FY2021: Strategic Support for School and District Improvement (SDI) Grant

Fund Code: 524

Purpose:

The purpose of this targeted grant program is to support schools and districts in their improvement efforts arising from DESE reviews of school and district performance.

Eligibility:

This grant opportunity is currently only open to Boston Public Schools for the 2020-2021 school year. Further districts can become eligible in subsequent years as DESE continues monitoring efforts. Districts being funded, as well as the amount being funded, is contingent upon receipt and availability of Massachusetts' State Targeted Assistance funds.

Funding Type:

State

Funding:

There is currently $2,000,000 available of Massachusetts State Targeted Assistance funds. All SDI funding is contingent upon availability of State Targeted Assistance Funds.

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 applicable state and federal requirements along with any MOUs the district and DESE have agreed upon (if applicable). All expenditures must closely align with identified improvement activities and initiatives.

Unallowable expenditures:

• Contract buyouts.
• Expenses that supplant what the district would have funded, absent this grant
• Expenses that do not directly align with agreed upon activities and initiatives

All expenditures will be closely reviewed as they relate to the priorities of this grant opportunity.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – June 30, 2021*

LEAs are awarded an SDI Grant from grant approval through June 30, 2021. A detailed FY2021 budget is required. The original award total cannot be increased.

*Note: DESE is allowing applicant(s) to extend funds in Summer (7/1/2021 – 8/31/2021). To utilize this extension, please provide FY2022 Part I and Part II for grant funds that will not be expended prior to June 30, 2021. Those funds would have to be expended by 8/31/2021.

FY2022 funds, if applicable, will need to be applied for during the FY2022 grant cycle.

Program Unit:

Office of Effective Practices in Turnaround

Contact:

Michael Seymour — (781) 338-3514

Date Due:

Wednesday March 31, 2021

The EdGrants submission, including a signature page, budget and narrative explanation must be received at the Department by the due date.

Required Forms:

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

SDI Narrative Form

 

If the grant is needed to fund summer activities, then the additional documents below are required.

FY2022 Part I (Summer 7/1/2021 – 8/31/2021) General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

FY2022 Part II FY2022 Summer Budget 7/1/2021 – 8/31/2021

Submission Instructions:

Submit all required grant materials through EdGrants

Any grant questions, including submission questions can be directed to Michael Seymour.

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 524 SDI (Applicant Name)

All items listed under the required forms section of this RFP should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List formlet 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.

Districts must complete the Application Submission including the budget in EdGrants in order to receive their funding. The Application Submission in EdGrants can be completed as soon as the RFP is posted.

Once the FY2022 funding opportunity is active in EdGrants, districts will be notified to enter in a grant for the balance

Last Updated: March 24, 2021