FY2022: Proficiency-based Outcomes for Languages Other Than English

Fund Code: 189

Purpose:

This program is one of the ways that DESE supports World Language (WL), Heritage Language (HL), and English Language Learner (ELL) programs and districts that wish to support or improve such programs in pre-K, elementary, and/or secondary schools.

There are two goals for the competitive grant. Districts may apply for funding to fulfill either one or both of the goals:

Goal 1: Collect and analyze data pertaining to proficiency in languages other than English (LOTE) to improve World Languages, Heritage Languages, and English Learner programs.

Goal 2: Support educators to teach for proficiency in LOTE by aligning to the proficiency-based standards and high-leverage teaching practices described in the 2021 Massachusetts World Languages Curriculum Framework.

Priorities:

Priorities for Goal 1
Goal 1: Collect and analyze data pertaining to proficiency in Languages other than English (LOTE) to improve World Language, Heritage Language, and English Learner programs.

The intended outcomes for Goal 1 are as follows:

• Districts implement and collect data from American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL), ACTFL Latin Interpretive Reading Assessment (ALIRA), and/or Standards-based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP) assessments.
• Districts participate in ongoing data-based discussions to prepare students for high levels of proficiency.
• Districts participate in the MA State Seal of Biliteracy program.

Priorities for Goal 1 will be given to:

• Districts with high incidences (350 or more) of English Learners,
• Districts in the Pioneer Valley and Berkshires+ regions of Massachusetts. (see a map ),
• Districts who are enrolled in the Seal of Biliteracy on the Department's Security Portal prior to the submission of this application,
• Proposals that include a letter of commitment to 1) implement the 2021 Massachusetts World Languages Curriculum Framework for their local WL program development, and 2) participate in the Department's World Language Leaders Networks in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
• Proposals that identify specific groups of students (e.g., grade level, course level, language) that will attempt these assessments and compelling reasons as to why that particular group of students is selected.
• Proposals that include a plan to make students/families aware of the AAPPL, ALIRA, and/or STAMP assessment(s), train staff members to proctor and assist with the assessment(s), and provide appropriate environments during the regularly scheduled school day time for students to complete the assessment(s), to provide the district with reliable proficiency-based data.
• Proposals that include descriptions of and plans for ongoing data-based conversations among WL/HL teachers and supervisors, especially in the months following the receipt of results from the AAPPL/ALIRA/STAMP assessments, as well as specific programmatic improvements that the results may inform.

Priorities for Goal 2
Goal 2: Support educators to teach for proficiency in LOTE by aligning to the proficiency-based standards and high-leverage teaching practices described in the 2021 Massachusetts World Languages Curriculum Framework.

The intended outcomes for Goal 2 are as follows:

1. Districts improve programs by providing access to external, proficiency-based professional development for educators who teach and/or oversee the teaching of LOTE to support teachers to:
   1. (Focus Area 1) Understand and identify the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language's (ACTFL) proficiency levels, and/or
   2. (Focus Area 2) Use the target/partner language (TL) and facilitate student use of the TL 90% of the time or more, and/or
   3. (Focus Area 3) Leverage diverse and authentic texts from the TL culture for communication.
2. Districts provide appropriate time and environment to engage in ongoing, reflective conversations about professional development experiences and aligning district curriculum to the 2021 Massachusetts World Languages Curriculum Framework

Priorities for Goal 2 will be given to:

• Districts with high incidences of English Learners,
• Districts in the Pioneer Valley and Berkshires + regions of Massachusetts. (see a map ),
• Proposals that identify at least one of the three PD Focus Areas and describe the programmatic improvement they hope to achieve through the professional learning,
• Proposals that identify an external PD provider and describe a plan for ongoing, well-articulated external professional development opportunities for teachers of languages other than English,
• Proposals that describe the district's plan to facilitate regular, ongoing district-based conversations that include WL, HL, and/or ELL teaching staff about improving their programs to align with their professional learning and the 2021 Massachusetts World Languages Curriculum Framework.
• Districts who are enrolled in the Seal of Biliteracy on the Department's Security Portal and whose include a commitment to 1) Implement the 2021 MA World Languages Curriculum Framework; 2) Support WL/HL teachers to complete MA WL Framework Implementation Training series; 3) Support district-level curriculum leaders and principals to attend WL Framework Implementation session for administrators; 4) Support one or more staff members to attend the annual conference of the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association (MaFLA) and 5) Engage in the Department's WL Leaders Network Meetings throughout 2021-22.

Funding Type:

State Funding

Funding:

Approximately $500,000 is available.

• Goal 1: Approximately $300,000 will be allocated for Goal 1.
• Goal 2: Approximately $200,000 will be allocated for Goal 2.

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 data-driven, proficiency-based WL, HL, and ELL programs, centered around the new Massachusetts World Languages Curriculum Framework, and in support of the Seal of Biliteracy program.

Project Duration:

Summer FY2022: Upon Approval (no earlier than 7/1/2021) – 8/31/2021.

This grant program may have a continuation year in FY2022 (upon approval to June 30, 2022) subject to state budget appropriation.

Program Unit:

Center for Instructional Support

Contact:

Diana Gentile

Date Due:

Friday, May 21, 2021

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

Required Forms:

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

• Part II — Budget Details FY2022 Summer

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

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

• Part IV — District Assurance

Additional Information:

• Additional Information Document

Any grant related questions must be emailed to Diana Gentile . Responses will be posted to the DESE World Languages website.

Submission Instructions:

Email the required forms and documents listed below 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.

All documents submitted electronically must be web accessible. For more information, visit: Preparing an MS OFFICE document for the Web.

Last Updated: May 3, 2021