The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is piloting three courses to train individuals as interpreters in the education setting. The courses are available in three tiers. This grant will all district(s) to stipend individuals for participating in one or more pilot courses.
This grant is intended for individuals to participate in an interpreter training course and provide critical feedback to the Department to further refine the course. Districts will be able to stipend staff to participate in a pilot of a Language Ambassador training (mono or bilingual staff) or become trained interpreters (bilingual staff) and offer feedback on the course.
Priority will be given to districts and schools in chronically underperforming status.
This is a targeted grant that is only available to non-charter districts with at least 50% of their student population whose first language is not English (based on 2022-2023 DESE Selected Populations report)1. Based on student populations, these districts are among those with the highest need to provide interpreters for families to have equitable access to their child's education.
State
Approximately $60,000
Stipends will be given to districts dependent on the number of seats allocated. The maximum number of seats and stipend amounts are as follows:
Approximately $20,000 is available for schools and districts in chronically underperforming status.
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.
Stipends to participate in a pilot to become Language Ambassadors (mono or bilingual staff) or interpreters (bilingual staff) and offer feedback on the course itself.
Upon Approval* – 06/30/2023
* 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.
Office of Strategic Transformation
Breanna Higgins
(781) 870-0014
February 10, 2023
Part I — General — Program Unit Signature Page — (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
Part III — Required Program Information
Each district should specify the number of participants they wish to enroll in each course, funding will be awarded dependent on the number of applications received and commiserate with identified need. Preference will be given to districts who indicate that participants for Tier 2 and 3 courses have demonstrated, assessed, proficiency in English and another language.
Tier 1 participants should be a combination of school leaders, monolingual school-based staff, and bilingual school-based staff. All Tier 2 and 3 participants must be bilingual with advanced oral speaking skills in English and another language. Participants can enroll in all three courses; Tier 3 participants must also take the Tier 2 course (Tier 2 and 3 course will not run at the same time).
To receive the stipend, each participant must complete the course and the feedback form provided. The Tier 1 course is a 90-minute video. The Tier 2 and 3 courses include a live, virtual 2-hour session per week for 6 weeks as well as outside readings and activities. Participants should plan to spend 4–5 hours per week for 6–7 weeks in each course To be eligible to receive the stipend, participants may not miss more than one live session and need to complete all required activities, including the final feedback form.
The Tier 1 course will be available in March and participants will have approximately two weeks to watch the video and complete the feedback form. The Tier 2 course will begin in April. The Tier 3 course will begin in May. The live sessions will not occur during school hours.
Participants who complete the Tiers 2 or 3 course with a passing score may be eligible to receive a certificate of completion from the district; participants who complete the Tier 2 or 3 course but do not earn a passing score may not receive a certificate of completion but are still eligible for the stipend if the feedback form is also complete.
The grant application should include:
Each district will be awarded grant funding dependent on the number of participants they plan to enroll in each course, with a maximum number of participants listed in the table above.
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 199 Interpreter for the Education Setting Course Pilot (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.
1 Includes: Chelsea, Lawrence, Everett, Revere, Lynn, Waltham, Malden, Worcester, Marlborough, Tisbury, Framingham, Somerville, Milford
Last Updated: January 25, 2023
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
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