The purpose of this federally funded Vocational Technical Education Framework Revision Project Grant is to support the mission of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to prepare all students for success after high school through the revision of Massachusetts' state-wide Vocational Technical Education (VTE) Frameworks.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is committed to ensuring all students have equal educational opportunities to high quality vocational technical education programs. The Office for College, Career, and Technical Education (OCCTE) implements the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, (referred to as Perkins V), which provides for the support of high quality technical education programs and services for all students, including students who are members of special populations.
Perkins V goals align with the goals of DESE's Office for College, Career, and Technical Education. OCCTE is committed to providing high quality technical education and to raising awareness within the education and greater community to ensure equitable access for all students to participate in state-of-art vocational technical education programs across the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth's MassHire Workforce Boards, in collaboration with industry, education, and workforce development stakeholders, have recently identified priority industry sectors and occupations suffering from the skills gaps across seven Massachusetts regions. This project targets the revision of select VTE Frameworks aligned with those priorities.
The VTE Framework revision will include dialogue opportunities for the re-alignment of statewide articulation agreements for those VTE Programs with current agreements, including apprenticeships, as appropriate. The contractor will engage in dialogue opportunities for the development and facilitation of new statewide articulation agreements, including apprenticeships, as appropriate, for those VTE Programs without existing statewide articulations, as identified by the OCCTE.
This project also supports research and scoping activities to identify and conduct foundational work for the creation of new/non-existing Vocational Technical Education Programs in Massachusetts, in accordance with Pilot Programs outlined in the Vocational Technical Education Regulations 603 CMR 4.16.
The scope of activities may include collaborations with the Massachusetts Vocational Technical Teacher Testing Program.
This project is supported with funds available through the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. The OCCTE is responsible for the implementation of various Perkins-funded programs and projects. This project addresses Perkins V requirements, that programs demonstrate continuous program improvement and that career and technical education programs expose students to all aspects of industry and provide linkages to postsecondary education, apprenticeships, and the workforce.
Under the terms of this grant, the awardee is responsible for delivery of several discreet products:
Revise Vocational Technical Education Frameworks for programs specified by the Office for College, Career, and Technical Education (OCCTE).
Dialogue opportunities to support the revision of statewide articulation agreements for those VTE Programs with current agreements, including apprenticeships if appropriate. Dialogue opportunities to support the development and facilitation of new statewide articulation agreements, including apprenticeships if appropriate, as identified by the OCCTE.
In Collaboration with OCCTE, conduct research and scoping activities to identify new/non-existing VTE Programs, and determine feasibility for creation of new Pilot VTE Programs, as appropriate.
To develop these products, the grantee will establish specific work teams and/or deploy existing work teams, as applicable, and as specified by OCCTE.
This is a continuation grant; therefore, the current contractor, the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) will continue as the Fiscal Agent for this grant project.
MAVA will continue to collaboration with the Office for College, Career and Technical Education throughout the project.
Federal: CFDA 84.048
MAVA may apply for up to $300,000 (Upon Approval (no earlier than 9/1/20) — 8/31/21) to perform the tasks outlined above.
Awarded applicants will have an option for continuation for FY22, subject to satisfactory performance, the appropriation of state and/or federal funds, and the continuance of federal authorizing legislation.
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.
Grant funds must be used to support the development of the work products listed above. All activities must be appropriate and consistent with all applicable state and federal requirements, including those pertaining to the use of Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) funds.
Funds may be used for:
Stipends to support members work on teams, convening, planning, and product creation and vetting activities;
Salaries for administrators, project managers, team leaders, technology specialist, and for clerical support specific to the Framework Revision Project and its products;
Consultant(s) and contract fees to provide project oversight, and product-related development;
Supplies and materials necessary for the creation of the products specified above;
Travel costs associated with meetings necessary to create the products specified above and cost for convening work teams;
Costs associated with vetting activities;
Other costs that are negotiated with the Department.
Upon Approval (no earlier than 9/1/2020) – 8/31/2021
MAVA will have an option for continuation for FY 22, subject to satisfactory performance, the appropriation of state and/or federal funds, and the continuance of federal authorizing legislation.
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 as listed in the initial RFP document.
Office for College, Career, and Technical Education
Lisa Sandler
(781) 338-3956
Friday, September 4, 2020
Proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.Award notification will be upon review of the completed submission.
Notify Lisa Sandler via email: Lisa.M.Sandler@mass.gov when the grant has been uploaded to EdGrants.
Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants.
In EdGrants, districts are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:FY21 FC 403 Vocational Technical Education Framework Revision Project Grant.
All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded/ attached in the Attachments List form of the Application Submission in EdGrants. This includes a signed/scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with Superintendent's signature. The final budget the applicant is requesting will be entered directly into EdGrants as part of the application submission process.
For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides and Information.
Please note: It is up to the district to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.
Once submitted in EdGrants, please email: Lisa Sandler
Last Updated: August 20, 2020
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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