FY2023: Evaluate and Select HQIM Network Support

Fund Code: 161

Purpose:

Evaluate and Select High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Network Support grants will provide funding and support for districts participating in the 22-23 Network and embarking on DESE's high-quality instructional materials adoption process. IMplement MA is grounded in equity for students and outlines an inclusive four-phase process to select and implement high-quality instructional materials that best meet each district's local needs.

Evaluate and Select HQIM Network Support grants will support districts and educators currently participating in the 22-23 IMplement MA: Evaluate and Select HQIM Support Network and intend to select high-quality curricular materials by the end of the 22-23 SY. This grant provides funding for the following:

• Stipends for districts' curriculum councils to evaluate and select high-quality curricular materials. Stipends will cover time beyond contractual hours for participation on and work for the curriculum council
• Professional development for districts' curriculum councils to increase knowledge of curriculum literacy and build capacity to evaluate and select high-quality curricular materials that best meet the needs of the district
• Acquisition and use of high-quality curricular materials for field testing (maximum of 3 curricula to field test)

Priorities:

DESE seeks to award Evaluate and Select High-Quality Instructional Materials Network (HQIM) Support grants to entities that:

• Articulate a clear approach to evaluating and selecting high quality curricular materials aligned to IMplement MA
• Demonstrate commitment to attending all IMplement MA: Evaluate and Select HQIM Network meetings and to completing phase 2 of the process before the end of the 22-23 SY.
• Demonstrate favorable conditions and the resources necessary to make and sustain a meaningful curricular materials selection and multi-year implementation plan
• Bring together a diverse coalition of stakeholders (e.g., families, diverse staff members, administrators, school committee, and students where appropriate) to provide input, feedback, and participate in the evaluating and selecting curricular materials process
• Demonstrate a history of and plan for centering equity, inclusion, and cultural responsiveness in their IMplement MA process.

Competitive Priorities:

• Competitive priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status and the Strategic Transformation Region.

Eligibility:

Registered LEAs participating in and committed to attending all meetings of the 22-23 IMplement MA: Evaluate and Select High-Quality Instructional Materials Support Network

• Eligible LEAs

LEAs in the Strategic Transformation Region may be awarded multiple awards to account for alternative governance structures (e.g., Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership).

Districts must identify a content area (DLCS, ELA/Literacy, Math, Science) and grade band to participate in this grant.

Funding Type:

Federal (CFDA 84.425) ESSER III Federal Coronavirus Relief Programs - Federal Grant Programs

Funding:

There is approximately $1,000,000 available in FY23. DESE estimates supporting up to 30 districts in FY23, depending on district size. Recipients may be eligible for FY24 continuation funding to support efforts to launch selected HQIM.

Recipients will need to provide detailed cost information to DESE to demonstrate compliance with grant priorities and approved fund uses in order to draw down funds over the grant period.

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:

This grant will provide funding as well as support from Department specialists through the duration of the 22-23 IMplement MA: Evaluate and Select HQIM Network for districts to complete the activities listed below. Following the grant period, recipients are expected to continue implementing the selected high-quality curricular materials and will have access to ongoing assistance from DESE specialists as needed.

1. Full participation in and commitment to the IMplement MA Process of evaluating and selecting high-quality core curricular materials for DLCS, ELA/Literacy, Math, or Science. Districts may apply for up to, but no more than, funds for two content areas. Attendance of the district identified Team Leaders (2–4 people) is required for all Network sessions.
2. Stipends for districts' Curriculum Council to evaluate and select high-quality core curricular materials. Stipends will cover any time outside contractual hours for participation in Curriculum Council activities.
3. Professional development for districts' curriculum councils to increase knowledge of curriculum literacy and build capacity for evaluating and selecting high-quality core curricular materials that best meet the needs of the district.
4. Acquisition and use of high-quality curricular materials for field testing (maximum of 3 curricula to field test). All field-tested materials must meet DESE's definition of high quality*

For full details about the grant program and how funds may be used, please see the Fund Use Details attachment .

*High quality is defined as core curricular materials that are rated "meets" or "partially meets" on CURATE, or

1. ELA/Literacy: rated "Green" on EdReports' Gateways 1 and 2,
2. Math/Science: rated "Green" on EdReports' Gateway 1 and "Green" or "Yellow" on Gateway 2,
3. Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS): rated as "comprehensive curricular materials" with alignment to college-and-career-ready learning standards on the DLCS Curriculum Guide .

All grantees will be required to maintain the Curriculum Council throughout the course of the year. This team will work together to coordinate and enact the first two phases of the IMplement MA Process, across schools if applicable. Team Leaders commit to attend all 22-23 IMplement MA: Evaluate and Select HQIM Network sessions. Stipends for the Curriculum Council are funded.

Project Duration:

Upon Approval* – August 31, 2023

Continuations for recipients may be available for additional funding in FY24.

Note that grant funds will only be approved to fund specific activities listed in the Fund Use Details attachment.

* Grant start date cannot be prior to DESE receiving a substantially approvable Application Submission as directed in this RFP's Submission Instructions. Goods and Services cannot be procured prior to Grants receiving and approving an application submission. Funds cannot exceed the project duration end date.

Program Unit:

Office of Literacy and Humanities

Center for Instructional Support (CIS)

Contact:

Woodly Pierre-Louis

Date Due:

Monday, November 21, 2022

Required Forms:

• Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page

• Part II — Budget Details. Please fully read the "Instructions" tab before entering budget information on the Budget Details workbook

• Part III — Required Program Information

• Part IV — Schools Assurance

• Part V — District Assurance

If your district needs to cover Indirect Costs, please use this FY23 Indirect Cost Calculator to do so.

Additional Information:

Using ESSER III funding, the Department expects to award $1.8 million in grants to support curriculum evaluation, selection, and launch between FY23–FY24 under the program name Evaluate and Select HQIM Network Support.

The Department may seek additional information from applicants through follow-up interviews, as needed.

Grant recipients will be required to prepare and provide data requested by the Department to evaluate the effectiveness of grant funds and activities.

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:

FY23 161 Evaluate and Select HQIM Network Support

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, Information and Trainings. 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: November 4, 2022