Grants of up to $44,800 to Massachusetts school districts to institute new curriculum units designed to promote student achievement and in alignment with State priorities. Funds will be distributed according to the number of teams each district provides to increase school-based and teacher ability in adapting to these new units.

Specifically, the purpose of this grant is for districts and schools to use the over 100 Model Curriculum Units (Pre-Kindergarten - Grade 12) that have been developed through the Race to the Top grant to increase the capacities of faculty to adapt and align curriculum to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

The priorities for use of this grant are to:

* Increase school-based expertise in aligning curriculum and instruction to the MA Curriculum Frameworks: for English Language Arts and Literacy (2011), Mathematics (2011), History and Social Science, and Science and Technology/Engineering (revised draft, 2014).

* Increase expertise of teacher leaders to guide a team through planning, adapting, and implementing frameworks-aligned curriculum by using or adapting one or more of the model curriculum units.

* Increase teachers' ability to use data to modify existing or new curriculum (model curriculum units) to address students' needs and districts' priorities.

* Promote professional teams and discussion about curriculum development and alignment.

* To encourage districts to tryout curriculum units in History Social Science (HSS) or Science and Technology/Engineering (ST/E) in particular.

* Increase districts' capacities to connect work on aligning curriculum with the Massachusetts Educator Evaluation System, the Standards for High-Quality Professional Development, and other Department and district-level initiatives.

Grant funds must used only to support grant priorities, including:

* Stipends to support common planning time for a grade-level and/or subject-based team to unpack the chosen model curriculum unit, make adjustments as needed, and pilot the unit. The estimated time commitment is 18-20 hours per team member.

* Stipends/substitutes to support the teacher-leader. In addition to being a member of the team, the teacher leader will facilitate the group and the piloting process, provide and/or arrange for coaching, visit classrooms where the unit is being piloted.

* Stipends/substitutes for release time for the teacher leader(s) to attend trainings sponsored by ESE. Districts must send one teacher leader per team. The estimated time commitment for completing this training is 22 hours: 3.5 face-to-face days, and one virtual meeting. Attendance of the teacher leaders at the trainings is mandatory. (The first two training days will be in early December the central region of the state.)

Note: Due to content changes in the new draft standards, S/TE teacher leaders will have an additional day of training on content in January.

* Materials to implement the model curriculum unit(s). Up to 15% of the award may be spent on materials for implementation.

* Travel to attend ESE training meetings.