FY2022: Kaleidoscope Cohort Two School Funds

Fund Code: 101

Purpose:

The purpose of this targeted grant is to fund school-based initiatives listed in the Boston Public Schools Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) provided by the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning (Kaleidoscope). Specifically, these initiatives include school-based Pilot Advisory Team members' participation in professional learning provided by Kaleidoscope, and services provided to the High Schools within this cohort to develop/enhance the quality of their Early College Program.

This grant provides services in support of key themes identified in Commissioner Riley's 2019 Our Way Forward report. The four themes identified in this report include: Deeper Learning for All; Holistic Support and Enrichment; Innovation and Evidence-Based Practices; and The State as a Partner. Specifically, in support of theme 1, teachers and leaders selected for the Pilot Advisory Teams at each school identified for Kaleidoscope support will receive 50–66 hours of professional development, based on their role within the school, on topics within the theme of Deeper Learning for All. Teams will first attend professional learning sessions focused on classroom-based practices, such as providing students with high quality Deeper Learning Tasks and delivering these tasks using appropriate pedagogy. In the second half of the year the focus will shift to establishing school-based conditions for Deeper Learning.

In Theme III, Commissioner Riley also cites the work of Investing in Early College, a MASSINC report, and highlights the importance of creating partnerships to create equitable outcomes for ALL students. As stated in the report, "low-income students who enroll in early college programs are twice as likely to complete a post-secondary degree as students assigned to control groups." Therefore, a portion of these grant funds will support the ongoing efforts of the high schools in this cohort of schools to build equitable Early College programs. While supporting these efforts, high schools will also begin exploring the opportunities for intersections between the work of Early College and Deeper Learning in creating a more holistic educational experience for all learners.

Priorities:

Priorities for this grant include 1) creating effective opportunities for deeper learning and 2) supporting the on-going work of Early College at the high schools for all students by:

• Increasing staff knowledge of deeper learning, staff expertise in execution of Deeper Learning tasks, and development of a school-based action plan for Deeper Learning implementation in upcoming years; and/or
• Providing access to Deeper Learning opportunities for all students equitably and effectively.
• Creating partnerships (i.e., Early College) to expand opportunities for students equitably and effectively beyond 12^th grade.

Eligibility:

This grant is available to the following 15 schools of Kaleidoscope Cohort Two, which are the schools identified for Kaleidoscope support in the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between Boston Public Schools and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:

• Adams Elementary School
• Alighieri Dante Montessori School
• Bradley Elementary School
• Charlestown High School
• East Boston Early Education Center
• East Boston High School
• Eliot K-8 Innovation School
• Guild Elementary School
• Harvard-Kent Elementary School
• Mario Umana Dual Language Academy
• McKay K-8 School
• O'Donnell Elementary School
• Otis Elementary
• PJ Kennedy Elementary School
• Warren-Prescott K-8 School

Funding Type:

Federal CFDA 84.425

Funding:

Maximum funding available per school will be calculated based on the size of their pilot advisory team up to eight members based on the stipend rate determined by the district and as approved by their Regional Superintendent.

Early College funding is a fixed amount for each high school.

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, with consultation with the Regional Superintendent.

Note: Funding will renew annually throughout the duration of the Kaleidoscope/BPS partnership based on availability; guidelines will be determined based on grant priorities.

Fund Use:

Kaleidoscope Cohort Two School Funds are subject to appropriation, meeting all partnership requirements, and submission of required documents.

The following are allowable costs:

• Stipends will be provided to teachers for attending the following Kaleidoscope professional learning sessions that take place outside the scope of their regular school-based responsibilities and hours: Convenings, Mini-Sessions, PAT team meetings, educator content development sessions.
• Educator attendance and deliverable production within each session will be tracked by the Regional Superintendent, whose report will be used to calculate the amount of stipend provided.

The following are not allowable costs:

• food and refreshments
• indirect costs
• in state or out-of-state travel
• staff salaries
• external vendors/contracts
• maintenance/repairs
• purchase of curricular materials
• purchase of technology, computer software or hardware

For each high school, funds specifically for Early College are to be used to advance the effectiveness of their existing program or in the strategic planning of a new program.

The following are allowable costs:

• Stipends for staff professional development and planning, which take place outside the scope of regular hours and responsibilities, for teachers and staff who are/will be delivering Early College Programming
• Stipends for program administrators, academic and non-academic support staff (mentors, tutors), which take place outside the scope of their regular hours and responsibilities
• Curriculum alignment work
• Consumable supplies (including technology) related to programing, academic course work and activities that are clearly linked to the school's Early College Improvement Report.
• Costs for Early College programming including communication with students, career exposure and immersion activities, college exposure and activities, academic skill building/ assessment activities

Schools should align with local policy requirements, including district policy, local collective bargaining agreements, etc.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval – 6/30/2022

Program Unit:

Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning

Contact:

Samantha Garcia

Phone Number:

(781-338-3575)

Date Due:

Monday, September 13, 2021

Required Forms:

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

• Part III — Required Program Information

Additional Information:

Schools must meet the requirements as described in Part III — Required Program Information throughout the course of the year to maintain active status in this grant opportunity.

Submission Instructions:

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:

• FY22 FC 101 Kaleidoscope Cohort Two School Funds 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 as well as Schedule A form, if applicable to your district. 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.

Last Updated: August 17, 2021