The purpose of this targeted grant is to provide funding to support the Acceleration Academy Program listed in the Boston Public Schools Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), specifically for the 15 schools in Region 1 named in the MOU. The grant will support programming occurring during the week of February and April vacation.
This grant supports services aligned to the 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.
As a part of Innovation and Evidence-Based Practices, Commissioner Riley cites the work Making the Most of School Vacation, a study of the vacation program in Springfield showing the positive effects of Acceleration Academies on students' outcomes. Grounded on the success of vacation learning programs through the Sontag Prize Program—piloted in Boston Public Schools and subsequently in Lawrence Public Schools—DESE has developed an Acceleration Academy program model which has been implemented in additional schools and districts such as Holyoke and Chelsea. These grant funds will support the 15 schools outlined in the MOU to enhance their Acceleration Academy program and begin exploring connections between deeper learning and the current model, including ways to increase the student outcomes during the vacation learning through deeper learning.
Priorities for this grant include:
Creating an effective Acceleration Academy model that meets the DESE guidelines:
Acceleration Academies take place during the February and April school vacation week
Students receive 4+ hours of in-person core content instruction each day within a given week or a total of 20+ hours in a week.
Students are taught by the same core content teacher for the duration of an Acceleration Academy.
Classes are taught by highly effective educators who are hired through a selective application process.
Students can only be assigned to one subject area during an Acceleration Academy week. For example, if a district decides to focus on math and ELA during an April Acceleration Academy, a student can only be assigned to one of those subject areas, not both, during the April Academy week.
Instruction is provided in-person.
Class sizes are small (10–12 students/core content teacher).
Explore connections between current Acceleration Academy model and Deeper Learning including ways to increase positive student outcomes.
This grant is available to the following 15 schools of Boston Public Schools' Region 1, which are the schools identified for partnership with the Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning in the 2019 Boston MOU with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:
Federal 84.425D
Maximum funding available is $750,000 for SY21-22. Funding will be calculated based on the number of school sites and teachers based on the stipend rate determined by the district and as approved by the Superintendent.
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 Superintendent and/or their designee. Note: Funding will renew annually throughout the duration of the Kaleidoscope/BPS partnership (MOU) based on availability; guidelines will be determined based on grant priorities.
Funds are subject to appropriation, meeting all partnership requirements, and submission of required documents.
The following are allowable costs:
The following are not allowable costs:
Schools should align with local policy requirements, including district policy, local collective bargaining agreements, etc.
Upon Approval – 6/30/2022
Kaleidoscope Collective for Learning
Samantha Garcia
(781-338-3575)
12/22/2021
Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
Part II — Budget (to be entered directly into EdGrants)
Part III — Required Program 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.
The Kaleidoscope Cohort Two Acceleration Academies Grant funding opportunity will not be available in EdGrants until approval. Once the funding opportunity is available, this RFP will be updated, and program staff will notify eligible applicants the funding opportunity is available.
Once awarded, schools will submit all required grant materials through EdGrants
In EdGrants, grantees are required to create and name the project. Please use the following naming convention for your "Applicant Project Name" in EdGrants:
FY 22 – Kaleidoscope Cohort Two Acceleration Academies
All required forms should be uploaded / attached in the Attachments List of the Application Submission. This includes a signed / scanned PDF of Part I / Coversheet with school leader's signature.
For Guidance Documents regarding EdGrants, visit EdGrants: User Guides, Information and Trainings
Please note: It is up to the grantee to determine who they want to add as EdGrants Front Office users in order to submit the grant application as well as payment request information. Please review the EdGrants: User Security Controls document to make informed decisions regarding assigning your district level users.
Last Updated: December 9, 2021
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