and applies knowledge of adult learning theory to engage educators.
- HQPD makes use of relevant resources to ensure that the identified goals and objectives are met.
- HQPD is taught or facilitated by a professional who is knowledgeable about the identified objectives.
- HQPD sessions connect and build upon each other to provide a coherent and useful learning experience for educators.
Competitive Priority (for Category A) will be given to:
- Proposals developed collaboratively by public and non-public schools and private community-based programs. In order to receive this competitive priority, a letter of support from the partnership entities not serving as the lead applicant must be included. The letter should provide specific details on the collaboration.
- Proposals from Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licensed programs requesting enhancement(s) specifically to help improve MA Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) rating. In order to receive this competitive priority, applicants must have a granted QRIS application at Level 1 or above, with an open application for the next QRIS Level that was submitted prior to the posting of this Funding Opportunity RFR. Applications for the next QRIS Level (2, 3 or 4) are considered to be "submitted" if they have one of the following statuses: Final Submit, EEC Review in Progress, or EEC Review Complete. (Note: If programs are unsure of their QRIS status, they may they may email the Funding Source to receive their QRIS status — allow 3–5 business days for a response. Applicants must include their EEC program name and EEC program number in their email requests.)
Funds must be used to support activities that enhance programs and services as outlined in this Funding Opportunity RFP.
Budget expenditures may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Staff and coordinator salaries related to the quality enhancement;
- Professional development (PD) activities that meet Massachusetts Standards for PD;
- Stipends for professionals and students involved in the delivery of services;
- Activities to promote family engagement;
- Additional costs associated with serving students with disabilities and/or students who are English learners;
- Program materials and supplies; and
- Transportation. (Please note: vehicles may not be purchased with these funds.)
GrantWatch ID#: 143608
$2,000,000
Category A: Up to $25,000 to support program quality enhancements (during the school year and/or summer) at one or more existing OST sites. [Note: Applicants electing the Service-Learning professional development enhancement option(s) may apply for up to $27,500 or $30,000 to cover the $2,500 or $5,000 in additional costs in contractual services for the Department selected trainer.]
Category B: Up to $25,000 to support professional development, which includes networking opportunities, for other OST providers.
Upon approval (no earlier than 09/01/2018) – 08/31/2019 and pending budget appropriation, continuation of funding will be available in fiscal year 2019-2020 (FY20) for a total grant period of two years. Eligibility for funding in year two is based on meeting grant requirements and submission of year-end report and continuation grant.
Massachusetts public school districts, non-public schools, and public and private community-based organizations (CBOs) with existing OST programs are eligible to apply for funding.
Please Note: All applicants other than public school districts, cities or towns must demonstrate the capacity to administer grant funding through:
- Proven fiscal responsibility as demonstrated, for example, through an annual audit; and
- Previous experience with similar amounts of funding from government (state/federal/local), foundation, or private grants.
The following are definitions of activities not considered professional development.
- Training: Informational sessions focused on learning discrete skills and/or performing individual tasks. An example of training is a session on how to access a report in a database. Training is brief and has a beginning and an end.
- Technical Assistance (TA): The provision of brief, targeted support with the goal of aiding the recipient in knowledge application. Technical assistance provides advice and guidance in the use of resources, materials and equipment.
Funds from this grant may not be used to support tuition for individual participants;
Not more that 15% of total funds requested may be used to support program administrative costs (e.g., program director, bookkeeping, secretarial, etc.); and
Indirect costs are not allowable.
Intent to Apply Due: Thursday, July 26, 2018. Submitting the intent to apply is strongly encouraged but not required.
Date Due: Thursday, August 16, 2018
An entity may submit one application under either Category A and Category B.
Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/pd/standards.html
Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates/changes/addendums/conferences/LOIs.
To submit an Intent to Apply:
https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4265181/FY19-ASOST-Quality-Enhancement-Grant-Intent-to-Apply
Submit the following required information by email on the due date noted above to asost@doe.mass.edu:
- Excel version of the Part II — Budget
- Word document of the Part III — Program Information
- Scanned copy with original signatures of the Part I — Signature Page and Grant Assurances
To inquire about QRIS status, email: EECQRIS@Mass.Gov
Allison Smith
asmith@doe.mass.edu
USA: Massachusetts
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