FY2021: Alternative English Learner Education Programs — All Levels

Fund Code: 187

Purpose:

This competitive grant program is one of the multiple ways DESE is supporting districts that have English learners and wish to implement new and innovative English Learner Education (ELE) programs and supports for innovative ELE programs, while also providing districts with an opportunity to create a more culturally and linguistically diverse workforce.

There are four goals for the grant. Districts may apply for funding to fulfill any one or more of the four goals:

1. Goal 1: Develop and/or implement an alternative bilingual ELE program for English learners including any of the programs listed below:

   • Two-Way Immersion (TWI)
   • Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE)
   • Other bilingual program types approved by the Department if the district is able to substantiate that the proposed program is based on sound educational theory . See below for description of characteristics of a program based on sound educational theory.
   
   

   Proposed programs must be based on best practices in the field, the linguistic and educational needs of ELs and the demographic characteristics of the EL population in the school district. Furthermore, a school district may join with other school districts to provide an English learner program.

2. Goal 2: Create (and cultivate) or continue a "grow your own" bilingual education hub that would support and encourage statewide initiative and collaboration, improve the Bilingual Education educator pipeline, share knowledge to accelerate the adoption of proven and recognized programmatic models for English learners, and develop successful models that can be replicated for years to come.

3. Goal 3: Establish or improve multilingual libraries that provide an effective, balanced, and substantial collections for as many ethnic, cultural, and linguistic group of students in the community as possible.

4. Goal 4: Develop and Implement High School Academies (during winter and spring during or after school, and/or summer vacation) that would challenge high school English learners (grades 9–12) to improve academic achievement with an emphasis on English language learning skills and, if applicable, primary language learning skills for bilingual academies, both of which are 21^st century skills.

Priorities:

Priorities for Goal 1

The intended outcomes for Goal 1 are as follows:

• Develop a proposal for a new bilingual English learner education (ELE) program and successfully complete DESE's review process; Or
• Develop a proposal for improving an existing bilingual ELE program; And
• Within the existing ELE program the district is proposing to improve, develop a proposal to implement culturally responsive teaching practices that promote equity and social justice;

For more information please see the attached Part III Goal 1.

Priorities for Goal two (2):

The intended outcomes for Goal 2 are as follows:

1. Increase the number of qualified bilingual education teachers in the district.
2. Encourage and support bilingual students, parents, community members, paraprofessionals, and teachers to become teachers in bilingual education settings.
3. Build systems to implement effective bilingual education programs.

For more information please see the attached Part III Goal 2.

Priorities for Goal three (3):

The intended outcomes of Goal 3 are as follows:

1. Increased student confidence to participate successfully in and complete academic classes and/or in social situations, whether in English or a language other than English;
2. Schools prioritize culturally responsive instruction that encourages students to share their cultures, linguistic abilities and life experiences in ways that promotes student success with rigorous content in an effort to promote students' experiences and knowledge as an asset.

For more information please see the attached Part III Goal 3.

Priorities for Goal four (4):

The intended outcomes of Goal 4 are as follows:

1. Measurable increases in students' English language fluency, comprehension, and reading and writing abilities as documented by the methods listed in Part III;
2. Increased student confidence to participate successfully in and complete all academic classes as measured by student surveys throughout the Academy (e.g., beginning, middle, end).
3. Longer-term improvements in academic achievement as measured by statewide assessments and achievement in academic courses, quicker exit rates from English learner status, lower retention/dropout rates and higher graduation rates.

For more information please see the attached Part III Goal 4.

Note: Competitive priority will be given to districts that have been identified in need of focused/targeted support by the DESE.

Eligibility:

This grant program is designed for districts, charter schools, regional schools and collaboratives that:

1. Develop and/or implement alternative programs for English learners; and/or
2. Commit to become or continue bilingual education hubs; and/or
3. Establish or improve multilingual libraries that provide an effective, balanced, and substantial collections for as many ethnic, cultural, and linguistic group of students in the community as possible; and/or
4. Develop and implement English learner Education academies for high school students (during winter, spring, and/or summer vacation).

Applicants for Goal 1 must:

• Partner with an Institution of Higher Education that has an approved Bilingual Education Program in place.
• Ensure that all targeted groups listed in Part III of the required forms are included in the hub plan proposal

Applicants for Goal 1 and/or Goal 2 must:

• Submit monthly progress reports to DESE using a template DESE will provide.
• Commit to submitting program outcomes to DESE, using a template DESE will provide.
• Commit to presenting and/or sharing grant funded work upon request from DESE.
• Participate in program evaluation determined by DESE to assess the grant program's effectiveness and gauge grant impact, including the effectiveness of the partnerships with Institutions of Higher Education.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

Approximately $846,000 is available.

1. Goal 1: Approximately $275,000 will be available for Goal 1
2. Goal 2: Approximately $275,000 will be available for Goal 2
3. Goal 3: Approximately $148,000 will be available for Goal 3
4. Goal 4: Approximately $148,000 will be available for Goal 4

Funding is contingent upon availability. All dollar amounts listed are estimated/approximate and are subject to change. If more funding becomes available, it will be distributed under the same guidelines that appear in this RFP document.

Fund Use:

Fund use must be consistent with the priorities described above and the requirements associated with Massachusetts ESE's Strategic Plan . The focus of this grant is to support the implementation of new bilingual education programs for English learners in the Commonwealth.

Project Duration:

School Year: FY2021: Upon approval through 6/30/2021

Summer: FY2022: 7/1/2021 – 8/31/2021

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support

Contact:

Diana Gentile

Date Due:

Friday, February 19, 2021

Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

Required Forms:

School Year: FY2021 — Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

Summer: FY2022 — Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

School Year: FY2021 Part II — Budget Details

Summer: FY22 Part II — Budget Details

Part III Goal 1 — Required Program Information — Grant Narrative Form

Part III Goal 2 — Required Program Information — Grant Narrative Form

Part III Goal 3 — Required Program Information — Grant Narrative Form

Part III Goal 4 — Required Program Information — Grant Narrative Form

Part IV — District Assurance

Additional Information:

Please see the attached 187 Additional Information .

Any grant related questions must be emailed to Diana Gentile. Responses will be posted to the English Learner Education page.

Submission Instructions:

Email the required forms and documents to diana.gentile@mass.gov.

Awarded Recipients: Upon award, recipients will be required to enter the approved budget as Part I in EdGrants. Once selected, recipients will be contacted with further instructions on the process.

Last Updated: January 27, 2021